Review: Dear Future Historians: Lyrics and Exegesis of Rou Reynolds for the Music of Enter Shikari

This Review contains spoilers.

“Don’t be fooled into thinking that a small group of friends
Cannot change the world, that’s the only thing that ever has”

Published: 2017, by Faber Music.
Pages: 192
Format: Hardback
Genre: Nonfiction, Music
Contains: Strong Language

‘Dear Future Historians’ is a music companion of sorts, featuring front-man, Rou Reynolds, interpretations and inspirations behind the influential songs of Enter Shikari. With lyrics to nearly all songs of the band (minus those from The Spark), Reynolds takes fans on a journey of the writing process and commentates alongside them.

It’s no secret that I am a huge fan of Enter Shikari, having adored them since the release of A Flash Flood of Colour back in 2012. Although, I was aware of this book’s existence, I’ve only recently been able to acquire it, and it’s become a treasured possession since.

This book is a beautiful insight into the band, educating readers on the influences behind their favourite songs whilst also being full of extensive knowledge of subjects outside of the band, of things that inspired the lyrics during the time of writing. All topics are backed up with sources for further research, allowing fans to have a deeper understanding of the subject matters. Rou Reynolds’ language throughout the book is elegant yet confident, and speaks directly to fans in a gentle manner with the continuous use of “dear reader”, emphasising the audience’s involvement in the band’s creative process.
When reading, there are moments that make you go ‘oooh’ when finally managing to understand a reference to previous songs or memories of a concert, ‘aww’ in moments of compassion, and ‘he gets it!’ at Reynolds’ paragraph-long rants. However, those moments are scattered between the times of ‘yeah… yeah, I picked a good band’ when you’re hit with inspiration from the accompanied essays to the lyrics that have comforted you for years.

However, the beauty of this companion doesn’t end there, having lines of lyrics in bold on occasion, ones of which have personally made me feel something when listening, and it’s wonderful to read of Rou Reynolds’ interpretations of them. There is also various photographs throughout the book; album sleeves, tour posters, photo shoots and live photography, of them throughout the years, which were a wonderful inclusion that I enjoyed glancing through.

Overall, I love this book. It is a must have for any and all fans of Enter Shikari, and I recommend following the suggestion of listening to the songs whilst reading for the perfect fan experience.