Enter Shikari facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Enter Shikari
Enter Shikari performing in 2015. From left to right: Rory Clewlow, Rou Reynolds, Rob Rolfe and Chris Batten.
Background information
Also known as	Hybryd (1999–2003) Shikari Sound System (DJ alter ego) Jonny and the Snipers
Origin	St Albans, England
Genres	Alternative rock electronic rock post-hardcore electronicore metalcore (early)
Years active	1999–present
Labels	Ambush Reality PIAS SO Recordings
Members	Chris Batten Rou Reynolds Rob Rolfe Rory Clewlow

Enter Shikari is a British rock band. They formed in St Albans, England, in 1999. The original members were Chris Batten (bassist), Rou Reynolds (lead singer and keyboardist), and Rob Rolfe (drummer). In 2003, Rory Clewlow joined as guitarist. This completed the band's current lineup. At that time, they also chose their name, Enter Shikari.

The band gained popularity quickly. In 2006, they played at the Download Festival. They also had a sold-out show at the London Astoria. Their first album, Take to the Skies, came out in 2007. It reached number 4 on the UK Album Chart. It has since sold enough copies to be certified gold. Their second album, Common Dreads, was released in 2009. It reached number 16 in the UK. Their third album, A Flash Flood of Colour, came out in 2012. It also reached number 4. Both of these albums have been certified silver.

Enter Shikari has their own record label called Ambush Reality. They also work with other labels to share their music worldwide. Their music mixes rock styles with different kinds of electronic music.

Band History and Early Days

Forming the Band (1999–2006)

The band started in 1999 under the name Hybryd. It included Rou Reynolds on guitar and vocals, Chris Batten on bass, and Rob Rolfe on drums. They released an EP called Commit No Nuisance. In 2003, Rory Clewlow joined as guitarist. The band then changed its name to Enter Shikari. The name came from Reynolds' uncle's boat, named Shikari. Rob Rolfe explained that "Shikari" is a Hindi word meaning "hunter". After the name change, Rou Reynolds focused on singing and playing electronic instruments.

Between 2003 and 2004, the band released three demo EPs. These were Nodding Acquaintance, Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour, and Sorry You're Not a Winner. These EPs had early versions of songs that later appeared on their first album. They often played at their local music spot, The Pioneer Club. In 2005, a radio DJ named Alex Baker played their song "OK Time For Plan B" on the air.

In August 2006, they released a music video for their song "Mothership". It became the "single of the week" on the iTunes Store. Their first physical single, "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B", came out in October 2006. It sold out very quickly. In early 2007, "Mothership" and "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B" appeared on the UK music charts. "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B" was also featured in the video games NHL 08 and Madden 08. Enter Shikari played at the 2006 Download Festival.

They were also featured in popular music magazines like Kerrang! and Rock Sound. On November 4, 2006, they became only the second unsigned band to sell out the London Astoria. They were also listed in NME's "New Noise 2007" as a band likely to become successful. Their next single, "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour", was released on March 5, 2007. It reached number 27 in the UK chart. The band also released a collection of demo tracks and singles called The Zone.

First Album: Take to the Skies (2007–2008)

Enter Shikari's first album, Take to the Skies, was released on March 19, 2007. By March 25, it reached number 4 on the UK Official Album Charts. This album included new versions of many songs from their earlier demo EPs and singles.

In March 2007, the band announced they would play at many big festivals. These included Download Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Glastonbury Festival, and Rock am Ring in Germany. On March 30, 2007, Enter Shikari announced "Jonny Sniper" as their next single. The music video for it came out on May 21.

By 2007, Enter Shikari had performed over 500 times. They started their first North American tour on May 14, 2007. They followed this with three more tours in North America. In May 2008, the band started a video series called "Enter Shikari: In the 'Low". These videos showed the band recording new music.

Second Album: Common Dreads (2009–2010)

Enter Shikari live at Heaven in London in 2009. From left to right: Clewlow, Rolfe, Reynolds and Batten.

In March 2009, NME confirmed that Enter Shikari had finished their second album, Common Dreads. They announced a tour in the UK and Europe. They also offered a free download of a new song, "Antwerpen". On April 15, 2009, their song "Juggernauts" was played on Radio 1. It was released as a single on June 1, 2009.

Common Dreads was released on June 15, 2009. It reached number 16 on the UK album chart. The second single from the album was "No Sleep Tonight". A video for the song "Zzzonked" was also released. It featured clips from a live show.

A special 2-disc version of Common Dreads came out in January 2010. The band also released a new single, "Thumper", on January 19, 2010. Another new song, "Tribalism", was played on Radio 1 on February 16, 2010. These songs were part of a new album of B-sides and remixes called Tribalism, released on February 22, 2010.

In February and March 2010, Enter Shikari toured Australia for the Soundwave festival. They then toured Japan. In April and May 2010, they supported the band A Day to Remember on their "Toursick" tour. In December, Enter Shikari held two Christmas shows in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. The live audio from these shows was released in a special box set.

Third Album: A Flash Flood of Colour (2011–2012)

On June 14, 2010, Enter Shikari announced a new song called "Destabilise". It was released as a download in October 2010. In June 2011, the band signed with Hopeless Records in the US. They also joined the Vans Warped Tour for the second time.

In mid-2011, the band released another single, "Quelle Surprise". Then, they released the first singles from their third album: "Sssnakepit" in September and "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi" in December.

The band released A Flash Flood of Colour on January 16, 2012. They played three album release shows in the UK. By the end of its first week, the album reached number four in the UK charts.

Later in 2012, the band started their world tour for A Flash Flood of Colour. They played in Japan, the United States, South Africa, and Europe. They also performed at many festivals, including Soundwave Festival and Reading and Leeds Festivals.

At the 2012 Kerrang! Awards, Enter Shikari won "Best Live Band" for the second time. Rou Reynolds also won 'Hero of the Year.' In November 2012, the band launched their own beer called "Sssnakepit". It was sold during their "A Flash Flood of Christmas" tour.

Rat Race EP (2013)

In April 2013, the band released a new song called "The Paddington Frisk". They later announced it was part of a three-track EP, which became the Rat Race EP. On June 5, 2013, the band announced they were filming a video for their new single, "Radiate". This song was first played on BBC Radio 1 on June 10. Five months later, "Rat Race" was released. The three songs were then combined into the Rat Race EP.

The band went on a big tour of the UK and Ireland in April and May. They played in smaller towns to thank fans who usually had to travel to bigger cities.

Fourth Album: The Mindsweep (2014–2016)

In late 2012, bassist Chris Batten mentioned that the band would start working on their fourth album after their touring finished in 2013. However, he said the album would not be ready that year.

On October 8, 2014, the band announced their fourth album would be called The Mindsweep. It was released on January 19, 2015. Before the album, they released singles "The Last Garrison" and "Anaesthetist". They also released two other songs, "Never Let Go of the Microscope" and "Slipshod". On January 12, 2015, they streamed the entire new album on their website.

In May 2015, they covered System of a Down's "Chop Suey!" for a compilation album. In June, they covered "Know Your Enemy" by Rage Against the Machine. On October 30, they released their first remix album, The Mindsweep: Hospitalised.

On January 12, 2016, a new single called "Redshift" was played on BBC Radio 1. Another new single, "Hoodwinker", was played on BBC Radio 1 on October 9, 2016. On August 25, 2016, the band announced a live album from their February 2016 show at Alexandra Palace. It was released on November 18, 2016. On November 8, 2016, Enter Shikari were announced as headliners for Slam Dunk Festival 2017.

Fifth Album: The Spark (2017–2019)

On August 1, 2017, Enter Shikari announced their new album The Spark. Its first single was "Live Outside". The album was released on September 22.

To promote the album, the band toured the UK, Europe, Japan, and North America. This was part of their The Spark World Tour. On February 15, 2019, the band released two limited edition live albums. These were Take to the Skies. Live in Moscow. May 2017 and Live at Alexandra Palace 2. Both were recorded in 2017.

In 2018, the band went on a tour called "Stop the Clocks". They played a new song with the same name. The band released this song as a single on August 12, 2019. This was just before their performances at the 2019 Reading and Leeds Festivals.

Sixth Album: Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible (2020–2022)

In an interview, the band said their next album would be their "most definitive Shikari record". It would feature something from every album. On February 10, 2020, a new single called "{ The Dreamer's Hotel }" was played on BBC Radio 1. The same day, they announced their new album would be Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible. It was released on April 17, 2020. A music video for "The Dreamer's Hotel" came out on March 5, 2020.

"The King" was the album's second single, released on March 8, 2020. Rou Reynolds described it as a "lesson in patience and forgiveness". "T.I.N.A." was the third single, released on March 22, 2020. The title stands for "there is no alternative". Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible reached number 2 on the UK album charts on April 30, 2020. This was the band's fifth album to reach the Top 10.

On April 16, 2021, they released Moratorium (Broadcasts from the Interruption). This album included reworked and live versions of songs from their past two albums. From November 2021 to February 2022, Enter Shikari went on a short European tour. They had a sold-out show at Alexandra Palace. On July 16, 2022, the band released their film, Live at Vada. On November 17, 2022, the band released a new song called "Bull". It was made with Cody Frost.

Seventh Album: A Kiss for the Whole World (2023–Present)

Rou Reynolds performing with Enter Shikari at the Lokerse Feesten 2025.

On January 12, 2023, the band released the single "(Pls) Set Me on Fire". At the same time, they announced their seventh album's title: A Kiss for the Whole World. The album was released on April 21, 2023. It debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart. This was their first album to reach the top spot.

Band's Music Style and Messages

Enter Shikari's music mixes different styles. It's been called alternative rock, electronic rock, post-hardcore, and electronicore. They are even thought to have started the electronicore style. Their early music also had elements of metalcore. Their sound is known for combining rock music, like punk rock, with electronic music. This includes styles like drum and bass, dubstep, techno, and trance.

Their songs often have heavy guitar parts and breakdowns. They also use electronic sounds, fast drum beats, and a mix of singing, screaming, and rapping. All band members help with vocals.

Rou Reynolds writes the lyrics for Enter Shikari. These lyrics often talk about important social and political issues. Reynolds believes that music like theirs should speak about important topics. He has said that if you remove the social commentary, it's "just noisy pop." However, he also doesn't mind if people just enjoy the music without focusing on the lyrics. He wants their general message to be about "love and unity."

The band has written about many political topics. These include climate change, the use of nuclear weapons, and capitalism. They have also written about more personal feelings. These include anxiety, depression, and losing someone important. Their album The Spark especially explores these personal themes. Reynolds said that he felt he had to write about these personal issues because of difficult times he experienced.

The band members have many influences. Guitarist Rory Clewlow mentioned bands like Refused, the Prodigy, and Rage Against the Machine. He also said that seeing local bands helped shape their sound. Rou Reynolds has also mentioned British pop music from the 20th century as a big influence on his songwriting.

Ambush Reality Record Label

Ambush Reality is an independent record label that Enter Shikari owns. It was first created only for the band's own music. But on July 21, 2014, they announced they would release a song by another band called Baby Godzilla (now known as Heck). The label started in July 2006. The band members and their friends run it together.

To tour in the United States, the band decided to work with a larger record label there. In August 2007, Ambush Reality partnered with Tiny Evil, a part of Interscope Records. This helped Take to the Skies be released in North America. Ambush Reality also signed a deal with Warner Music. This helped their album Common Dreads and future releases reach more people outside the UK. As of December 8, 2010, Enter Shikari / Ambush Reality changed their distribution. They now work with PIAS Entertainment Group for releases in the UK, Europe, Japan, and Australia. Since June 21, 2011, Enter Shikari's music in North America has been released through the independent record label Hopeless Records.

Band Members

• Rou Reynolds – lead vocals, programming, synthesizer, keyboards, acoustic guitar, rhythm guitar, trumpet, percussion (1999–present)
• Chris Batten – bass, vocals, synthesizer, keyboards, percussion (1999–present)
• Rob Rolfe – drums, percussion, backing vocals (1999–present)
• Rory Clewlow – lead guitar, vocals, percussion, keyboards, synthesizer (2003–present)

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  Rou Reynolds
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  Chris Batten
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  Rob Rolfe
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  Rory Clewlow

Music Albums

Studio albums

• Take to the Skies (2007)
• Common Dreads (2009)
• A Flash Flood of Colour (2012)
• The Mindsweep (2015)
• The Spark (2017)
• Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible (2020)
• A Kiss for the Whole World (2023)

Awards and Recognitions

Other Recognitions

• Rock Sound's poll for 'who will make it in 2007'.
• Ourzone Reader's Poll: Best Live Band 2011.
• Ourzone Reader's Poll: Who Will Own 2012.
• NME's User's Poll: Best Act at Reading and Leeds Festivals 2012.

See also

In Spanish: Enter Shikari para niños