By 2012, Enter Shikari was already a household name in the UK post-hardcore scene. But the release of their third studio album, A Flash Flood of Colour, proved that they could tackle deeper lyrical concepts, awarding them more respect and acclaim than ever. The theme of the album is focused on financial meltdown, economic collapse and widespread discontent. The album also marries an array of genres such as electronic, rock, hip hop, and hardcore.
A Flash Flood was released to the world on this day, January 16th, 2012. The band already plotted a world tour to follow, but spent three of the initial dates performing at special, intimate, record release shows in the UK. The first one was on actual release day at the Borderline in London, and it introduced a plethora of new cuts to the a live setting.
The event was sponsored by HMV, and you had to have pre-ordered the album via their web-store in order to be entered into a drawing to win the tickets to attend.
Enter Shikari started the intimate night with three songs off the new album: "System...," "...Meltdown," and "Gandhi Mate, Gandhi." See footage of them performing the first two songs at the gig, below:
They did three other live debuts throughout the set, which lasted 14-songs. They also performed remix versions of classics from their catalog like "Sorry, You're Not a Winner" and "Juggernauts." See the full setlist below:
The album hit number four on the UK Albums Chart after a band-led campaign to get the album to number one. It also appeared on several "album-of-the-year" lists.
Their most performed song off the album to date is "Arguing with Thermometers," which was performed toward the latter half of the set that night, seven years ago.
A Flash Flood of Colour remains in the top three albums the rockers perform the most from when on tour.
The band are currently on their "longest ever UK" tour, and tonight they play in Liverpool. See the tour dates below!
January 2019
16 – Liverpool, o2 Academy
18 – Bristol, o2 Academy
19 – Southend, Cliffs Pavilion
20 – Norwich, UEA
23 – Glasgow, Barrowland
24 – Aberdeen, Beach Ballroom
25 – Inverness, Ironworks
26 – Preston, Guildhall
28 – Northampton, Roadmender
29 – Southampton, Guildhall
30 – Cambridge, Corn Exchange
February 2019
1 – Birmingham, o2 Academy
2 – Leeds, o2 Academy
3 – Manchester Academy
4 – Newcastle, o2 Academy