• Spring 1999. Mark and Maurice decide to start a new band beside Office Ki… Read Full Bio ↴• Spring 1999. Mark and Maurice decide to start a new band beside Office Killer. They ask Michael and Bas to join. The name SHIKARI (Word used for hunter, in India) makes it appearance. Obvious musical influences from bands such as Mohinder and Union of Uranus.

• 2000. First gig in local youthcenter Simplon (Groningen, Netherlands) in January. In February the first recordings (8 songs) are made in the Kuschelrock Studio in Bremen, and are released on Deadlock Records in December as the “Robot Wars” 10”.

• 2001. February: six songs are recorded in the Kuschelrock for a split 10” with Seein’ Red from Amersfoort. Another 3 songs for extras (the song Biela for a Spanish compilation, an Unbroken cover and another). June: 4 songs are recorded in Kuschelrock for a 7” EP to be released on Throne Records from Spain. September: Shikari joins AÇÃO DIRETA from Brasil on some dates in East-Germoney and Czech Republic. On 25 November is recorded 1 live-song (Ons Land) for the “Maximaal Onthaal” compilation CD on Royal Blood Records from Amsterdam. On 14-15 December the complete 10” (split with Seein’ Red) recording session is re-recorded because of deletion of the original tracks… 2 Songs won’t make the eventual release.

• 2002. April / May: UK Tour with Seein’ Red. Due to constant delays of the split 10” release, Seein’ Red and SHIKARI decide to make a special UK tour mini-CD. This CD contains the Shikari and Seein’red songs that were especially recorded for the (canceled) Spanish compilation. May: the planned 7” EP on Throne Records is withdrawn and will be released by Level Plane from the USA instead. August: the split 10” with Seein’red is released. November: the 7” EP is released in the USA. The European pressing will be done by Nova in 2003.

• 2003. The European release of the 7” is canceled because of bad pressing / quality. The US pressing will not be repressed. Instead, a CDEP will be released with the same songs and a videoconcert (look here for one song). March: 3 songs are recorded in the Kuschelrock for a split 7” EP with SIN DIOS on La Idea from Madrid. October: The CDEP gets officially released.

• 2004. The split 7” with Sin Dios is postponed. 2 songs will be used for a split 7” with Phoenix Bodies instead, and is released in May by Electric Human Project. 7th and 8th April recorded 6 songs for the SIN DIOS split 7” and LOUIS CYPHRE split 9”. In August the “Your Revolution Is Not Much More Than A Piece Of Paper” tape is released by Antagonia Difision / Rebirth Records in Chili. In september the “1999-2003” compilation CD is released on Level Plane Records. The songs for the SIN DIOS 7” are used for a split 7” with ACAO DIRETA from Brasil.

• 2005. The “1999-2004” tape is released in Malaysia. Shikari split up in January and the final gig took place on 7th May in the Simplon venue (where also the very first concert was done). The split 9” with Louise Cyphre from Germany came out in July.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Bas is now cooling down in a bluesband, Maurice jamming away in some garagerock and stoner projects, Mark still trying to work out a serious band and Michael going strong with Makiladoras.

• July 2006 update: Maurice is playing guitar in a new band called MARAT. Mark is singing in Grinding Halt. Makiladoras did their final gig in June so Michael is bandless for the moment.

• June 2009: shikari is back together in their original line-up to play some shows and then see what the future holds. First thing will be playing at the Cry Me a River festival in Germany.

Bas - bass (ex-Disengage, ex-One Day Closer)
Mark - vocals (ex-Office Killer, ex-Orwell Nation, Grinding Halt)
Maurice - guitar (ex-Office Killer ex-Marat, Allöchtöön)
Michael - drums (ex-Puinhoop (voc), ex-Bloedbad (voc), ex-R.O.Conspiracy (voc), ex-Catweazle, ex-Tuco Ramirez, ex-PCP, ex-Makiladoras)

Bandcamp
Source: http://www.bacteria.nl/Shikari_Frame.htm

Encounters
Shikari Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Standing on behalf of the crowd
Thinking where did
I bring myself and you ask
What's the threat?

I keep running into disillusion
It's hard not to be cynical
Alternative nation inhibited

By leaders and followers
Who do you identify with?
Don't you know
You have to choose sides
Let the cleansing begin
Be sure to wear the right stigma

All I believed in faded away
Are my expectations too high
Or are you afraid of recognition
And admit it at the same time

My hero died today and
I held the knife
Walked right into it

If this is the current state
Of evolutions, count me out

My hero died today
And I should have seen it coming…

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Shikari's song Encounters can be interpreted as a commentary on the current state of society and politics. The opening lines, "Standing on behalf of the crowd, thinking where did I bring myself," suggest a sense of self-awareness and questioning one's place in society. The following lines, "What's the threat?" could be interpreted as a question posed to those in power, asking what is causing societal issues and problems.

The verses that follow touch on the disillusionment with the current state of society, particularly with politics. The line "Alternative nation inhibited by leaders and followers" implies that those who consider themselves different or alternative are still limited and influenced by those in power. The subsequent question, "Who do you identify with?" highlights the division and need to choose sides that exist in modern politics.

The chorus of the song is particularly poignant, with lines like "My hero died today and I held the knife, walked right into it." This suggests a sense of responsibility and accountability for the current state of affairs, as if we are all complicit in allowing things to get to this point. The final line of the chorus, "If this is the current state of evolutions, count me out," implies a sense of disillusionment and loss of hope for the future.

Overall, the song can be interpreted as a call to action and a plea for change. It highlights the need for self-reflection and taking responsibility for one's actions, as well as the need for societal and political change.

Line by Line Meaning

Standing on behalf of the crowd
I am representing the people and standing up for them

Thinking where did I bring myself and you ask What's the threat?
Reflecting on the situation and someone asks if there is any danger

I keep running into disillusion
I am constantly facing disappointment and losing faith

It's hard not to be cynical
It is difficult to maintain optimism in such circumstances

Alternative nation inhibited by leaders and followers
People with different ideas are being suppressed by both those in power and those who blindly follow them

Who do you identify with?
Which group do you align yourself with?

Don't you know You have to choose sides
It is necessary for you to pick a side

Let the cleansing begin
It is time to purge the negativity and start fresh

Be sure to wear the right stigma
Be careful not to be labeled as part of the wrong group

All I believed in faded away
Everything I held dear has disintegrated

Are my expectations too high
Am I expecting too much?

Or are you afraid of recognition
Perhaps you are scared of being recognized for who you really are

And admit it at the same time
And acknowledging it at the same time

My hero died today and I held the knife
The person I looked up to has died and I feel responsible

Walked right into it
I knowingly and willingly made the mistake

If this is the current state Of evolutions, count me out
If this is the present state of progress, then I want no part in it

My hero died today And I should have seen it coming…
The person I admired has passed away, and I knew it was inevitable but ignored the signs