It has been almost three years since Enter Shikari last released a new single. On their previous outing ‘The Great Unknown’, the final single to be taken from their UK #2 album Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible, we last heard the band questioning “Is this a new beginning? / Or are we close to the end?” As they now share highly anticipated new material, the answer to those questions comes into sharp focus: a new beginning is upon us.
Long-established as restless innovators operating in entirely their own lane, Enter Shikari re-emerge with some of their most thrilling and potent work so far, in collaboration with Wargasm. ‘The Void Stares Back’ spins a startling pop sensibility into a haymaker chorus, that erupts to champion acceptance, community, belonging and the power of progress. It’s about staking your claim, being who you are, searching for like-minds and ushering out the antiquated views of old.
Lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds comments:
“It is with elation, and more than a little nervousness, that we release this; our first track after over two years of dormancy. It is a roisterous journey made all the more so with the addition of our friends Wargasm. Thematically, the piece is about the forward march of social progress, and how, often, those with a more conventional archaic outlook on sexuality, gender, social design, economics etc, see those with differing ideas like bewildering, depraved creatures from another dimension.”
Wargasm add: “Shikari were a big part of our growing up, so it was an absolute honour to be asked to collaborate with such an incredible and well-spoken band. They stand for the right things – we’re a little more pessimistic. It was fun playing the darker devil’s advocate to Rou’s light…where we’re going, you won’t need eyes to see…”
‘The Void Stares Back’ is released in the wake of several large live music returns. The band headlined last summer’s Download Pilot Festival and sold out a fourth show at London’s Alexandra Palace as part of an album tour victory lap. The band plays the mainstage at this month’s Reading & Leeds Festivals.
