To look back to the COVID-19 pandemic from where we are right now, it’s hard to imagine that we were living in a world where music was very much put on hold. Not just music, though, but artistic expression as a whole. Only in us being able to return to live music, standing side by side with like-minded people and screaming until our lungs give out to our favourite songs, that we realised just how much we took for granted. How that connection is what matters the most and that it is the thing that makes life worth living. A Kiss For The Whole World, the new record from Enter Shikari, is that sentiment, concentrated, bottled and launched across the room in some style.
Following on from 2020’s Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible, a record released just as the world shut down but one that in hindsight delivered plenty of home truths that became even more powerful throughout that period of uncertainty, the band’s 7th full-length feels like the sunshine finally breaking through the clouds. Despite their vital stances on world issues, Shikari as an idea has always been built on the foundations of positivity, of working together to reach a common clarity. That foundation takes the forefront on AKFTWW, a case study on what it means to fall in love with what you do all over again, and what it means to project that into the wider world. Take “(pls) set me on fire”, which serves as a rallying call to the universe to provide just a hint of inspiration or “Leap Into The Lightning”, which focuses on not letting go of that feeling once you find it again.
Though between these waves of motivation, there is still plenty of room for introverted existentialism, like with the empowering “Jailbreak” serving as a reminder to never feel a captive to your own belief system or the humungous “It Hurts” that tried to remodel failure as a method for growth rather than a dead end. All wrapped up in a coat of electronic experimentation with sprinkles of pop sensibility and splatters of metalcore brute force thrown in for good measure, it’s a collection of songs that keeps you guessing and linger on the mind long after the cork has been popped.
From the triumphant fanfare that raises the curtain to delicate electronics and the tranquil sound of the ocean’s current that bring it back down, Shikari have produced a masterclass in setting the human spirit alight. Half an hour of absolute power, designed to reinvigorate the soul, ensnare the senses and remind us of how truly wonderful this world we have created can be. In a career of incredible moments, A Kiss For The Whole World stands closer to the front of the pack, demonstrating how Enter Shikari still have the means to surprise, delight, and inspire even this deep into their adventure.
