TheEnemy - 'Social Disguises' Album Review

Sean Friswell
7 minutes ago
3 min read

Tracklist:

1. The Boxer

2. Not Going Your Way

3. The Last Time

4. Trouble

5. Controversial

6. Interference

7. Social Disguises

8. Pretty Face

9. Serious

10. Innocent

11. Finish Line

TheEnemy are back with their fifth album and their first since their reunion. They have been gigging quite extensively since they got back together and have teased new music but it’s finally here and my verdict is simple; they are a band revitalised, and this is an album well worth your time.

If it results in music this good, then maybe more bands should take a break from each other? This is a brilliant album, full of catchy songs with very singable choruses and some brilliant musicianship. I honestly didn’t expect it to be this good.

As a band they’ve hit the heights before with songs like 'Live and die in these towns' but there are a number of songs on here which are just as good, just as singable, just as danceable and just as likely to get an audience going.

I love it when a band I had a lot of time for suddenly reappear sounding better than ever and like they are really enjoying writing music again.

Opening song, 'The Boxer' sets the tone, it’s not a Simon and Garfunkel cover before you get worried. It is a perfect slice of indie rock with a conscience and heart; however, it’s quickly blown out of the water by the second song, 'Not Going Your Way' which should be heard being sung by the audience every time the band play this year.

If you like your music, melodic, well sung and catchy with excellent guitars and a tight rhythm section this is the album for you. I downloaded and played it on repeat. I don’t know if they are planning to tour this new album, but it would be a real shame if they didn’t. It also needs a few festival outings as well!

It’s a consistently high quality record, clearly, they’ve taken some time on it but what comes across very strongly is it feels like a record that’s been written to get some social and emotional points across while sounding incredible lively and full of joy.

Actually, joy is great word to describe this album, even while getting their points across it makes you want to get up, dance, sing and generally just enjoy yourself. A neat trick, subliminally they are getting you to think while you move your body. 'Pretty Face' is a perfect example of how good they are at pulling you in and getting you moving.

TheEnemy should be your new best friends; this is up there with the first album. It deserves to be taken seriously. Perhaps they timed their reunion perfectly, perhaps the gap gave them a lot to say and a load of great hooks and an ability to write a chorus that you can’t resist or perhaps getting a bit older has given them a different view on life?

If I’m honest I don’t really care what’s driven them to write this album, all I care about is just how good it is. I’m going to get a bit evangelical about it, annoy friends into listening to it and encourage strangers on the train, won’t they be lucky?

It does deserve you to give them a second chance if you’ve drifted away from them or if, because you missed them first time round or were too young, this is your first time listening to the Enemy then you’re going to enjoy this.