Liverpool are well known for some of the biggest musical highlights the world have ever given us, and none are more prolific than the band that really kick started guitar-based pop rock, The Beatles. Now, dear Sound of Guns fans, I'm not going to raise expectations of your favourite bands' second full length release to one of the most well known bands of all time, because that would be unfair, but once you say a band is from Liverpool, you do almost expect near perfection every time.
This time around, we don't get near-perfection, but this group of lads gives it a damn good try.
We open with 'Sometimes', a fairly simple rock anthem that begins with slow sombre piano before guitar and bass kick in and you get a decent, rocky stomper that draws the listener in. It even has loads of “whoooaaaaahhhhh” bits in it to give the live crowds satisfied too. So far so basic, but still so good in the process. In fact, “simple, but effective” is almost an underlying theme to the album. Borrowing some song construction tricks, riffs and breaks from the likes of musical behemoths U2 during the quicker numbers (especially evident during the opening minute of 'Flash of Light') and Coldplay during the slower ones (album closer 'Of Our Own Invention', in particular) without ever really sounding like a clone of either band takes some serious skill, but makes each song accessible and inoffensive to the listener. Not only that but vocalist Andrew Metcalfe sounds gruff and course enough to give each song a true rock edge that cleaner cut singers sorely lack.
So far, we're winning then. We have a collection of songs that can be listened to by anyone, enjoyed especially by current fans, and could quite easily be taken out on the road for effective live responses without causing too much fuss. Well done lads. The only problem with that is that a lot of this stuff is very by numbers, and thus doesn't really make an impact in the way it could have done. The slow numbers ('The Oceans, The Seas, The Rivers' among them) are suitably loud and slow, building up with slow crashing drums, choruses taken from the Snow Patrol playbook and a great dollop of emotive vocal wailing plastered all over them. The faster numbers (including recent single 'Silicon') are as urgent and frantic as they seemingly should be. They get the toes tapping and the adrenaline pumping as the guitars really crank up the importance of a good riff.
The main thing that I have an issue with here is how simple it all is. Very little stands out here. The songs are all pretty much good on their own terms, but overall, the album as a collection does all start to just bleed together and become a bit of a nothingness. It's a fine line to draw, but one that Angels and Enemies just about falls the wrong side of. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a negative review, and I can't really say any of it's bad, impossible to listen to, or worthy of harsh criticism, it's just...fine. The album exists, you play it from start to finish, feel like it was a fairly worthwhile way to spend roughly a three quarters of an hour and then put it away again, and then it's done.
There is one song in particular I wish to draw your attention to though, and that's the halfway point 'The Whites of your Eyes'. This song is truly excellent. A slow builder like many of the others, with the band channelling some of Ash's more chilled out tracks during the opening introduction and verse, but the way that more and more layers start to creep into this particular track with immense subtlety and grace is astounding. By the time this emotional, powerful four minutes reaches its final quarter it's almost a gospel-like song, complete with harmony singing and more impact than anything on offer on the rest of the album. This is by far the standalone highlight of the record, and it's utterly amazing.
So should you buy this? I'd probably say so. Fans will love every waking second of it. People who are just discovering the band will certainly enjoy this record for its merits, but unlike albums by that other Liverpool band, you probably won't be coming back to it again and again.
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This time around, we don't get near-perfection, but this group of lads gives it a damn good try. 
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