Enter Shikari

Biography

Enter Shikari are an English rock band formed in St Albans, Hertfordshire in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003, guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current line-up, and it adopted its current name.
In 2006, they performed to a growing fanbase at Download Festival as well as a sold-out concert at the London Astoria. Their debut studio album, Take to the Skies×Take to the Skies14 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1[untitled]1:082Enter Shikari2:523Mothership4:304Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...4:325[untitled]1:016Labyrinth3:517No Sssweat3:168Today Won't Go Down in History3:349[untitled]1:2810Return to Energiser4:3511[untitled]0:1812Sorry, You're Not a Winner3:5213[untitled]0:3514Jonny Sniper4:0115Adieu5:4016OK, Time for Plan B4:5517[untitled]2:44, was released on 19 March 2007 and reached number 4 in the Official UK Album Chart, and has since been certified gold in the UK. Their second, Common Dreads, was released on 15 June 2009 and debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 16; while their third, A Flash Flood of Colour×A Flash Flood of Colour13 January 2012 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 18 tracks1System…1:572…Meltdown3:243Sssnakepit3:264Search Party4:065Arguing With Thermometers3:246Stalemate4:187Gandhi Mate, Gandhi4:268Warm Smiles Do Not Make You Welcome Here4:389Pack of Thieves3:5810Hello Tyrannosaurus, Meet Tyrannicide3:4611Constellations5:0412Quelle Surprise4:3413Destabilise4:3214Quelle Surprise (Rout VIP mix)5:2015Intro / Destabilise (live from the Electric Ballroom Oct 2011)6:1716Sssnakepit (live from the Electric Ballroom Oct 2011)3:3317Quelle Surprise (live from the Electric Ballroom Oct 2011)7:1618OK, Time for Plan B (live from the Electric Ballroom Oct 2011)5:11, was released on 16 Jan 2012 and debuted on the chart at number 4. Both have since been certified silver in the UK. The band spent a considerable amount of time supporting the latter release through the A Flash Flood of Colour World Tour, before beginning work on a fourth studio album, The Mindsweep×The Mindsweep14 January 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1The Appeal & The Mindsweep I4:512The One True Colour3:543Anaesthetist2:564The Last Garrison3:435Never Let Go of the Microscope4:036Myopia4:107Torn Apart3:548Interlude0:569The Bank of England3:2410There’s a Price on Your Head2:5011Dear Future Historians…6:2812The Appeal & The Mindsweep II3:3913Slipshod2:1514The Paddington Frisk1:1715Rat Race3:1716Radiate4:34, which was released on 19 Jan 2015. Their fifth studio album The Spark×The Spark22 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Spark0:512The Sights3:203Live Outside3:404Take My Country Back3:435Airfield4:536Rabble Rouser4:257Shinrin‐yoku4:168Undercover Agents4:309The Revolt of the Atoms4:4510An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces (In Two Movements)5:5811The Embers0:51 was released on 22 September 2017. Their sixth album Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible×Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible17 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1THE GREAT UNKNOWN3:252Crossing the Rubicon3:183{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }2:534Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (I. Crescendo)3:275modern living....2:536apøcaholics anonymøus (main theme in B minor)1:377the pressure’s on.2:598Reprise 30:469T.I.N.A.3:0510Elegy for Extinction3:5011Marionettes (I. The Discovery of Strings)2:5312Marionettes (II. The Ascent)3:1913satellites* *3:4714thē kĭñg2:4915Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (II. Piangevole)2:50 was released on 17 April 2020. Their seventh album, A Kiss for the Whole World×A Kiss for the Whole World20 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1A Kiss for the Whole World x3:322(pls) set me on fire3:043It Hurts3:194Leap into the Lightning3:045feed yøur søul1:186Dead Wood3:507Jailbreak3:548Bloodshot3:259Bloodshot (Coda)1:1810goldfĭsh ~3:2111Giant Pacific Octopus (i don’t know you anymore)2:3712giant pacific octopus swirling off into infinity…1:17, was released on 21 April 2023 and gave the band their first-ever number-one album on the UK charts. Their eighth and most recent album, Lose Your Self×Lose Your Self9 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1LOSE YOUR SELF4:192Find Out the Hard Way…4:263Dead in the Water3:094demons3:385The Flick of a Switch I.3:336i can’t keep my hands clean1:287it’s OK4:198The Flick of a Switch II.2:109Shipwrecked!3:4010Spaceship Earth (I. Avec Abandon)2:5511Spaceship Earth (II. Angoscioso)4:2812Spaceship Earth (III. Maestoso)3:16, was surprise released on 10 April 2026.
Enter Shikari have their own record label, Ambush Reality, but have also signed distribution deals with several labels to facilitate international releases. Their musical style combines influences from rock music and electronic music genres.

Beginnings (1999–2006)

In 1999 a band named Hybryd formed, consisting of Rou Reynolds on guitar and vocals, Chris Batten on bass guitar, and Rob Rolfe on drums. They released an EP called Commit No Nuisance×Commit No Nuisance2002 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 5 tracks1Fake4:072Honesty Box3:343Look Inside3:064Perfect Pygmalion4:505Torch Song3:24, which featured the tracks "Perfect Pygmalion", "Look Inside", "Torch Song", "Honesty Box" and "Fake". In 2003, with the addition of guitarist Rory Clewlow, Hybryd became Enter Shikari. The band was named after Shikari, a boat belonging to Reynolds' uncle. In a 2011 interview, Rolfe explained that: "Shikari is a Hindi word for hunter." After the band's line-up and name change, Reynolds focused his musical efforts on vocals and electronics instead of guitar.
During 2003 and 2004, the band released three demo EPs (Nodding Acquaintance, Sorry You're Not a Winner and Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour) that were available from their gigs and their website, featuring original versions of some songs that were eventually re-recorded for their debut album, Take to the Skies×Take to the Skies14 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1[untitled]1:082Enter Shikari2:523Mothership4:304Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...4:325[untitled]1:016Labyrinth3:517No Sssweat3:168Today Won't Go Down in History3:349[untitled]1:2810Return to Energiser4:3511[untitled]0:1812Sorry, You're Not a Winner3:5213[untitled]0:3514Jonny Sniper4:0115Adieu5:4016OK, Time for Plan B4:5517[untitled]2:44. They would frequently make appearances at their local music venue, The Pioneer Club, where they would play alongside other local bands. They had another demo EP planned for release in 2005 (no such EP materialised, although recordings surfaced online). For this the first versions of "Return To Energiser" and "Labyrinth" were recorded. Early versions of "OK Time for Plan B" and "We Can Breathe in Space" were also recorded around this time but it's unclear if these were destined for the EP. It was at this time that Kerrang! Radio's Alex Baker picked up on the band, and as he didn't have a physical release to play, he streamed "OK Time For Plan B" off the band's Myspace page, straight onto the airwaves.
In August 2006 they released a video of the single "Mothership×Mothership27 August 2006 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Mothership4:50" which became the single of the week on the iTunes Store. Their first physical single featured re-recorded versions of "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B", which had previously been featured on one of the demo EPs. It was released on 30 October 2006. It was limited to 1000 copies of each format and sold out within the first week of release. In mid January 2007, Enter Shikari's first single, "Mothership", entered the UK singles chart for one week at number 151, on Downloads only (despite its physical formats not being eligible for charts [at the band's request]). This was followed a week later by "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B", which charted at number 182 on the singles chart (despite its physical formats being ineligible for charts [at the band's request]) and number 146 in the Download Chart. In addition "Sorry You're Not a Winner/OK Time for Plan B" featured on the EA Sports video game titles NHL 08 and Madden 08. Enter Shikari secured a spot on the Gibson/Myspace stage at 2006's Download Festival.
They also had interviews with popular music press such as Kerrang! and Rock Sound. On 4 November 2006, they became only the second unsigned band to ever sell out London Astoria (the first being The Darkness).
They also made the NME's "New Noise 2007", a list of the bands it considers most likely to achieve success in the coming year (previous years lists have included the likes of Arcade Fire, Hot Chip and Bloc Party).
The next single released was "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour", on 5 March 2007. This was the band's second single to be released from their forthcoming debut album. It contained a re-recorded version of the song "Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour". It reached 27 in the Official UK chart.
The band released a compilation album titled The Zone×The Zone12 November 2007 · Album · CompilationSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 8 tracks1The Feast (demo)2:522Kickin' Back on the Surface of Your Cheek3:373Keep It on Ice2:534Adieu (Routron 5000 remix)7:235Sorry, You're Not a Winner (Zane Lowe BBC Session)4:236Mothership (demo)4:497Acid Nation3:128Enter Shikari (demo)2:53 just after the debut album, this contained various demo tracks and previously released singles.

Take to the Skies (2007–08)

The band's debut album, Take to the Skies×Take to the Skies14 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1[untitled]1:082Enter Shikari2:523Mothership4:304Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...4:325[untitled]1:016Labyrinth3:517No Sssweat3:168Today Won't Go Down in History3:349[untitled]1:2810Return to Energiser4:3511[untitled]0:1812Sorry, You're Not a Winner3:5213[untitled]0:3514Jonny Sniper4:0115Adieu5:4016OK, Time for Plan B4:5517[untitled]2:44, was released on 19 March 2007 and on 25 March it reached number 4 in the UK Official Album Charts. It contained re-recordings of many of the songs that had featured on the demo EPs and singles that were released prior to the release of the album.
During the month of March 2007 it was announced they would be playing at Download Festival, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Give it a Name, Glastonbury Festival, Oxegen festival in Ireland and Rock am Ring in Germany. On 30 March 2007, Enter Shikari announced that their next single would be "Jonny Sniper×Jonny Sniper21 February 2007 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Jonny Sniper4:022Acid Nation3:123Sorry You’re Not a Winner (Zane Lowe session)4:23" and would be released on 18 June. The song's video was premiered on 21 May. The single received bad reviews from NME.
Enter Shikari had performed over 500 times by 2007 and played on the Gibson/MySpace stage at 2006's Download Festival. On 14 May 2007, Enter Shikari started their first North America tour. This was followed by three more North American tours.
On 13 May 2008, the band released the first in a series of videos called "Enter Shikari: In the 'Low". The videos, posted on the band's YouTube page, showcased the band as they recorded their new single, "We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape", and demoed new material. One of the new songs set to feature on the album was "Step Up", which was first performed at Milton Keynes Pitz on 28 June 2008, the warm up show to Projekt Revolution the following day.

Common Dreads (2009–2010)

It was confirmed by NME that Enter Shikari had finished working on their second album, Common Dreads×Common Dreads15 June 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Common Dreads2:082Solidarity3:163Step Up4:404Juggernauts4:445Wall4:296Zzzonked3:277Havoc A1:408No Sleep Tonight4:169Gap in the Fence4:0710Havoc B2:5211Antwerpen3:1512The Jester3:5513Halcyon0:4214Hectic3:1715Fanfare for the Conscious Man3:45, in March 2009 and announced that they would tour the UK and Europe during 2009. They also made available a free download of a new song, "Antwerpen", from their website. On 15 April 2009 "Juggernauts×Juggernauts1 June 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Juggernauts (album version)4:472All Eyes on the Saint5:533Juggernauts (Nero remix)5:034Juggernauts (Blue Bear's True Tiger remix)3:35" was played on Radio 1 as Zane Lowe's "Hottest Track in the World" and was released as a single on 1 June 2009 with "All Eyes on the Saint" as its B side. The band also had help from musician Danny Sneddon who helped with the recording of "Juggernauts". On 1 May Kerrang featured their track-by-track of the album. Metal Hammer were the first to review the album online with a track-by-track.
Common Dreads was released through Ambush Reality on 15 June 2009 and debuted at No. 16 on the UK top 40 album chart. The second single to be released from Common Dreads was "No Sleep Tonight×No Sleep Tonight31 July 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksANo Sleep Tonight (The Qemists remix)BNo Sleep Tonight (Rout remix)". The 7-inch vinyl, CD single and MP3 download was released on 17 August 2009. A slightly modified version of the song "Wall" was released as a radio single, and a video for the song "Zzzonked", made of clips of a live show played at Norwich UEA, was also released.
A 2-disc version of Common Dreads was released in January 2010. Frontman Rou Reynolds announced that "we've got a different artist for each single from Hospital Records to do drum "n" bass remixes so we'll be releasing that as a 12". Then we're doing the same thing with (dubstep label) True Tiger who've done a dubstep remix of each single." However it was later said in a Radio 1 interview that in fact they were only having their main singles remixed.
The single "Thumper" was released on 19 January 2010, on BBC Radio One, as well as the new single "Tribalism×Tribalism22 February 2010 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Tribalism5:052Thumper3:443All Eyes on the Saint5:514We Can Breathe in Space4:045Insomnia (live @ Brixton '07)4:336Juggernauts (Nero remix)5:017No Sleep Tonight (The Qemists remix)5:588Wall (High Contrast remix)4:339No Sleep Tonight (Mistabishi remix)4:1610Juggernauts (Blue Bear's True Tiger remix)4:5511No Sleep Tonight (Rout remix)4:1112No Sleep Tonight (LightsGoBlue remix)4:3713Havoc A (live '09)1:4714Labyrinth (live '09)3:2515Hectic (live '09)4:01", which was first played on Radio 1 on 16 February 2010. These songs come off the new B-sides and remixes album Tribalism, which was released on 22 February 2010.
Throughout February–March 2010, Enter Shikari joined the Australian summer festival Soundwave along with other bands such as A Day to Remember and Architects, playing shows in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. The band then continued to tour Japan with A Day to Remember and Escape the Fate and in April–May 2010, they served as a support act, along with August Burns Red and Silverstein on A Day to Remember's Toursick.
On 18 and 19 December, Enter Shikari hosted two Christmas Party shows at The Forum in Hatfield, Hertfordshire. Special guest supports included Rolo Tomassi, Young Guns, Dark Stares, Don Broco and The Qemists. The audio from the shows was released via the band's limited edition box-set Live from Planet Earth - Bootleg Series Volume 3.

A Flash Flood of Colour (2011–12)

On 14 June 2010, Enter Shikari announced that they had returned to the studio to do a "one off new track" called "Destabilise×Destabilise26 October 2010 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Destabilise4:332Motherstep/Mothership (live)6:22" which was released as a download on 26 October 2010, and a limited edition coloured 7-inch vinyl on 29 November 2010.
In June 2011, the band signed to Hopeless Records in the US, and embarked on the Vans Warped Tour for the second year in a row.
In mid-2011, the band released another one-off single called "Quelle Surprise×Quelle Surprise19 May 2011 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Quelle Surprise (clean)4:362Quelle Surprise4:353Hectic (live in Hatfield)4:064Destabilise (Rout remix)5:155Destabilise (Creatures of Love remix)3:576Destabilise (Johnny and the Snipers version)4:04" before releasing the first single, "Sssnakepit×Sssnakepit20 September 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sssnakepit3:26" and "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi×Gandhi Mate, Gandhi2 December 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gandhi Mate, Gandhi4:28" in September and December, respectively, off their third album.
The band released A Flash Flood of Colour on 16 January 2012, and played three album release shows in London, Kingston upon Thames, and Leeds.
At the end of the first week of the album being released, the album reached number four in the U.K charts.
Later that year, the band began their first tour of A Flash Flood of Colour in February by heading out to Tokyo, Japan for one show, before playing Soundwave Festival, including a couple of "sideshows" on their off-days. The band continued their tour across the world, travelling to the United States, South Africa, Europe, Reading and Leeds Festivals, Pukkelpop, FM4 Frequency Festival, Sonisphere in Spain, T in the Park, Rock am Ring and Rock im Park, and many more, ranging from the end of May to the start of September.
In Summer 2012's Kerrang! Awards, the band scooped "Best Live Band" for the second time, along with Rou Reynolds winning 'Hero of the Year.' They were also nominated for best album, but lost out to Mastodon.
In November 2012 the band announced the launch of their own beer "Sssnakepit", a 5% lager brewed in conjunction with Signature Brew, which was launched in Manchester and sold on the "A Flash Flood of Christmas" tour at venues across the UK.
The band were also nominated for Best British Band and Best Live Band at the Kerrang! Awards 2013, but lost out to Bring Me the Horizon and Black Veil Brides respectively.

Rat Race EP (2013)

In April 2013, the band released a non-album single named "The Paddington Frisk×The Paddington Frisk5 April 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Paddington Frisk1:16", later announcing that it was part of a then unnamed three track EP due for release later that year (Rat Race×Rat Race3 November 2013 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1The Paddington Frisk1:162Radiate4:323Rat Race3:174Radiate (Shikari Sound System remix)3:49 EP). On 5 June 2013, the band announced via their official Twitter that they were recording a video for the new single "Radiate×Radiate11 June 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Radiate4:32", which was first played by Zane Lowe on his Radio 1 show on 10 June. The song was his Single of the Week. 5 months later, "Rat Race" was released, the three tracks were then amalgamated into the Rat Race EP, along with a trance remix of "Radiate" created by Reynolds' side project – Shikari Sound System.
The band headed out on an extensive tour of the UK and Ireland throughout April and May, purposefully playing in towns that don't usually get shows, as a thank you to those fans who usually have to travel to larger cities all the time to see bands. Support for the tour was Hacktivist. This tour was the first time the songs "The Paddington Frisk" was played, as well as "Juggernauts×Juggernauts1 June 2009 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 4 tracks1Juggernauts (album version)4:472All Eyes on the Saint5:533Juggernauts (Nero remix)5:034Juggernauts (Blue Bear's True Tiger remix)3:35" b-side "All Eyes on the Saint" from 2009

The Mindsweep (2014–2016)

In late 2012, bassist Chris Batten said that the band would begin working on their fourth studio album after their current touring had finished sometime in 2013. However, Batten also affirmed that the album would not be ready for release in that year.
On 8 October 2014, the band announced that their fourth album would be titled The Mindsweep×The Mindsweep14 January 2015 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 16 tracks1The Appeal & The Mindsweep I4:512The One True Colour3:543Anaesthetist2:564The Last Garrison3:435Never Let Go of the Microscope4:036Myopia4:107Torn Apart3:548Interlude0:569The Bank of England3:2410There’s a Price on Your Head2:5011Dear Future Historians…6:2812The Appeal & The Mindsweep II3:3913Slipshod2:1514The Paddington Frisk1:1715Rat Race3:1716Radiate4:34, and would be released on 19 January 2015. The album was anticipated by singles "The Last Garrison×The Last Garrison23 October 2014 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1The Last Garrison3:43" and "Anaesthetist×Anaesthetist5 January 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks01Anaesthetist2:5502Anaesthetist (Koven Remix)6:45". In addition, two tracks were also released between November and December 2014: "Never Let Go of the Microscope×Never Let Go of the Microscope27 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Never Let Go of the Microscope4:03" and "Slipshod×Slipshod19 January 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Slipshod2:14". On 12 January 2015 they put for the streaming on their website the entire new album. In May 2015 they covered System of a Down's Chop Suey! for Rock Sound's compilation Worship and Tributes, while in June they participated at Ultimate Rock Heroes compilation by Kerrang! with a cover of "Know Your Enemy", originally by Rage Against the Machine. On 30 October they released their first remix album, The Mindsweep: Hospitalised×The Mindsweep: Hospitalised30 October 2015 · Album · RemixSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Appeal & The Mindsweep I (Metrik remix)4:002The One True Colour (Keeno remix)4:573Anaesthetist (Reso remix)4:314The Last Garrison (S.P.Y. remix)4:185Never Let Go of the Microscope (Etherwood remix)4:536Myopia (Bop remix)5:147Torn Apart (Hugh Hardie remix)4:408Interlude (The Erised remix)4:019The Bank of England (Lynx remix)4:2910There’s a Price on Your Head (Danny Byrd remix)4:1011Dear Future Historians (London Elektricity remix)5:4412The Appeal & The Mindsweep II (Krakota remix)4:54, featuring remixes from drum and bass label Hospital Records artists.
On 12 January 2016, a single called "Redshift×Redshift11 January 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Redshift3:57" premiered on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1. Another new single called "Hoodwinker×Hoodwinker9 October 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hoodwinker3:47" premiered on Daniel P. Carter's show on BBC Radio 1 on 9 October 2016.
On 25 August 2016, the band announced a live album for their February 2016 Alexandra Palace show. It was initially due for release on 4 November 2016, however it was delayed until 18 November 2016 due to manufacturing issues.
On 8 November 2016, Enter Shikari were announced as headliners for Slam Dunk Festival 2017.

The Spark (2017–2019)

On 1 August 2017, Enter Shikari announced their new album The Spark×The Spark22 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Spark0:512The Sights3:203Live Outside3:404Take My Country Back3:435Airfield4:536Rabble Rouser4:257Shinrin‐yoku4:168Undercover Agents4:309The Revolt of the Atoms4:4510An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces (In Two Movements)5:5811The Embers0:51 with its lead single "Live Outside×Live Outside4 August 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Live Outside (edit)3:20". The album was released on 22 September.
To promote the album, the band toured UK, Europe, Japan, and North America on their The Spark World Tour.
On 15 February 2019, the band released a pair of limited edition live albums, Take to the Skies×Take to the Skies14 March 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1[untitled]1:082Enter Shikari2:523Mothership4:304Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour...4:325[untitled]1:016Labyrinth3:517No Sssweat3:168Today Won't Go Down in History3:349[untitled]1:2810Return to Energiser4:3511[untitled]0:1812Sorry, You're Not a Winner3:5213[untitled]0:3514Jonny Sniper4:0115Adieu5:4016OK, Time for Plan B4:5517[untitled]2:44. Live in Moscow. May 2017 and Live at Alexandra Palace 2 both of which were recorded in 2017 on their Take to the Skies 10 Year Anniversary Tour and their The Spark World Tour.
In 2018 the band embarked on an extensive tour of the UK, Europe, and Scandinavia, entitled "Stop the Clocks×Stop the Clocks13 August 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Stop the Clocks3:54", during which they performed a new song of the same name. The band released the song as a single on 12 August 2019 shortly before their performances at the 2019 Reading and Leeds Festivals where they played 5 different sets across the weekend. Following this, the band resumed their Stop the Clocks tour with a twelve-date American leg, which singer Rou Reynolds said would "bring the whole "Spark-era" full circle."

Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible (2020–2022)

In an interview with Kerrang while the band was in Australia for Good Things Festival, they revealed their next album will be the "most definitive Shikari record to date" and will feature something from every album.
On 10 February 2020, a new single called "The Dreamer's Hotel", stylised as { The Dreamer's Hotel }, premiered on Annie Mac's show on BBC Radio 1. The same day, they announced that their new album would be called Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible×Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible17 April 2020 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1THE GREAT UNKNOWN3:252Crossing the Rubicon3:183{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }2:534Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (I. Crescendo)3:275modern living....2:536apøcaholics anonymøus (main theme in B minor)1:377the pressure’s on.2:598Reprise 30:469T.I.N.A.3:0510Elegy for Extinction3:5011Marionettes (I. The Discovery of Strings)2:5312Marionettes (II. The Ascent)3:1913satellites* *3:4714thē kĭñg2:4915Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (II. Piangevole)2:50 and would release on 17 April 2020. An accompanying music video was released for The Dreamer's Hotel on 5 March 2020, almost a month after the initial release. The video features an unusual use of over-the-top rainbow effects, fitting with the rainbow motif of the album. "The King" was the album's second single, released on 8 March 2020. Frontman Rou described this track as a "lesson in patience and forgiveness" to Kerrang as they have worked on this single song for such a long time. "T.I.N.A.×T.I.N.A.22 March 2020 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1T.I.N.A.3:052thē kĭñg2:483{ The Dreamer’s Hotel }2:53" was the third single released on 22 March 2020. The title stands for "there is no alternative". Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible hit No. 2 on the UK album charts on 30 April 2020, 13 days after its release on 17 April. This was the band's fifth album to reach Top 10 and the third consecutive major album.
On 16 April 2021, they released Moratorium (Broadcasts from the Interruption) without advance notice. It includes songs from their past two albums that have been reworked, re-imagined, recorded live or as acoustic renditions.
On 24 November 2021 through 10 February 2022, Enter Shikari headed out for a brief European tour with a sold-out headline show at Alexandra Palace. On 16 July 2022, the band released their film, Live at Vada, directed by Tom Pullen.
On 17 November 2022, band released a new song named "Bull", recorded in collaboration with Cody Frost. The official music video released the same day.

A Kiss for the Whole World (2023–2026)

Simultaneously with the release of the single, "(Pls) Set Me on Fire×(pls) set me on fire12 January 2023 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1(pls) set me on fire3:04", the band's seventh album's title was revealed on 12 January 2023 as A Kiss for the Whole World×A Kiss for the Whole World20 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1A Kiss for the Whole World x3:322(pls) set me on fire3:043It Hurts3:194Leap into the Lightning3:045feed yøur søul1:186Dead Wood3:507Jailbreak3:548Bloodshot3:259Bloodshot (Coda)1:1810goldfĭsh ~3:2111Giant Pacific Octopus (i don’t know you anymore)2:3712giant pacific octopus swirling off into infinity…1:17. The album was released on 21 April 2023, and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart—their first to do so.
On 26 May 2025, the band announced a Live At Wembley album and an accompanying live film would on July 11, through SO Recordings / Ambush Reality capturing their biggest headline show to date from their 2024 UK arena tour. They will tour in June 2026. No support acts are announced.

Lose Your Self (2026–present)

On 10 April 2026, Enter Shikari surprise-released their eighth album Lose Your Self×Lose Your Self9 April 2026 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1LOSE YOUR SELF4:192Find Out the Hard Way…4:263Dead in the Water3:094demons3:385The Flick of a Switch I.3:336i can’t keep my hands clean1:287it’s OK4:198The Flick of a Switch II.2:109Shipwrecked!3:4010Spaceship Earth (I. Avec Abandon)2:5511Spaceship Earth (II. Angoscioso)4:2812Spaceship Earth (III. Maestoso)3:16 on digital streaming services through SO Recordings.
On 1 October 2026, Enter Shikari announced that at the end of 2027, the band would "fall dormant," adding that the dormancy may end with either an eruption back into activity or extinction.

Musical style, lyrical themes and influences

Enter Shikari's musical style has been variously described as alternative rock, electronic rock, post-hardcore, electronicore (which they are considered to have pioneered), experimental rock, post-rock, and on their early releases, metalcore and synth-metal. It is recognisable for combining rock music (especially punk rock and hardcore punk) with elements of various electronic music genres, including drum and bass, dubstep, techno, electronica and trance. It features breakdowns, heavy metal and hardcore-influenced instrumentation, dub-inspired "wobbles", anthemic choruses, drum and bass tempos and an alternation between sung, screamed (or occasionally growled) and rapped vocals, with all members contributing to vocals.
Enter Shikari's lyrics, written by frontman Rou Reynolds, are often politically charged. In a 2015 interview, Kerrang! Magazine wrote: "With Shikari a rare, political voice on the UK rock scene, Rou remains baffled by bands 'labelling themselves as punk that aren't speaking about anything of importance'. 'To us it's second nature,' he says. 'It's what this music is for. If you take out the social commentary, it's not punk, it's just noisy pop.'" At the same time, Reynolds "[doesn't] care if people don't read the lyrics" and only "appreciate Shikari as a noisy pop group". Although not all of the band's lyrics are political, "even when [Enter Shikari write] a love song, [Reynolds wants] to make sure [they] reclaim the love song from all the shit, vapid love songs on the charts." He also stated that the band's general message is that "if we base our lives around love and unity, then that's all that matters."
Political issues that the band have written about in their lyrics include – climate change and the misuse of natural resources, Donald Trump's presidency of the United States, the use of nuclear weapons and the United Kingdom's Trident nuclear programme, the privatisation of the UK's National Health Service, and capitalism.
Enter Shikari's lyrics have also centred around more personal themes throughout their career, such as lead singer Rou Reynolds' anxiety, depression, mental illness, self-pity and the loss of a loved one or idolised celebrity figure. Their album The Spark×The Spark22 September 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Spark0:512The Sights3:203Live Outside3:404Take My Country Back3:435Airfield4:536Rabble Rouser4:257Shinrin‐yoku4:168Undercover Agents4:309The Revolt of the Atoms4:4510An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces (In Two Movements)5:5811The Embers0:51 in particular delves more into personal issues within the band, with Reynolds stating in an interview with The Independent, regarding lyrical themes: "What I was trying to do with this album in marrying the personal and the political is to ensure that human vulnerability is laid bare, and to not be afraid to speak about emotions." He elaborates by stating that "I don't think I could have done it [writing more personal lyrics] before this record. So much happened over those two years [since the release of their previous album], globally and in my personal life, so before. I was kind of comfortable. I have a very finely attuned cringe muscle, I don't like writing about things that have been written about a thousand times. Some of it is maybe even a self-confidence thing, feeling as though I don't have much to offer in terms of art that helps other people. But seeing as 2015 was the year of hell for me, it wasn't just that I wanted to write a more personal record, I had to. There was no way of not doing it".
In an interview following the release of A Flash Flood of Colour, guitarist Rory Clewlow stated that the band's influences are numerous, but include Refused, the Prodigy, At the Drive-In, Sick of It All, Rage Against the Machine, the Beatles, Igor Stravinsky and The Dillinger Escape Plan, and that "most of [their] sound was originally developed through going to see local acts in and around [their] home town."
Rou Reynolds has cited British pop music from the 20th century as being a major influence on his songwriting, particularly on their album The Spark, with The Beatles, The Damned, Joy Division and New Order being key influences on him.

Ambush Reality

Ambush Reality is an independent record label owned by Enter Shikari. Although originally it was exclusively for the release of Enter Shikari's albums and songs, on 21 July 2014 the band announced via Facebook and Twitter they were releasing a song by Nottingham hardcore band Baby Godzilla (now known as Heck). Formed in July 2006, it is co-owned and run by the members of the band and their friends. The band has decided that, to tour in the United States, they had to sign with a major record label in America. On 28 August 2007, Ambush Reality said that Take to the Skies came out in North America in October 2007, with Ambush Reality joining Interscope Records imprint Tiny Evil. Ambush Reality signed a distribution deal with Warner Music to make the album Common Dreads×Common Dreads15 June 2009 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Common Dreads2:082Solidarity3:163Step Up4:404Juggernauts4:445Wall4:296Zzzonked3:277Havoc A1:408No Sleep Tonight4:169Gap in the Fence4:0710Havoc B2:5211Antwerpen3:1512The Jester3:5513Halcyon0:4214Hectic3:1715Fanfare for the Conscious Man3:45 and future releases more accessible outside the UK and also more widely advertised and promoted. As of 8 December 2010 Enter Shikari / Ambush Reality have left distribution through Warner and will distribute throughout UK/Europe/Japan/Australia via PIAS Entertainment Group.
As of 21 June 2011, Enter Shikari's releases in North America are via independent record label Hopeless Records.

Side projects

Reynolds has produced music as part of a side project with the name "Rout", which he sometimes performs in small venues and before shows. He previously used the names "Shark & Blitz" and "Routron 5000". The music develops on his penchant for electronics, resulting in a drum and bass/jungle/dubstep sound. Some songs feature samples of Rou and friends fooling around as well as iconic lines from movies or songs.
His most recent EP, released for ActionAid, features samples from ActionAid's project work in Ghana.
Rolfe also DJs under the moniker "Sgt. Rolfy", regularly playing slots at the band's aftershow parties. He plays a range of sounds, including trance, drum & bass, dubstep and even classical and parody tunes too.
Clewlow released his first remix, simply as "Rory C", for Don Broco's track "Priorities", from their new record in 2012.
Reynolds has also set up his own clothing company, Step Up Clothing.
On 25 April 2013 the band announced a side project called Shikari Sound System, an alter-ego of the group. The band announced it on their Facebook page straight after they had been announced to play at Reading and Leeds Festival during the summer. Frontman Rou assured fans on his Twitter page that it would be "The same 4 scallywags but playing a live dance set". Shikari Sound System played their debut set at The Reading and Leeds festivals and were joined by members of hardcore band Hacktivist as well as Danny Price who now regularly hosts SSS DJ sets. Shikari Sound System were announced for Slam Dunk Festival on 24 February 2016 and have done regular slots in the UK and Europe.
In 2017, Rou Reynolds released a book named Dear Future Historians, a song-by-song lyrical analysis of the band's work including photos. By popular demand, the book was revisited and expanded in 2019 to include music released since its original publication, and received another strictly limited edition run.
In August 2020, it was announced that Enter Shikari would become the main sponsor of their hometown team, St Albans City Football Club. In 2022, Chris Batten signed on with the football club to play one football match against Dagenham & Redbridge F.C. to raise money to support those affected by the Russian Invasion of Ukraine.
In August 2023, it was announced that Enter Shikari have entered into partnership with The Pioneer Club, the venue where they began performing, and Headliner Group, a music and tech media company, to form Headliner Spaces. Headliner Spaces was set up with the aim to reinstate The Pioneer Club as a touring-circuit grassroots venue and also to have a wider reach into the community. They subsequently auctioned off pieces of Enter Shikari memorabilia such as Reynolds' Kaoss Pad, used most notably on 'Sorry You're Not a Winner' with proceeds going to The Pioneer Club Charity. As part of the partnership, the band also donated £1 from every ticket sold for the 2024 promotional arena tour for their album, A Kiss for the Whole World×A Kiss for the Whole World20 April 2023 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1A Kiss for the Whole World x3:322(pls) set me on fire3:043It Hurts3:194Leap into the Lightning3:045feed yøur søul1:186Dead Wood3:507Jailbreak3:548Bloodshot3:259Bloodshot (Coda)1:1810goldfĭsh ~3:2111Giant Pacific Octopus (i don’t know you anymore)2:3712giant pacific octopus swirling off into infinity…1:17, to UK-based grassroots venues affected by the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, the nationwide cost-of-living crisis and gentrification.

Band members

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