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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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ENTER SHIKARI
+ Creeper + Windwaker
@ The Gov, Adelaide,
15th November 2022
(Live Review)

Review by Kayla Hamilton

Photos (Forum, Melbourne, 11th November) – Taylah Walton Photography

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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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Finishing off their whirlwind tour of Australia in the city of Adelaide, avant-garde UK rockers Enter Shikari delivered to an almost sold-out crowd a show that nobody will be forgetting anytime soon. Notorious for their explosive live shows and with a cult following that span many genres, there is no wonder an audience filled with people from all ages and walks of life turned up to The Gov on a Tuesday night.

Tasked with the responsibility of warming up the crowd was Melbourne heavy rockers Windwaker. With a setlist that also spans many genres, their eclectic sound and intense energy won the crowd over in an instant. The die-hard Windwaker fans in the audience led the way and very early in their set, the pit was opened, and the crowd was moving. If you have never had the opportunity to see Windwaker live or have never listened to them before, then you are in for a treat. Their music draws influence from metalcore, nu-metal and alternative rock, with their little twist. Their original tracks bounced from heavy breakdowns and harsh vocals to heavenly and melodic hooks that whipped the crowd into a frenzy. As the crowd piled into the venue, the pit got bigger. It was obvious that the crowd dug what Windwaker was putting out. There is not a band in Australia that would have been the more perfect choice to open this show.

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WINDWAKER, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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WINDWAKER, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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After the intensity and heaviness that Windwaker brought to the stage, it was time for the first of the UK acts to perform. Creeper brings their unique brand of horror-punk to the stage. They were smooth, cool and stylish- that kind of aura that cannot be faked. Most importantly though- they went hard and their talent as musicians, songwriters and performers are hard to deny. Reminiscent of bands like AFI and Alkaline Trio, with almost a Bowie and dare it to be said, My Chemical Romance feel- it is easy to see why this band is so loved amongst the Adelaide audience. Having stage presence was a must for this tour and Creeper brought it all. Adelaide crowds have been notorious in the past for not doing what the singers tell them to do unless they respect them, so if that is the way to measure how much the crowd is feeling the artist- then Adelaide loves Creeper. Singing, dancing, jumping, moshing- nobody was still the entire set. It was hard to believe it was their first time in Australia, as they seemed to have the Aussie fans eating out the palm of their hand. You can almost bet that when Creeper come out to Australia next, they will have a whole load of new fans attending.

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CREEPER, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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CREEPER, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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By the time Creeper left the stage, there was a blanket of anticipation hovering over the infamous Governor Hindmarsh. As the crowd waited patiently, the stage was being set up and already you could tell everybody was in for a hell of a show. Adding to the tension and excitement, from ten minutes to showtime, announcements counting down the minutes were played over the speakers. For those experiencing their first Enter Shikari show, they had no idea of what they were about to be stepping into.

As soon as the band hit the stage, there was a surge. Tables were in fear of being turned over and it was hard to know where the pit started and ended. That being said, it was not one of those surges where people were in danger- quite the opposite. It was about to erupt in a hybrid mosh and rave that you could not help but become a part of. The legendary Rou Reynolds announced there were only two rules:

1.) Look out for each other

2.) Dance like nobody was watching

Two rules were carried out throughout the night.

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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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It is hard to describe an Enter Shikari to those who have never been, but all you can say is that it is high energy. Circle pits, dance circles, crowd-surfing, jumping and screaming along- it was a beautiful chaos that you cannot help being swept up in. There was just so much love, passion and freedom in that room- a release you could tell many people had been waiting to experience for a long-time.

The set list spanned across their massive discography. Tribalism, The Great Unknown, The Dreamer’s Hotel, Arguing with Thermometers, Sorry You’re Not a Winner…from start to finish it was a ride. Finishing off the show with an encore of Rou Reynolds playing a cover of David Bowie’s Heroes, with the last song being Live Outside– the audience was able to walk away from this show with a sense of euphoria and relief. The euphoria from just experiencing the most intense mosh/raves you ever could and the relief that Enter Shikari’s music is able to still provide an escape to those who have sought comfort in it for decades now. Oh and the relief that the band will be returning, hopefully as soon as possible.

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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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ENTER SHIKARI, Forum, Melbourne, 11th November // Photo – Taylah Walton Photography

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Check out Taylah Walton Photography’s full gallery of the Melbourne event HERE

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Follow ENTER SHIKARI

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Press Release August 2022 (below) HERE

ENTER SHIKARI
share video for new single
THE VOID STARES BACK
featuring WARGASM

Touring Australia in November

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AMNPLIFY – DB