Another post-hardcore piece from the tenured band Enter Shikari appears relatively tame when racked up against their most prominent efforts. There is a tonal capturing, which Enter Shikari have managed to do consistently, but it feels as though something larger is missing from Bull, their latest track. Clear and obvious rises and falls as the chorus begins to take hold, it is clear that Enter Shikari are building, always building, to the chorus as a centrepiece rather than a natural element of the track that aids it to a satisfying conclusion. The drum and bass are certainly on fine and obvious form, it just isn’t all that good.
Enter Shikari must be credited somewhat for managing to rattle out a track where the quality is improved tenfold through Cody Frost. Her vocal inclusion is in step with the track, yet it is Rou Reynolds, lead of Enter Shikari, that finds himself lost to the backrooms, occasionally yelling out an emo-like yell to counter Frost’s strong vocal delivery. Nothing can aid the lyrical consistencies though. They are not poor lyrics, they are just not gelling well with the voices on hand, to the point where Reynolds’ occasional yell and emo-core introduction to his range are about as good as his efforts get. It is not like an Enter Shikari track is the best place to spread the vocal or instrumental wings, though, as Bull is clearly a piece that has one thread to it.
Said thread is followed through with a real and inevitable sway. There is no getting away from how much Enter Shikari enjoy themselves here, that much is delightful to see. Enjoyment in a track is crucial, and although the band and their featured artist are giving it their all, there is a real disconnect with the audience. They have honed in the one part of this track that works, the chorus, and beaten it to a pulp. Beyond the point of nothing, they have pushed what they loved to the brink. In return, a demonstrable piece that feels as though it could be a mock-up, mash-up, of their work so far as a unit. Bull was not exactly promising to begin with, but it appears Enter Shikari have gone down the Gorillaz route of song making, relying on featured artists to inspire something unique.
Although it would be difficult to rest all that expectation on newcomer Frost, her work here is very solid. To the outsider, it would be hard to discern that she is not in fact the lead singer of Enter Shikari. She is given so much presence here that it is hard to engage with anything around it, especially when the technical merits and instrumental qualities of Beast are waning at the best of times. Their dancefloor desire misses out on what most tracks of this calibre require, a catchy beat. Instead, it sounds like the remnants of a Skrillex b-side, lingering on with a lyricist who feels as though a mix between Brendon Urie and Hayley Williams is acceptable. It is, but not for this track, which goes from weakness to weakness. At least it’s over in that delightful three-minute window reserved for this sort of electro-style music.
