First in a series of exclusive indie artist performances!
CraveOnline is proud to present “CraveOnline Soundcheck”, a new series of performances by independent bands that are worthy of your attention.
Check out the first CraveOnline Soundcheck exclusive, Enter Shikari performing their song “Kickin Back on the Surface of Your Cheek”:
New Album: “Take To The Skies”
Enter Shikari is a band that many Americans may unfortunately be unaware of for a couple of reasons, the main one being that they are technically unsigned. Refusing to sign with a major label, the UK post-hardcore band instead began recording and distributing under their own independent label, “Ambush Reality”. The music business today is much more conducive to a do-it-yourself-approach than it has ever been, which has so far worked out quite nicely for Enter Shikari. Their first full-length album, “Take To The Skies”, has charted as high as #4 on the UK charts, with two singles reaching #1 on the rock and indie charts.
Despite the huge success achieved at home, the lack of major label marketing and distribution has kept “Take To The Skies” from crossing over to the US and achieving international success, until now. Enter Shikari have partnered with Interscope subsidiary “Tiny Evil Records” (AFI, Jimmy Eat World) to market, distribute and tour the album in America.
“Take To The Skies” should sound somewhat familiar to fans of Glassjaw, At The Drive-In and post-hardcore bands of that ilk that are heavy without eschewing the rythym and harmonies more closely associated with emo rock. What sets then apart is the way they combine the “whisper-to-a-scream” guitar and vocal aesthetic with an ever-present key and synth sound that is both danceable and atmospheric. The synthesizer arrangements add a lot of character to each of the songs, without overpowering the rest of the band, and really make every song memorable.
Nearly every song on “Take To The Skies” will surely melt the faces of hardcore/metal fans that aren’t afraid of a little experimentation, indie rock hipsters and pop rock fans alike. Definitely pick up this album, or at the very least, download “Mothership”, “Labyrinth” and “Sorry You’re Not A Winner”, although you’ll then be missing out on all the really cool little musical interludes between songs.
