Review: Be My Enemy – 'Party Monster'

BE MY ENEMY 

'Party Monster' 

SELF-RELEASED 

Phil Barry's first outing as Be My Enemy on 2010's 'This Is The New Wave' was a promising collection of punk-orientated electro-rock that gave a nod or two in the direction of his former band Cubanate. Already though, the singles from the forthcoming 'The Enemy From Within' are showing that Barry has crafted Be My Enemy into a defined entity in it's own right.

The second single from the upcoming sophomore album from Barry, 'Party Monster' is an acidic slice of Pitchshifter meets Atari Teenage Riot anthemic electro-rock. It's a frantic, fist-in-the-air shout-a-long track that will no doubt be a future gem in the live set as well as a club classic. The single/EP also includes remixes for the title track from Caustic and Chief Bacon who add their own harder industrial and bouncier dance takes on the original respectively. The first of two exclusive tracks included, 'Overdose' delves into more familiar and dance-friendly rave-rock territory with Prodigy style drums and Barry's trademark scathing guitars propelling the track forward. The second exclusive track 'Paranoia' remains in the rave-rock mode, albeit with a somewhat darker edge with maniacal samples and distorted vocals. With it's big beats and demented synths, it's a great cut in its own right. System:FX also contribute a stripped-back remix of 'Helter Skelter' from 'This Is The New Wave', which focusses heavily on the riff and wubbing synths for an unexpectedly dance-friendly take on the original.

If there were still any lingering doubts as to Be My Enemy's potential to be a big hitter in industrial rock, then 'Party Monster' should do well to put them at rest. Even as a preview of things to come, 'Party Monster' proves that Barry has come a long way in terms of his song-writing ability. The production is strong and the tracks all sound fresh and clean in their execution.

'Party Monster' should whet a fair few appetites in anticipation of the new album, and if this is anything to go by it should put Be My Enemy on the map.  

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