4/10

The evolution of Enter Shikari has been a positive one. Since beginning as an erratic and over-the-top rave-rock outfit that played into the once over-saturated and short-lived nu-rave scene, the band have managed to refine their sound and deliver more contemporary material over the last few years. Their last full-length 'A Flash Flood Of Colour' was a cleaned up, more polish approach to their direction than we had seen before and this new work continues of that path of maturity and focus.

From the off, 'The Mindsweep' seems to mix up the ideas of forward-thinking and nostalgia as they try to keep themselves fresh in an ever-changing rock scene. Rather than opt for their usual electro-infused beatdowns, much of the album prefers to go for the atmospheric side to the genre and reject the gimmicks of their past. But in doing so, the record feels very dated and is hard to engage with at most times. It seems to stick to very safe ground, and ultimately makes for a very forgettable album.

While it is clear they have tried to haul themselves out of the flash-in-the-pan concepts of modern rock music, without it they simply fade into the background with a record that lacks the originality and intrigue of some of today's newer bands.