Enter Shikari is a four-piece experimental post-hardcore/electronicore band… Read Full Bio ↴Enter Shikari is a four-piece experimental post-hardcore/electronicore band from St Albans, Hertfordshire, England formed in 2003. The band's music incorporates various rock and metal sub-genres with elements of various electronic genres such as electronica, dubstep, trance, and drum and bass, making the band particularly difficult to assign to one genre. The incorporation of electronic genres has become more prominent in their music throughout the band's history. Lyrically, their music tackles political, social and scientific issues.

The band is named after a boat belonging to Roughton "Rou" Reynolds' uncle, and a character in a play which he wrote before forming the band, both of which are named Shikari. Despite being offered several major label record deals, their debut album Take to the Skies was released on their own label - Ambush Reality - in March 2007, reaching the dizzy heights of #4 in the UK's official Album Charts and going on to sell over 100,000 copies in the UK (the album was released in Europe through PIAS, in North America on Ambush Reality / Tiny Evil, and in Japan on Hostess).

In March 2008, after spending 12 months on the road across the globe, Enter Shikari set up camp in their rehearsal room (a large shed in Chris Batten's back garden which they christened "The 'Low") to begin writing tracks for their second album such as Antwerpen which was released as a free digital-download from the band's website.

In July they played to their largest live audience at the UK date of Linkin Park's 'Project Revolution' travelling festival alongside JayZ, Pendulum and N*E*R*D, as well as playing several shows with Linkin Park in mainland Europe.

Enter Shikari followed a UK / Ireland tour in October 2008 with the release of a one-off single 'We Can Breathe In Space, They Just Don't Want Us To Escape' (a finished version of a track the band demoed in 2005 but never got around to ever finishing properly until the summer 2008).

In mid-November 2008 the band started work recording their second album in Arreton Manor on the Isle of Wight with producer Andy Gray. Here they demoed, produced and mixed new tracks for the band's second album titled Common Dreads which was released June 15th 2009 on CD, Vinyl and digital download. The first track to be heard by the public was Juggernauts aired on 15th April 2009 as Zane Lowe's "Hottest Track in the World" on BBC Radio 1. Juggernauts was released on the 1st June 2009 reaching #26 in the UK Official Single Charts and was aired regularly by Radio 1.

Following the release of Common Dreads via Ambush Reality on the 15th June 2009, the album reached #16 on the UK Top 40 Official Album Chart and was highly-rated by magazines such as Kerrang!, Rocksound and Metal Hammer. No Sleep Tonight was also released as a single on August 17th 2009 with a large number of remixes following it from artists such as ROUT, Mistabishi, The Qemists and LightsGoBlue.

The band recently visited the US, Germany and the Czech Republic on a mini-tour and have another UK tour scheduled for October 2009 supported by The Devil Wears Prada and also a number of dates with The Prodigy in November.

After their late 2009 UK tour, Enter Shikari toured throughout the US on the extensive summer of 2010 Vans Warped Tour. November 2010 saw Enter Shikari touring with 30 Seconds to Mars.

Enter Shikari's third album titled A Flash Flood Of Colour was recorded at Karma Bay Studios in Bangkok, Thailand and was produced by Dan Weller (former-SikTh guitarist). The album was released on the 16th January 2012 in the UK and worldwide. The first single from the LP was "Sssnakepit". It was released on September 20, 2011 as a digital download. According to the Sssnakepit Songfacts, "Quelle Surprise," which was made available in May 2011, was originally intended to be the first official release from the set, but the band ultimately decided to not include it on the album in the end, although did include it on the Deluxe Version. The second single, "Ghandi Mate, Ghandi" was released as a digital download on iTunes in December, followed by a video of single 'Arguing with Thermometers' posted on YouTube a few days before the release of the album.

Enter Shikari is:
Roughton 'Rou' Reynolds - vocals, electronics
Liam 'Rory' Clewlow - guitar, vocals
Chris Batten - bass, vocals
Rob Rolfe - drums

Step Up
Enter Shikari Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Come

If our own lives aren't directly affected
Then it don't need to be corrected
Our fucking gift is our ignorance
Yeah, we're really serious

As they're paying for deliverance

We shut ourselves from the outcries
We blinker ourselves from the eyesores
'Cause we know we've got greatness within us

We have greatness within us
Innovative, giving, determined
It's time for the best in us to come out

And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today

Yes, solid

Now let me get one thing straight, you know what?
Sometimes I do wish apples were our currency
So your hoarded millions would rot in their vaults
And that'd teach you to lay off the assault
That you're barraging on the lands of the poor

And I know we've all got enough problems of our own
But, but they're not show stoppers sitting on our throne in a home
Heated by a life unknown to the exploited
And it's so frustrating, the fucking state we're in

If our own lives aren't directly affected
Then it don't need to be corrected
Our fucking gift is our ignorance
Yeah, we're really serious

As they're paying for deliverance
We shut ourselves from the outcries
We blinker ourselves from the eyesores

And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today

And you can find imbalance
You can destroy imbalance
And you can change your values
Step up today

Why is it that so many companies
Don't deserve us and can't get rid of us?

British Empire built free trade
Opportunistic, pushing

Overall Meaning

“Step Up” by Enter Shikari is a song that expresses the frustration and outrage of the band and their audience towards the current state of the world. The song starts with a critique of the individualistic nature of society, where people tend to ignore the problems of the world as long as it doesn't affect them personally. The lyrics suggest that ignorance is considered a "gift," something that allows people to live in their own bubble of comfort without having to worry about the issues that plague the outside world. The band urges the listener to step out of their comfortable bubble and take action against the imbalances and injustices in the world. The song promotes the idea that everyone has the power to make a difference, no matter how small their actions may seem.

The song continues with a scathing critique of the global economic system, where the wealthy hoard their wealth and exploit the poor. The lyrics suggest that the system is rigged in favor of the wealthy, and that the exploited have no voice or power to fight against it. The song uses imagery of a post-apocalyptic society, where apples have become a currency, to emphasize the absurdity and immorality of the current system.

Overall, "Step Up" is a call to action for the listener to stand up against the injustices and imbalances in the world, to take responsibility for their actions and to work towards a better future for all. It is a song that speaks to the frustrations and anger felt by many in today's society.

Line by Line Meaning

If our own lives aren't directly affected
If we aren't personally impacted, we ignore it

Then it don't need to be corrected
We only fix problems that affect us

Our fucking gift is our ignorance
We choose to ignore important issues

Yeah, we're really serious
We are deliberately apathetic

As they're paying for deliverance
The poor are ignored as they struggle

We shut ourselves from the outcries
We pretend not to hear the cries of the needy

We blinker ourselves from the eyesores
We refuse to acknowledge the unpleasantness in our world

'Cause we know we've got greatness within us
We believe that we are inherently good and special

We have greatness within us
We have the potential to make positive change

Innovative, giving, determined
We are capable of new ideas, compassion, and persistence

It's time for the best in us to come out
We need to put our skills and potential to use

And you can find imbalance
You can locate injustice and inequality

You can destroy imbalance
You have the power to eliminate inequality

And you can change your values
You can choose to believe in different things

Step up today
Take action to change the world

Now let me get one thing straight, you know what?
Listen up and pay attention

Sometimes I do wish apples were our currency
I wish wealth was based on a simple, fair system

So your hoarded millions would rot in their vaults
Hoarded wealth would lose value and be meaningless

And that'd teach you to lay off the assault
The wealthy would learn to stop exploiting the poor

That you're barraging on the lands of the poor
Exploitation of poor countries is cruel and unfair

And I know we've all got enough problems of our own
Everyone has their own challenges and struggles

But, but they're not show stoppers sitting on our throne in a home
Our problems aren't preventing us from living in luxury

Heated by a life unknown to the exploited
We benefit from the oppression of others

And it's so frustrating, the fucking state we're in
Our current situation is enraging and disappointing

Why is it that so many companies
Companies often behave poorly

Don't deserve us and can't get rid of us?
Why do we allow ourselves to be mistreated?

British Empire built free trade
The legacy of imperialism and exploitation is still felt today

Opportunistic, pushing
We value greed and self-interest above all else

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: CHRIS BATTEN, LIAM RORY CLEWLOW, ROBERT ROLFE, ROUGHTON REYNOLDS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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