For a band as creative as St Albans’ own electronic-hardcore-rock fusion pioneers, Enter Shikari, the last thing you would expect them to do is sit on their hands.
And that’s exactly what’s come to pass, as only a year after achieving their first UK number one with A Kiss For The Whole World, they follow up with companion album Dancing On The Frontline.
There is always a risk with remix albums that they either end up feeling superfluous. Or, they go too far down the rabbit hole away from the original. Here, Enter Shikari thread the needle somewhat and limit the remixes, and include live versions and non-album tracks that will delight their ardent following.
“Goldfish”, followed by “Bloodshot” open the album having received the Shikari Soundsystem treatment – the bands own DJ offshoot – and have been transformed into hard electronic bops; the drops and beats dialled up to the max.
The transformation of “Bloodshot” is particularly catching; the original skirting through genres and textures in typical Shikari fashion, but opening up with a huge anthemic chorus. Now it’s aggressive and on the attack.
But the following tracks are arguably the most interesting part of the album, as Shikari give their team up with Wargasm – “The Void Stares Back” from 2022 – a permanent home, with three other non-album tracks: “Bull (feat. Cody Frost)”, “STRANGERS” and “Losing My Grip”.
The inclusion of “The Void Stares Back” is interesting given the time since it was first released but it’s pacing through a range of flavours is still satisfying even after all this time. With “Bull”, the group evoke a blend of Pendulum and industrial-edm beats. While “STRANGERS” satisfies with a huge chorus that cuts and chugs with massive guitar chords, and “Losing My Grip” is primed to set crowds into a moshing frenzy.
The run of live tracks which close the album are a nice addition, and only serve to demonstrate the groups reputation as one of the best live acts going. But overall, Dancing On The Frontline satisfies without going far: what’s here will be more than worthwhile for Shikari’s passionate following, but it’s incomparable to what the group are capable of with the freedom of a full original offering.
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