Enter Shikari - Take to the Skies

[Handraa]

Enter Shikari - Take to the Skies
Record Label: Tiny Evil
Release Date: October 30, 2007

A few months ago I wrote a review for Take to the Skies, but as you can see, it never got posted. That is because my first attempt was complete shit. I had never done anything like reviewing an album, and it was bad to say the least. Anyway, Enter Shikari are a post-hardcore electronica band from St Albans, Hertfordshire in the UK and have come to the US.

Enter Shikari are not your typical post-hardcore band because of the added electrionic effects, and that is what Enter Shikari have going for them. Roughton "Rou" Reynolds is the master mind behind the electronics in Enter Shikari and has a good understanding of how to use it and make it sound good. He uses everything from drum fills to hand claps to make Take to the Skies a very catchy album with both the electronic effects and the vocals. The vocals aren't anything to brag about. Although the screams and growls are down right terrible the clean vocals are what makes up for them on Take to the Skies. The lyrics are what brings this album down - most of the time they don't make much sense. Although after making your ears bleed for forty minutes you may still find yourself humming along with the catchy parts of the album. For example, this line seems like it is in every song on the album: "And still we will be here, standing like statues." I'm not so sure why they're standing like statues. Maybe it's for one of their five interludes to be over with, because this album is loaded with them. Why couldn't they just have combined the interludes with some of the songs? Most of them are followed or follow a song that sounds like the interlude anyway. As for the rest of the band, it's nothing you haven't really heard before.

Although Enter Shikari seem like dull post-hardcore smothered with electronic effects, they do have some good songs. Enter Shikari can become quite creative on a few tracks. In the song "Sorry, You're Not a Winner" Rou Reynolds uses surprising electronics with placing hand claps in between guitar riffs. It happens every verse, so it begins to get old quickly. But it's a good attempt. The stand outs on the album are "Mothership" and "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour" because Enter Shikari finally figure out how to combine the electronics with the rest of the band.

Enter Shikari are in the studio and hopes to release a new album by spring. So if you like typical post-hardcore drenched with electronics, Enter Shikari are the band for you. If you're smart, you'll stay away from it. Unless of course you're buying this album for your twelve-year-old brother for his birthday.

Dividing the Lines; Underoath with a cracked out keyboardist; Sky Eats Airplane
myspace.com/entershikari (http://www.myspace.com/entershikari)

[Klatzke]

Nice riyl :)

[infmoe]

Isn't this the shitty review you're talking about?

[tipoftheiceberg]

guy above me=dick

work on your voice a little more and you could be a good reviewer

[xyz]

Their live performance is phenomenal, so much fun.

[lew_1987]

One of the first bands to be doing this... it's a shame that this album was a little disappointing.

[Handraa]

guy above me=dick

work on your voice a little more and you could be a good reviewer
What do i need to do to get better? I'm just starting this stuff.

[Handraa]

Isn't this the shitty review you're talking about?
Yes it was actually

[more heart]

it seems like the rating is a little low to me

[infmoe]

Let me apologize for my last comment. It was borderline-out of line. I'm just shocked, regardless if you are new to this or not, that you would give this album a mere 60%. I think where you implied that the band doesn't know how to mix synthesizers with their other instruments was false. While I agree that it's brilliantly done 'Mothership' and 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour', I think in songs like 'Labyrinth' and 'Ok, Time For Plan B', the out of place insertion of synthesizers commits to the album's brilliance, in my opinion. Sometimes out of place just works... not even necessarily out of place but not over-produced. Leave it as raw as possible while making it ear worthy and no broken down.

I don't know if you're on the same page with what I just said or if you get me or not but I understand what I'm saying and that's what matters in the end. Anyways, nice try with your review, sincerely. I agree with someone's post above me... better use of words.

[Handraa]

Let me apologize for my last comment. It was borderline-out of line. I'm just shocked, regardless if you are new to this or not, that you would give this album a mere 60%. I think where you implied that the band doesn't know how to mix synthesizers with their other instruments was false. While I agree that it's brilliantly done 'Mothership' and 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour', I think in songs like 'Labyrinth' and 'Ok, Time For Plan B', the out of place insertion of synthesizers commits to the album's brilliance, in my opinion. Sometimes out of place just works... not even necessarily out of place but not over-produced. Leave it as raw as possible while making it ear worthy and no broken down.

I don't know if you're on the same page with what I just said or if you get me or not but I understand what I'm saying and that's what matters in the end. Anyways, nice try with your review, sincerely. I agree with someone's post above me... better use of words.
Obviously we aren't on the same page, and sorry I didn't praise the album. I didn't like it, and you don't have to agree with my view on the album. You have your thoughts and I have mine. We all have different opinions and isn't this what this site is for?

[Handraa]

Let me apologize for my last comment. It was borderline-out of line. I'm just shocked, regardless if you are new to this or not, that you would give this album a mere 60%. I think where you implied that the band doesn't know how to mix synthesizers with their other instruments was false. While I agree that it's brilliantly done 'Mothership' and 'Anything Can Happen In The Next Half Hour', I think in songs like 'Labyrinth' and 'Ok, Time For Plan B', the out of place insertion of synthesizers commits to the album's brilliance, in my opinion. Sometimes out of place just works... not even necessarily out of place but not over-produced. Leave it as raw as possible while making it ear worthy and no broken down.

I don't know if you're on the same page with what I just said or if you get me or not but I understand what I'm saying and that's what matters in the end. Anyways, nice try with your review, sincerely. I agree with someone's post above me... better use of words.
And your apology is accepted.

[infmoe]

That's why I apologized, my man. And yes, you think the album wasn't too good and I think it was good enough. Agreed to disagree.

[tezmacan]

mate ur a wanker, why write a review on a band that you obviously dislike before the album just so you can give them shit
ps rou's screaming is phenomimal live, they have just attempted to make their recordings more radio friendly.
i believe this album is one of the best i have heard and the interludes add something different to the album.
also their lyrics are better than most metal crap or at least the same as so thats nothing special

[Klatzke]

mate ur a wanker, why write a review on a band that you obviously dislike before the album just so you can give them shit
ps rou's screaming is phenomimal live, they have just attempted to make their recordings more radio friendly.
i believe this album is one of the best i have heard and the interludes add something different to the album.
also their lyrics are better than most metal crap or at least the same as so thats nothing special
Funny. I know personally that he bought this album and listened to it for quite awhile, and liked it quite a bit more than quite a few of his friends (me being one of them).

[tezmacan]

well it doesnt sound like he listened very hard
he treats the album as if it were true screamo saying it makes ur ears bleed wat a wanker, turn ur volume down u bloody bellend
also you dont believe that they know how to mix the electronics with the other instruments is completely wrong, listen to ok time for plan B is by far the best song on the album and i dont believe that mothership is their best song. Listen to retrun to engergise how it mixes hardcore with the electronics in the middle of the song using perfect transition through styles.

[Klatzke]

well it doesnt sound like he listened very hard
he treats the album as if it were true screamo saying it makes ur ears bleed wat a wanker, turn ur volume down u bloody bellend
also you dont believe that they know how to mix the electronics with the other instruments is completely wrong, listen to ok time for plan B is by far the best song on the album and i dont believe that mothership is their best song. Listen to retrun to engergise how it mixes hardcore with the electronics in the middle of the song using perfect transition through styles.
Actually, i'm pretty sure he owned and listened to this album regularly for months before writing up this review.

It's called an opinion.

[Handraa]

Actually, i'm pretty sure he owned and listened to this album regularly for months before writing up this review.

It's called an opinion.
Hahaha.
Wow.
I'm a wanker.

[scmyth]

uh. wow. this guy has basically no concept of syntax at all. These aren't even complex sentence structures...it's like a preschooler wrote it: "Enter Shikari are not your typical post-hardcore band because of the added electrionic effects, and that is what Enter Shikari have going for them. Roughton "Rou" Reynolds is the master mind behind the electronics in Enter Shikari and has a good understanding of how to use it and make it sound good,". Honestly, horrible review.Enter Shikari IS an electronic post-hardcore band. Proper Noun = single entity => IS not ARE. Plus, learn how to string along a few adjectives once in a while; maybe you'll pass 7th grade English with those new skills.

[Handraa]

uh. wow. this guy has basically no concept of syntax at all. These aren't even complex sentence structures...it's like a preschooler wrote it: "Enter Shikari are not your typical post-hardcore band because of the added electrionic effects, and that is what Enter Shikari have going for them. Roughton "Rou" Reynolds is the master mind behind the electronics in Enter Shikari and has a good understanding of how to use it and make it sound good,". Honestly, horrible review.Enter Shikari IS an electronic post-hardcore band. Proper Noun = single entity => IS not ARE. Plus, learn how to string along a few adjectives once in a while; maybe you'll pass 7th grade English with those new skills.
So one mistake makes it a horrible review? Fuck off.

[Klatzke]

uh. wow. this guy has basically no concept of syntax at all. These aren't even complex sentence structures...it's like a preschooler wrote it: "Enter Shikari are not your typical post-hardcore band because of the added electrionic effects, and that is what Enter Shikari have going for them. Roughton "Rou" Reynolds is the master mind behind the electronics in Enter Shikari and has a good understanding of how to use it and make it sound good,". Honestly, horrible review.Enter Shikari IS an electronic post-hardcore band. Proper Noun = single entity => IS not ARE. Plus, learn how to string along a few adjectives once in a while; maybe you'll pass 7th grade English with those new skills.
That wasn't necessary.

[scmyth]

Maybe it was a bit harsh, but the review was a rambling mess; also, that album deserves a better review. Sorry if it was a bit caustic.