THAT IMMORTAL NOUGTIES INDIE: THE ENEMY RETURN WITH RECORD SOCIAL DISGUISES
ALBUM REVIEW | THE ENEMY – SOCIAL DISGUISES by Isobel O’Mahony
Pouncing onto the scene in 2006 and releasing the 2007 cult indie album We’ll Live in Die in These Towns, The Enemy quickly became a band with a lot to prove. Now 20 years into the industry, and four previous albums under their belt, the Coventry band know how to make good indie music. The new release, Social Disguises, talks through growing up, with some interesting adages and catchy guitar. It’s a steady record and one I’m sure will bring lots of joy to live audiences.
The Enemy hone in on the nautical of that 00’s indie sound in the record. ‘Not Going Your Way’ has that Kooks-esque, fun guitar music feel to it, and is a filled out tune with a lot to love. The following tune ‘The Last Time’ is a good set example for the guitar licks scattered throughout the album and lead singer Tom Clarke‘s well known strong vocals.
Throughout its 11 tracks, Social Disguises does have a few parts that do lack a certain something. Despite its nice heavy riff, opener, ‘The Boxer’, despite its nice heavy riff feels slightly generic, and I found myself waiting for a breakdown into a bridge; I just wanted a bit more from a starting gun. ‘Trouble’ fades a little into the rest of the record, and shifts consistency a little to repetition.
Although, these slight detached moments only made the highlights of the record taste sweeter. The band is strongest when the beat is fast, the vocals are layered and the message is good. Title track ‘Social Disguises’ is great for its lyricism, “the mask is coming loose/at last, at last I’m showing you my social disguises”, as well as grabbing guitar and drums. ‘Controversial’ has satisfying riffs, and harnesses more in the track overall, I really think its go big or go home, don’t sit that tricky line between acoustic and electric.
However, both ‘Trouble’ and later song ‘Innocent’ are supported by a good old fashioned steady drum to hold them up, and the latter tune does start to build. There were a lot of sharp, sudden endings that felt a little preemptive, especially when intermission-like track ‘Inference’ faded out into this beautiful symphony of synths (a synth-phony if you will). Mostly, I just felt there were a few times I was just left wanting more.
‘Pretty Face’ is immediately loud, focusing on bass in a way the rest of the album doesn’t as much, and backs the quiet in the production with more vocals. Maybe I’m just greedy, but I think the music thrives when there’s more happening for me to pick out. To me, a great song is one you can listen to again and again and always find something new to pick out – that is where you verge on timelessness. ‘Serious’ is a brilliant mash of fast percussion, again with that 2000’s indie feel. The ending tune ‘Finish Line’ is similar, but has that final build that I was craving. It is a simple song, but effective and its break is the end to the record I needed.
It’s not that the band hasn’t developed, because they have, but they shouldn’t feel shy to celebrate the sound they found as teenagers. They got lucky and found their talents early, and when they use that to their advantage that is when the music shines. Whilst Social Disguises may not make the same waves as their first record, and I personally think 2015’s It’s Automatic is a stronger piece of work (and deserved more flowers than it got), but is overall a steady album. I can’t imagine what it feels like constantly running after immense teenage success, but the music they make is good and it’s authentically theirs, and isn’t that what’s important?
THE ENEMY
26th February – Jacaranda Baltic Liverpool
27th February – Brudenell Leeds
2nd March – Rescue Rooms, Nottingham
4th March – 100 Club, London
