The Enemy // 100 club
Indie rockers celebrate the release of their first album in ten years
⭐⭐⭐⭐(4/5)
Indie rock legends The Enemy played a sold-out show at London’s iconic 100 Club in support of the release of their new album “Social Disguises”.
In the 2000’s The Enemy were at the forefront of the indie rock movement that saw a wave of bands conquer the charts with tightly written anthems that channelled the inspirations of rock music into a more modern package that related to listeners of the day.
As it was with the album “We’ll live and die in these towns” which propelled the band to superstardom with a treasure trove of classics that captured the angsty feeling of youth with a distinctly British edge. With tracks such as “Had Enough” or the defiant “You’re not alone” they had a proven knack for crafting singalong chants that captured listeners hearts.
In the years that followed the band released a well received discography before they went on hiatus in 2016, with the band-members continuing various musical projects and touring. However, in 2022 they reunited to play a marathon of sold-out shows, delighting their fans with electric performances that showed the band were still razor sharp as a live act. Finally, in 2026 longtime fans were rewarded with new music as “Social Disguises” was released and ushered in a new era for the band. Bringing a mature introspection to their anthemic writing.
The evening’s proceedings made are to celebrate the record’s release, with the band opening with a stellar cut from the new album. “The Boxer” with its uneasy swing which covers the classic themes which weave through the band’s discography. Acting as a vignette of wasted youth and the resulting feeling of stalling that pervades adult life.
Hearty cheers erupted from the packed audience in between each song, with the band clearly moved by the passion from their fans.
The volume only increased as the band thundered through some of their classic tunes with their performance of “Had Enough” seeing the crowd in a throng of musical revelry. Arm in arm, pogoing to the beat or just quietly reliving the moments behind the music, it was an indie rock masterclass that delivered heady nostalgia but that also looked to the present with their latest material.
Closing with the iconic “We’ll Live and Die in These Towns” the band left a thoroughly delighted audience in an afterglow that could be felt as the crowd departed into the chilly street outside. The Enemy had shown their reinvigorated energy that shows how they both channel the vitality of nostalgia, but also embrace the finely honed craftsmanship of their new material.
