| Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible | ||||
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| Released | 17 April 2020 | |||
| Recorded | 2019–2020 | |||
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| Length | 43:43 | |||
| Label | SO Recordings, Ambush Reality | |||
| Producer | Rou Reynolds | |||
| Enter Shikari chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible | ||||
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Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible is the sixth studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, released on 17 April 2020 through Ambush Reality and SO Recordings.
British rock band Enter Shikari released their fifth studio album The Spark on 22 September 2017, via Ambush Reality and PIAS Recordings. [4] [5] The following year, on 26 November 2018, they released a book titled The Spark – Lyrics & Exegesis of Rou Reynolds, which featured all lyrics from The Spark, as well as essays on the album's tracks provided by frontman Rou Reynolds. [6]
In December 2019, following extensive touring in support of their previous record, The Spark , lead singer Rou Reynolds expressed his desire in an interview with Kerrang! to create the "most definitive Shikari record to date", with Reynolds further elaborating that "[this is] the one that a fan would pass to their mate like, 'You don't know Shikari? This is where you start.'" [7]
Following the album's announcement, Reynolds spoke once again to Kerrang! about the themes and sounds on the album, saying, "Possibility is the central theme of the album, lyrically, but it also is musically, too. We've pushed further and asked ourselves, 'Where can we go? Let's fucking go there!' One track is a symphonic orchestral piece, but then there are other tracks that wouldn't sound out of place on our first album, Take to the Skies . I think one thing about this album that's slightly different is that we set out to make something that encapsulates everything that Shikari have done. This album is more broad, and there's more confidence in the songwriting."
Recording for the album took place throughout 2019 and early 2020, with the band documenting the process via a WhatsApp number that fans could follow to receive studio updates directly. [8] Nothing Is True was produced by Reynolds; "it gave us more attention to detail. There are more hours that have been put into this album than any other – a lot more sweat, toil, and crippling indecision!"
When asked about the meaning of the title, Reynolds stated "The 'Nothing Is True' part is a statement of what it feels like to be alive in 2020, it's hard to grasp the truth. There's so much tribalism, bias and ulterior motives everywhere, and it's becoming increasingly difficult to know where to place your trust. And I love the 'Everything Is Possible' part, because the usual phrase is 'Anything Is Possible'. And that's that empowering, motivational, 'You can do anything; anything is possible!' thing. But 'Everything Is Possible' makes it far more sinister. 'Anything' implies choice, but 'Everything' is more daunting, because it takes the focus away from your choice. That, then, is a much better reflection of where we're at, because possibility, traditionally, is a positive thing. But now possibility has become terrifying. The word 'possibility' is shifting to become much more of a layered, deep and scary concept. The title also mirrored the music, and how we keep pushing ourselves." [9]
Although the songs share many lyrical themes in tune with a 2014 book with the identical title, Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible , the band has not confirmed this is intentional.
On 7 February 2020, the band began posting images across their social media and website featuring a new aesthetic. [10] On 10 February, the band announced the album and premiered its lead single, "The Dreamer's Hotel", on BBC Radio 1 with Annie Mac along with a string of intimate album release shows across Europe and the UK. These shows were later cancelled due to the then-burgeoning COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the band to announce their winter 2020 European and UK tour early, [11] which was later postponed to June 2021. [12]
On 8 March 2020, the second single "The King" was released. [13] This was followed by the release of "T.I.N.A" [14] and "The Great Unknown" [15] on 22 March and 8 April, respectively. The band premiered the song "Satellites" on BBC Radio 1 on 16 April, the eve of the album's release. [16]
Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible was released worldwide on 17 April 2020 through SO Recordings.
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 80/100 [17] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [18] |
| Clash | 4/10 [19] |
| Evening Standard | [20] |
| Gigwise |   [21] |
| Kerrang! | 4/5 [22] |
| NME | [23] |
| Q | [24] |
| Sputnikmusic | 4.2/5 [25] |
| VultureHound |  [26] |
Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible has an aggregated score of 80/100 based on "generally favorable reviews" on Metacritic, from 7 reviews.
In a 4 out of 5 star review for NME , Ali Shutler wrote: "Nothing is True & Everything is Possible brings together every shape that Enter Shikari have ever pulled and slots them together to create their most definitive album yet. It's a crash course in their unruly genius and all their best tricks – a Greatest Hits waiting for you to learn the words." [23]
Kerrang! was similarly complimentary towards the album, with reviewer Tom Shepherd stating, "despite the band stretching their boundaries wider than ever before and employing a kitchen-sink approach to experimentation, this is the most Enter Shikari sounding record the band have made to date. That they're able to juggle all of this while making something that captures the uncertain mood and feelings of a generation only serves to show off their genius further." [22]
Clash 's Josh Gray was markedly more critical in his 4 out of 10 review of the record, stating that "Enter Shikari really do lose something of themselves on Nothing Is True and Everything Is Possible, an album buried under the boundless ambition of its creators," whilst also conceding that the band "have the tools and drive to create something potentially mind-blowing, it's just that they fell well short of the mark on this occasion." [19]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "THE GREAT UNKNOWN" | 3:25 |
| 2. | "Crossing The Rubicon" | 3:17 |
| 3. | "{ The Dreamer's Hotel }" | 2:53 |
| 4. | "Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (I. Crescendo)" | 3:26 |
| 5. | "modern Living...." | 2:52 |
| 6. | "apøcaholics anonymøus (main theme in B minor)" | 1:36 |
| 7. | "the pressure's on." | 2:58 |
| 8. | "Reprise 3" | 0:46 |
| 9. | "T.I.N.A." | 3:05 |
| 10. | "Elegy for Extinction" | 3:49 |
| 11. | "Marionettes (I. The Discovery of Strings)" | 2:53 |
| 12. | "Marionettes (II. The Ascent)" | 3:19 |
| 13. | "satellites* *" | 3:46 |
| 14. | "thē kĭñg" | 2:48 |
| 15. | "Waltzing off the Face of the Earth (II. Piangevole)" | 2:50 |
| Total length: | 43:43 | |
Enter Shikari
Additional musicians
| Production
Additional personnel
|
| Chart (2020) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [27] | 64 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [28] | 35 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [29] | 50 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [30] | 2 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [31] | 2 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [32] | 1 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [33] | 2 |
Enter Shikari are a British rock band formed in St Albans in 1999 by bassist Chris Batten, lead vocalist and keyboardist Rou Reynolds, and drummer Rob Rolfe. In 2003, guitarist Rory Clewlow joined the band to complete its current line-up, and it adopted its current name. In 2006, they performed to a growing fanbase at Download Festival as well as a sold-out concert at the London Astoria. Their debut studio album, Take to the Skies, was released in 2007 and reached number 4 in the Official UK Album Chart, and has since been certified gold in the UK. Their second, Common Dreads, was released in 2009 and debuted on the UK Albums Chart at number 16; while their third, A Flash Flood of Colour, was released in 2012 and debuted on the chart at number 4. Both have since been certified silver in the UK. The band spent a considerable amount of time supporting the latter release through the A Flash Flood of Colour World Tour, before beginning work on a fourth studio album, The Mindsweep, which was released in 2015. Their fifth studio album The Spark was released in 2017. Their sixth album Nothing Is True & Everything Is Possible was released in April 2020. Their seventh and latest album, A Kiss for the Whole World, was released on 21 April 2023 which gave them their first-ever No. 1 album.
Take to the Skies is the debut studio album by British rock band Enter Shikari.
"Jonny Sniper" was the third physical single, and fourth overall, by Enter Shikari and the third single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies. The band have referred to the single as a "double a-side", possibly due to the positive response to "Kickin' Back on the Surface of Your Cheek", the b-side from the previous single.
Common Dreads is the second studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, released on 15 June 2009 and 16 June in the US. Recording of the album took place in late 2008–2009. The album was produced and mixed by Andy Gray at Arreton Manor. Guitar production was carried out by Dan Weller of SikTh.
"Juggernauts" is a song by British rock band Enter Shikari produced by record producer Andy Gray for their second studio album, Common Dreads. The song was released as a single on 29 May 2009. The song was also released on 7" limited edition vinyl, of which only 1000 copies were made. "Juggernauts" was first broadcast to the public on Zane Lowe's show on BBC Radio 1 on 15 April 2009. It was selected by Scott Mills as his record of the week on 1 June 2009.
Enter Shikari are an English rock band formed in 2003. Their debut album, Take to the Skies, was released on 19 March 2007 and reached number 4 in the UK Albums Chart. The album was later certified Gold. Their second album, titled Common Dreads, was released on 15 June 2009 and peaked at number 16. Their third studio album A Flash Flood of Colour was released on 16 January 2012 and debuted at number 4. Their fourth studio album The Mindsweep was released on 19 January 2015 to critical acclaim.
No Sleep Tonight is a song by British rock band Enter Shikari, taken from their second studio album, Common Dreads. The song was released as a single on 31 July 2009.
Electronicore is a fusion genre of metalcore music with elements of various electronic music genres, often including trance, electronica, and dubstep.
"Quelle Surprise" is a single by British rock band Enter Shikari, released on 19 May 2011. It was originally planned to be the first single released from the band's third studio album A Flash Flood of Colour. However, Rou Reynolds later confirmed that it would not feature, and instead will be a stand-alone single much like the previous single "Destabilise". The song was first played live at the SXSW Festival on 18 March 2011 in Austin, Texas. The track's debut airing was on 19 May 2011 Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show, he chose the track for the "Hottest Record In the World" spot.
A Flash Flood of Colour is the third studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, and was produced by Dan Weller. The album was recorded in May and June 2011 at Karma Sound Studios in Bang Saray, Thailand, and at the Fortress in London, United Kingdom. It was released internationally on 16 January 2012 by Ambush Reality, the band's record label in the United Kingdom, and Hopeless Records in North America.
Arcane Roots were a three-piece alternative rock band from Kingston upon Thames, England, formed in 2006. In its final incarnation, the band consisted of Andrew Groves, Adam Burton (bass), and Jack Wrench (drums).
The Mindsweep is the fourth studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, released on 19 January 2015 through Ambush Reality, PIAS Recordings and Hopeless Records. It was recorded in 2014 with producer Dan Weller.
"Rat Race" is a single by British rock band Enter Shikari. The song was first played on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio One show on the evening of 31 October 2013. The single was released with a remix of the song Radiate by Enter Shikari's alter ego Shikari Sound System. The band also released an EP, which compiled the two previous singles "The Paddington Frisk" and "Radiate".
"Anaesthetist" is the second single taken from the album The Mindsweep by British rock band Enter Shikari. The song was first played on Zane Lowe's BBC Radio 1 show on 5 January 2015. An official video for the song directed by Mike Tyler was released on YouTube later the same day.
"Redshift" is a single by British rock band Enter Shikari. The song was first played on BBC Radio 1 on 11 January 2016 and released as a digital single the day after. An official video for the song directed by Mike Tyler was released on YouTube the same day.
The Spark is the fifth studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, released on 22 September 2017 through Ambush Reality and PIAS Recordings. It was recorded in Northamptonshire in early 2017.
The Spark World Tour was a concert tour by rock band Enter Shikari, which took place throughout 2017 and 2018, in support of the band's fifth studio album The Spark, released on 22 September 2017. The tour followed the band's 10 year anniversary tour of their debut album Take to the Skies throughout early 2017.
Moratorium (Broadcasts from the Interruption) is the third compilation album by British rock band Enter Shikari, released on 16 April 2021. Recorded throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the album consists of remote live and acoustic performances recorded while the band members were separated from one another due to lockdown measures.
Truth Decay is the eighth and final studio album by English rock band You Me at Six. It was released on 10 February 2023, through the band's own recording label Underdog Records and AWAL in association with Rise Records.
A Kiss for the Whole World is the seventh studio album by English rock band Enter Shikari, released on 21 April 2023 through SO Recordings. It was preceded by the lead single "(Pls) Set Me on Fire" and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart, becoming Enter Shikari's first number-one album.
