• 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 May: the planned 7” EP on Throne Records is withdrawn and will be released by Level Plane from the USA instead.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

In Existence
Shikari Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Did the thought of seeking beyond the boundaries of our enclosing existence ever cross your mind?
We get a fix on
Greed and consumption
Trained into perfection
Living an assumption
We are deceived in our loves, fights and motivations
I truly wish that we just could all see through the blinds
Create your own existence

Overall Meaning

In Shikari's song "In Existence," the lyrics speak to the existential question of whether or not there's more to life beyond our human perceptions. The first line, "Did the thought of seeking beyond the boundaries of our enclosing existence ever cross your mind?" taps into deep philosophical ideas of whether or not there is something more beyond the tangible world in which we exist. The following lines, "We get a fix on greed and consumption, Trained into perfection, Living an assumption," speak to the idea that the world around us has conditioned us to focus on materialism and perfection, leading us to believe that this is all there is to life. The line "We are deceived in our loves, fights and motivations," speaks to the superficiality of the world around us and the constant manipulation we face on a daily basis. The final line, "I truly wish that we just could all see through the blinds, Create your own existence," encourages listeners to break free from societal norms and create their own path in life.

Overall, the song speaks about the importance of questioning what we are taught and not conforming to societal norms. It encourages listeners to consider that there may be more to life than what we see in our everyday lives.

Line by Line Meaning

Did the thought of seeking beyond the boundaries of our enclosing existence ever cross your mind?
Have you ever considered exploring beyond the limits of your current existence?

We get a fix on
We become fixated on

Greed and consumption
The desire for more material possessions and the act of consuming beyond our needs

Trained into perfection
Taught to strive for flawlessness

Living an assumption
Existing based on assumptions and not actual facts or truths

We are deceived in our loves, fights and motivations
We often deceive ourselves when it comes to matters of love, conflict, and our desires

I truly wish that we just could all see through the blinds
I sincerely hope that we can gain clarity and see past our own biases and misconceptions

Create your own existence
Take control of your life and shape it to your own desires and aspirations

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

TRACKS