One of the most electrifying, unpredictable long-standing bands in music today is Enter Shikari, always bringing something new to the table and crafting pieces that stick with you for years and years. I remember the first time I heard “Juggernauts” off of Common Dreads, I thought it was the coolest synth run ever. And I still do! The rush of energy the band brings is undeniable, and I hope to see more of that in Nothing is True & Everything is Possible, the group’s anticipated sixth album as I take a listen today!
A somber piano bit transitions into the electronic nature of Shikari in leading single “THE GREAT UNKNOWN.” Rou continues to hit high notes with grace and yell lower notes with authority as he ponders, “Is this a new beginning, or are we close to the end?” “Crossing the Rubicon” sparks a poppy vibe from eclectic synth and compressed percussion. The band’s abundant range is already audible two tracks into the album.
“{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }” sees Rou deliver an anarchistic tirade for the record’s first instance, par for the course for Enter Shikari. In addition, the lyricism paints a portrait in the listener’s mind, inviting them as a guest of this hotel. “Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (I. Crescendo)” starts up one of the processions occurring throughout NiT&EiP, adding weight to the thematic tone with an explorative track fusing an avant-garde approach into their sound.
Next up is “Modern living….” with bass in the verse so thick that it set my haptic feedback headphones ablaze. The rap delivery from Rou gets his point across in a contemporary fashion. He claims in the chorus, “We’re apocaholics, drinking gin and tonics” to lead into the following piece, “Apocaholics Anonymous,” a deliberately-disjointed, futuristic composition to give the previous one closure.
“The Pressure’s On.” follows, a highly-processed, fine-tuned alternative romp. Enter Shikari’s unprecedented ability to flip styles like a switch for tunes like this make them one of the most versatile acts around. “Reprise 3” is a brief interlude to give the listener a breather before seven more tracks await.
“T.I.N.A.” has an absolutely memorable hook with a bouncy beat to boot. Simultaneously a dance track and rock riot, this is the standout song for me and one I’ll be listening to frequently after this review. “Elegy For Extinction” boasts elegant strings and jovial horns, an orchestral piece complete with a rising action, climax, and closure to the end.
Up next is “Marionettes (I. The Discovery of Strings),” the start-up of another two-part jaunt. Another highly-expansive electronic cavalcade of sounds, it never feels like overload, as the focused extraction of sounds comes together uniformly. The second part, “The Ascent,” is metallic and more characteristic of the band’s past as Rou examines the final resting place of the ideology of truth.
“Satellites* *” vocaloid intro gave me a flashback to Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek.” Another vintage Shikari track, this is another one that’s going to stick with me for a while. “thē kĭñg,” another single, has a savage shout from Rou as this captivating piece is more essential listening for fans of the band. The album concludes with a part II to the previous “Waltzing off the Face of the Earth,” where nature sounds meet digitization and a soft guitar amble.
Nothing is True & Everything is Possible is further proof that Enter Shikari not only hasn’t lost a beat, but consistently adds to their arsenal of powerful songs, with experimentation at the forefront every step of the way. Sounding like five different bands at once, listeners can’t predict what they’ll do next. With twists and turns and progressive pieces all coming into place, this is an unmissable album that shows there’s a lot still left in the tank for these UK rockers.
A press copy of Nothing is True & Everything is Possible was provided courtesy of Wasted Youth PR.
