`Social Disguises’ is the fifth studio album by The Enemy and their first release in ten years since ‘It’s Automatic.’ A band very much associated with Coventry with their song ‘We’ll Live And Die In These Towns’ becoming an anthem for fans of the city’s football team The Sky Blues.
The album opens with the anthemic larger than life `The Boxer` a fist pumping track that has a kind of Muse vibe and a number that was made for sharing at a stadium gig. There`s a real percussive rhythmic beat to `Not Going Your Way` which seems to be about a romance that has run it`s course with both participants realising they have differing aspirations.
`The Last Time` is another view on differing relationship objectives but shared with a driving melodic tempo. We have in `Trouble` a number about the moments of exasperation when you experience that struggle. When you realise you’re no longer part of counter-culture, or sub-culture, when you’re in that grey area between being anti-establishment, and being the establishment. A thumping blazing foot tapper of a track.
`Controversial` has some really enticing riffs and hooks and really pulls you into its more developed sound. We experience a kind of auditory interlude with `Interference` with a variety of soundbites and noise segments shared throughout its seventy seven seconds of life.
Title track `Social Disguises` is a fairly philosophically reflective offering which considers the exasperation of metaphorical masks, behaviours, and personas people adopt to conform to societal expectations. Hiding their true feelings to protect themselves in social settings. The fast paced `Pretty Face` rushes along with an observation on free loaders who have to finally make a life on their own merits and talents.
`Serious` is a little jagged musically and encourages us to lighten up, ease up and brighten up. An electronic drum machine beat leads us into `Innocent` which has a much more pop tinged slant on an acquaintance who pretends to be whiter than white, when we all know differently.
The release closes ironically with the aptly titled `Finish Line` where the sound feels as if it’s being contained or held in check and lyrically it could be written about the making of this album. We enjoy a rhythmic percussive beat and some resonating guitar chord riffs on route.
The trio of Tom Clarke (vocals/guitar), Andy Hopkins (bass) and Liam Watts (drums) who make up The Enemy began their musical journey twenty years ago and it’s a tribute to these guys that they are still together and creating music two decades on. `Social Disguises` is brimming with snappy, catchy, melodious tunes with enticing hooks, riffs and harks back to the band`s debut album `We’ll Live and Die in These Towns` but with amaturity that is gained from lived life experiences.
A sparkling return to form from Godiva`s finest.
Rating 8.5/10
