Less than a month since the release of their new Korean album, Twice have already returned with the lead track of their upcoming Japanese album. They’re certainly busy, and Enemy represents a new sonic challenge for them. The group has long been known for their glossy pop sound but this track injects a grittier rock texture.
Even though this is very much in keeping with current trends, it’s still surprising to hear Twice’s vocals backed by a heavy band sound. They pull it off well, but I would have liked to hear stronger material for their first big venture into this genre. Rather than explode with rock intensity, Enemy sounds more like a generic mid-tempo that just so happens to include guitars. This is most evident during the verses, which rely just as much on trap percussion as they do on rock energy. Things improve as we hit the dramatic pre-chorus, but I’m not sold on Enemy‘s centerpiece.
Strip all the genre hallmarks from the production and Enemy has a relatively plodding tempo. For a song like this to work for me, it needs to be bolstered by a stellar chorus. Enemy‘s hook is too rote and predictable to offer much inspiration, fusing a repetitive melody to a few flourishes of higher-toned drama. It’s all quite lockstep in structure, though Twice do their best to inject passion and grit. For some fans, I suspect simply hearing them operate in this musical realm will be enough to satisfy.
| Hooks | 7 |
| Production | 8 |
| Longevity | 8 |
| Bias | 7 |
| RATING | 7.5 |
