Enter Shikari Take On Russia

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NME was there to see Enter Shikari take their firebrand hardcore to Russia on 13/14 October – full details and interview in this week’s magazine. Click through for the best shots from their dates at Moscow Arena and St Petersburg’s Glav Club.

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There’s a devoted Shikari following out there, who shower the band with gifts.

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Rory Clewlow chucks himself into the sweaty throng. Chris Batten: “The circle pits in Moscow were amazing. Things like that make each show individual.”

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Rory laughs in the face of Health and Safety at St Petersburg’s Glav Club.

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Would politically charged Rou Reynolds start a “free Pussy Riot” chant in St Petersburg? “I don’t think so. The whole reason why they protested in the first place has been completely lost.”

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Backstage it’s a riot of graffiti, fizzy drinks and serious faces.

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It’s all aboard for a nine (NINE)-hour train ride from Moscow to St Petersburg.

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Still, there are creature comforts on board the train. Like beer. And beer.

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Russian fans are big on gifts, including tapestries, drawings and flags. Here Rob Rolfe is faced with an alarmingly accurate knitted doppelganger.

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After the show, it’s the afterparty.

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Two fans travelled 20 hours from their home city of Perm to catch Shikari at the Glav Club. That’s the kind of fervour we’re dealing with.

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The massed banks of keyboards precipitated Shikari’s move into prog rock.

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“I got to protests and stuff, but Pussy Riot have a history of this,” admits Rou. “That’s their way of getting noticed and that’s cool, but I wouldn’t have done it.”

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Rob takes to the decks at the aftershow party. Rory’s clearly spilt his drink.

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