Enter Shikari- A Flash Flood Of Colour

The unorthodox, post hardcore-electro  quartet that is Enter Shikari return to the music scene this week with their third studio recorded album, ‘A Flash Flood Of Colour’ and the one word that springs to mind on first impressions is  ‘versatility’.  After a three year stint of alternative focus on other projects, the St Albans based boys have returned with a very impressive new selection of rhythms and effects, redeeming much of their initial success that was gained from their first album ‘Take to the Skies’ in 2007, after a generously mediocre second album in 2009, ‘Common Dreads’.

The beginning of every album is usually essential in telling the band’s current position as an artist and with ‘A Flash Flood of Colour’, the opening tracks ‘System…’ and ‘Meltdown’, Enter Shikari  demonstrate their highly talented technical approach to their electronic composition blended with their natural aptitude as musicians. The return of drop C tuned guitars and fast trance beats seen in previous work is most noticeable, but a certain unconventional difference in their structure of tracks is evident too. The range of styles that have been immersed into each track really defines the album as a record of resourceful genius.  Its underground appeal would have really increased now with the rise in popularity of dubstep and drum’n’bass styles in the past couple of years, possibly a reason for the band’s return at such a suitable instance. Amongst the exhilarating beats and rave-style tenacity a serious undertone of political standpoints  focused on contemporary ideas is witnessed in ‘Stalemate’ and ‘Gandhi mate, Gandhi’. Plus on an album that grabs your attention as much as ‘A Flash Flood of Colour’, this lyrical nuance is definitely clearer to acknowledge than on previous albums.  One problem with the arrangement of tracks on the album is that the last few tracks really weaken the album as a whole. From ‘Warm Smiles Do Not Welcome Here’ onwards, it seems as if the final tracks fail to offer anything beneficial . ‘Constellations’ is quite a weak track to end on and therefore suggests that ideas became limited, but the soft aura that this final recording protrudes does complete a very impressive, unexpected and unprecedented return to the music scene for Enter Shikari.

The band have successfully created an album that consistently sustains their best work to date, with a flurry of techniques and ideas that have amalgamated a range of styles and genres. This once again questions the bands true genre and retains their distinct and unique style. Also, the band’s recent hiatus has offered a beneficial retrospective review on their previous work, using many of their best aspects  and then taking that next step to effectively electrify and emphasise these qualities.

8.5/10