Enter Shikari have just dropped their brand new album in full out of the blue, the follow-up to 2023’s ‘A kiss for the whole world’.
They revealed the drop at their incredibly intimate show at Manchester’s Satan’s Hollow last night (April 09), nearly 20 years to the day since they last performed there. The set included old-school classics such as ‘Labyrinth’ and ‘Juggernauts’, as well as rare shows of rabble-rousers such as ‘The Paddington Frisk’ and ‘Quelle Surprise’. They also unveiled new track ‘Find Out The Hard Way’, the first taste of what to expect from ‘Lose Your Self’.
A beautifully considered piece of pop sensability and rousing sentiment, it’s a marker of what the album as a whole is trying to convey. From the stark admissions of ‘Dead In The Water’ to the vital truth-telling of ‘it’s OK’, it’s a record that speaks to the confusing, frustrating and unpredictable state of things right now, and refuses to hide away from it. A collection of songs that reminds you that you aren’t alone in your struggle, and that, as always, we are so much better suited as a collective, it’s the perfect album for the unknown of today.
Vocalist Rou Reynolds had this to say about the record and the reasoning for releasing it in this manner:
“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.
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.”
So, here we go, time to dive in.
The band have also announced that they will be playing a string of additional tiny release shows. Tickets for these shows will be available from April 15 from right here.
APRIL
23 – LIVERPOOL Cavern
24 – KINGSTON Fighting Cocks
25 – LONDON Signature Brew
If you can’t make it to one of them, the band will be making their way around the UK later this year with support coming from Holding Absence and The Callous Daoboys. Here are those dates.
NOVEMBER
03 – HAMBURG Sporthalle
04 – MUNICH Zenith
05 – LEIPZIG Haus Auensee
06 – DUSSELDORF Mitsubishi Electric Hall
07 – BERLIN Columbiahalle
10 – BRUSSELS Forest National
11 – TILBURG 013
13 – NOTTINGHAM Motorpoint Arena
14 – CARDIFF Utilita Arena
15 – HULL Connexin Live
18 – GLASGOW Hydro
19 – MANCHESTER Co-op Live
20 – LONDON Alexandra Palace
21 – LONDON Alexandra Palace
