| The Spark | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 22 September 2017 | |||
| Studio |
| |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 40:36 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | David Kosten, Rou Reynolds | |||
| Enter Shikari chronology | ||||
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| Singles from The Spark | ||||
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.
Following world events in 2016, including Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, leadman Rou Reynolds announced on Twitter that he had been suffering from general anxiety disorder. He declared his frustration and newfound inspiration to write what he intended to be the band's most important work. [7]
Recording for The Spark took place at Angelio Studios and Muttley Ranch in England with David Kosten and Reynolds acting as producers. Sessions were recorded by Kosten and Tim Morris. Additional recording was done by Reynolds at Radiate Studios with assistance from Luke Gibbs. Koston provided additional keyboards and programming to the tracks. In addition, Will Harvey and Augusta Harris contributed violin and cello, respectively. Koston mixed the album, which was mastered for CD and digital download by Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering and for vinyl by Stuart Hawken at Metropolis.
On 31 July 2017, the band released a music video for the first single "Live Outside". [8] On 13 September 2017, the second single and the music video for "Rabble Rouser" was released. [9] The album was released on 22 September 2017 through Ambush Reality and PIAS Recordings. [10] In November and December 2017, the band will support the release of the album with an arena tour of the UK and mainland Europe. [8]
| Aggregate scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 74/100 [11] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [3] |
| Alternative Press | [11] |
| Drowned In Sound | 8/10 [12] |
| The Guardian | [13] |
| The Independent | [14] |
| Kerrang! | [11] |
| NME | [2] |
| Sputnikmusic | [15] |
The Spark was met with positive reviews from critics. Metacritic gave the album an aggregated score of 74/100, indicating "generally favorable reviews", based on 10 reviews. [11]
Francesca Gosling writing for The Irish Times gave The Spark a positive score of 8/10, summarising that "Those hoping for a return to the earlier sound may be disappointed, but Enter Shikari's unflinching desire to evolve with every release is something very exciting indeed." [16]
The Spark won the Best Album award at the 2018 Kerrang! Awards.
All lyrics by Rou Reynolds. All music by Enter Shikari. [17]
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The Spark" | 0:47 |
| 2. | "The Sights" | 3:18 |
| 3. | "Live Outside" | 3:37 |
| 4. | "Take My Country Back" | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Airfield" | 4:46 |
| 6. | "Rabble Rouser" | 4:22 |
| 7. | "Shinrin-yoku" | 4:15 |
| 8. | "Undercover Agents" | 4:24 |
| 9. | "The Revolt of the Atoms" | 4:42 |
| 10. | "An Ode to Lost Jigsaw Pieces (In Two Movements)" | 5:55 |
| 11. | "The Embers" | 0:44 |
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 12. | "Redshift" | 3:58 |
| 13. | "Supercharge" (feat. Big Narstie) | 3:33 |
Personnel per booklet. [17]
Enter Shikari
Additional musicians
| Production
|
| Chart (2017) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA) [19] | 56 |
| Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [20] | 50 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [21] | 68 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [22] | 173 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [23] | 60 |
| Scottish Albums (OCC) [24] | 4 |
| UK Albums (OCC) [25] | 5 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC) [26] | 1 |
| UK Rock & Metal Albums (OCC) [27] | 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.
"Anything Can Happen in the Next Half Hour..." is the second physical single, and third overall, by Enter Shikari and the second single to be released from their debut album Take to the Skies. It was released on 18 February 2007 for digital download and on 5 March 2007 on both CD and 7" vinyl. It is the band's highest charting single, charting at #27 in the UK single chart, and number 1 on the UK indie chart. There are two remixes of the song, Colon Open Bracket Remix and Grayedout Mix. Both are up for download on their official download store.
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.
The Zone is the first compilation album by British rock band Enter Shikari. It was announced on 1 October 2007 by one of the members of Ambush Reality and was released on 12 November 2007. The compilation features b-sides, demos and a remix by Rou's side-project, Routron 5000. The first few released have 2 hidden tracks, these were put on by mistake. Three tracks are from the BBC Radio 1 Zane Lowe Session performance.
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.
"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.
"Arguing with Thermometers" is a single by British rock band Enter Shikari from their 2012 album A Flash Flood of Colour. The song was included on a 5-track EP released via iTunes along with a music video and remixes.
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.
"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 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.
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.
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 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.
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