After starting the year with a social media wipe and world tour announcements, Enter Shikari dropped eighth studio album ‘Lose Your Self’ at midnight last night, with no fanfare and no warning. The follow up to 2023’s ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ is another statement piece from the St Albans alternative rock quartet, who have always embedded symbolism and ethical messages into their music.
Since their inception in 2003, vocalist Rou Reynolds, guitarist Rory Clewlow, bassist Chris Batten and drummer Rob Rolfe have continuously evolved their sound. Enter Shikari is best known for a lively fusion of rock, hardcore punk, and electronic dance music. In the early days, they leant heavily into the hardcore and rave elements, but ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’ saw them embrace a vibrant synth-pop style while still maintaining a strong rock presence. The band has also been lauded as one of the top British live acts of the last 20 years, since their breakthrough as rowdy rave-rockers through to their current era of arena-crushing rock with a heart.
Since announcing their tour dates for the UK, Europe and North America back in January, Shikari returned to radio silence. The group had not released any material since ‘A Kiss For The Whole World’, which was a UK Number One Album in 2023, and its remixed companion piece ‘Dancing On The Frontline’ in 2024. Last night however, their Instagram account was again cleared of content, save for one post revealing the surprise release of ‘Lose Your Self’, which had snuck its way onto the internet at midnight.
View this post on Instagram
In a newsletter, Reynolds explained the rationale behind its low-key launch: “We’re delighted to present LOSE YOUR SELF, and give people the chance to hear a Shikari record like never before – as a cohesive whole. We want people to go on a proper journey with this album, and see where it takes them. No lead up, no singles, and no explanation. Forcing the listener to actually listen, without being drip-fed ideas out of context, or spoon-fed explanations. We simply present it all, for the listener to immerse themself in. Releasing in this way was also a decision to not be distracted by chart races, or accolades and things. We got the No.1 album on our last record. This is simply about the music being presented in a natural way.”
Enter Shikari have always packed their albums and live shows with messages of hope, critiques of the state of the world and urgent pleas for causes like environmental sustainability and peace. The theme of this one seems to be a stark look at the current affairs around AI, with a heavy emphasis on introspection and a cultural loss of humanity. Reynolds finishes the post with the statement “Despite turning out to be one of our darkest and heaviest albums to date, it also preaches hope and offers answers. Shikari will always offer hope, because without hope there is no action. We’ll just always offer it with a dose of realism.”
The title track ‘Lose Your Self’ is a classic Enter Shikari opener, blasting in with big riffs and an EDM feel reminiscent of the band’s live cover versions of Faithless’s ‘Insomnia’. Later songs like ‘Find Out The Hard Way’ are upbeat anthems, while the darkness and negativity comes through in ‘I can’t keep my hands clean’ and both parts of ‘The Flick Of A Switch’. The peak of the album is its genius three-part closing suite ‘Spaceship Earth’, where the feelings of hope begin to flutter up and the boys really get to show off their composing chops on a progressive-rock movement.
Shikari played their first live show of the year in Manchester this week, making an intimate return to the 400-capacity venue Satan’s Hollow on the 9th of April. Their last show there in 2006 stuck with the members as a significant milestone in their ascent to the big leagues. Last night, they announced an April run of small-venue launch shows, which they promise will “give fans a unique experience to see the band up close and personal, and a chance to see the brand new songs live for the first time.” Then, they’re back on the road for their North American tour through the summer, before finishing in November for their Europe, UK and Ireland headlining dates.
‘Lose Your Self’ is out now on streaming platforms, as well as on physical releases available from their official sellers. Catch Enter Shikari touring the album this year on these dates:
April Release Shows:
• 21 – The Academy, Dublin
• 23 – The Cavern, Liverpool
• 24 – The Fighting Cocks, Kingston
• 25 – Signature Brew, London
November UK Tour With Holding Absence & The Callous Daoboys:
• 13 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
• 14 – Utilita Arena, Cardiff
• 15 – Connexin Live, Hull
• 18 – Hydro, Glasgow
• 19 – Co-op Live, Manchester
• 20 – Alexandra Palace, London
• 21 – Alexandra Palace, London
