Nine years is a long time to be gone, but The Enemy's return to Rock City was pure adrenaline: a sweat-soaked celebration that turned Nottingham into one giant sing-a-long. The crowd, a mix of longtime loyalists and fresh faces, erupted as the Coventry trio took to the stage, immediately proving that their hiatus hadn’t dulled their fire one bit...
Tom Clarke storms into Aggro like it’s 2007 all over again, and suddenly the room is bouncing, with sweat, beer, and pure joy flying in every direction. The band waste no time reminding everyone why their songs became indie anthems in the first place. Away From Here, Pressure and Had Enough hit like fireworks, every lyric screamed back with the kind of conviction that only comes from almost a decade of waiting.
What’s most striking though, is how fun it all feels. Rock City turns into a full-blown carnival — a celebration of working-class spirit and unfiltered, guitar-fuelled euphoria. Clarke grins from ear to ear, Andy Hopkins throws down basslines like it’s a street fight, and Liam Watts keeps the whole thing pounding like a factory engine. Fans were treated to a deep dive into The Enemy’s catalogue as the band performed the hits from We’ll Live and Die in These Towns as well as tracks from their following three albums. Through it all, they exuded gritty, full-throttle energy, reminding everyone that the band’s evolution never dulled their bite.
To some extent this was a nostalgia trip. But there was a lot more to it than that. With fresh material on the horizon and brand new album Social Disguises simmering away for a February 2026 release, the band couldn’t help but pepper a few newbies into their raucous set with latest single Not Going Your Way leading the charge, followed by Trouble adding to the excitement, the latter sounding sharp, hook-heavy, and brimming with the same working-class fire that defined their early days.
The Enemy's almighty return was not just a comeback — it was a statement. A perfect balance of fresh-intent and nostalgia, proving that this band are all about momentum, not just memory. Tonight was a reminder that The Enemy's working-class anthems still matter, still connect, and still pack out rooms like this with ease. Rock City has hosted countless gigs over the past 40+years. This was one of the special ones.
The Enemy performed at Rock City on 8th November 2025.
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