It will be no exaggeration to say that “System…” got a proper “…Meltdown” during Enter Shikari‘s set on Saturday’s afternoon. From the very start British rockers left no doubt that their performance will be the highlight of Download XXI.

From impressive visuals displayed on the Apex stage screens, toasty pyrotechnics to double rainbow and mud “bath” executed by band’s vocalist Rou, the fifteen song concert did not have a moment of a boredom even for a minute. The energy was out there and unstoppable. It was so high up to the point you could even notice Rou climbing a screen tower during “Bloodshot“… Because he could and he wanted to. A true rock star we want love and cherish.

If that was not enough – shortly before the supreme climb – suddenly Wargasm duo (who performed few hours earlier on the same stage) showed up for a collaborative performance of “The Void Stares Back“. I absolutely adored how well Enter Shikari played the song with Sam (the co-writer of “Doomsday Blue” by Bambie Thug) and Milkie. Hope they will make more music together in the near future.

Lastly I would like to mention how touching was Rou speech regarding peace in the world before the final song of their set – “A Kiss for the Whole World x” – which is also the title of the latest, 2023 released longplay. In the current times when so many people are displaced and suffer on daily basis it was a beautiful touch to remind how us, western Europe-based people are fortunate to live relatively normal lives.

If you want to experience a life-changing performance with your own eyes and ears – go and see them live as soon as you can. None of the Download’s performances left such a mark in my heart like Enter Shikari did. I hope they will still be going many years to come and change their world perception like they did for me.