The Prodigy's position as dance music veterans is not in doubt: the originators of Essex electro clearly bear the scars of a thousand late nights in the studio and 25 years experience on the road.
Their most significant contribution? They taught a generation of rock fans not to fear an old school rave record. The band’s fearsome live reputation means that they could go toe-to-toe with the biggest metal bands on the planet and Keith Flint’s eye-popping antics meant that even those too young to have been traumatised by 'Firestarter' on Top Of The Pops can’t argue with his band’s presence on any festival bill.
Similarly Liam Howlett's boundary-breaking, Barry White blending Dirtchamber Sessions remains one of the best mixes Radio One has hosted in the past two decades. His band paved the way for the 21st century experience of watching EDM at a festival - which, one suspects, Howlett might not be wholly thrilled by.
Despite continuing to sell strongly the band have still yet to match 1997's peerless The Fat Of The Land. The Day Is My Enemy doesn't quite equal their past efforts, but fans (and festival goers) will find much to enjoy here. Their new album is unmistakable: the gutteral angst is still present and, like all of the best Prodigy records, there remains a feeling that you are hearing a machine violently malfunction. As Howlett says in the new issue of Q: “I’m good at creating chaos in sound. Noise and energy is my business.”
Simply put, no one can do anger on record like the Prodigy. The title track sets the template: maximalist drums, Martina Topley Bird quoting Cole Porter and what appears to be a tiny touch of Sonic The Hedgehog soundtrack. 'Nasty' starts poorly but then evolves into an unbelievably twisted breakbeat beast. The DJ satire 'Ibiza' with Sleaford Mods is an interesting idea, openly mocking those behind the decks who simply press play. 'Beyond The Death Ray' has the feeling of being beamed onboard by the little green men only to have a keyboard riff inserted in your brain. 'Wall Of Death' is as over the top as the motorcycle stunt that shares its name. When 'Get Your Fight On' kicks in you know that any festival crowd this summer will go crazy, even if it does have the unmistakable whiff of nu-metal about it.
There is some material that is less rewarding. 'Rebel Radio' could have done with a lyricist of Matt Belamy's calibre given the totalitarian subject matter. Rather than having someone shout 'Danger!' and a surprise baboon sound effect on 'Wild Frontier', it would have perhaps been more interesting to try some more avant-garde production. 'Roadblox', for one, needs a bit more complexity - try Geoff Barrow's Drokk project for a similarly blunt concept delivered in a more cereberal fashion.
None of this, however, detracts from the fact that The Day Is My Enemy will stomp roughly all over festivals this summer. It remains agreeably punchy, if dangerously close to parody on occasion. If Gigwise were to suggest a perfect place to experience it, we'd recommend drinking four pints of Tuborg and then heading to a former Serbian fortress at Exit Festival. We'll see you down the front.
Listen to The Prodigy's 'Wall Of Death' below
The group will be embarking on a full UK tour in May, which includes two nights at London's Alexandra Palace. See full tour dates, and buy tickets, below.
4 May - Newcastle 02 Academy
5 May - Bridlington Spa
7 May - Birmingham 02 Academy
8 May - Cardiff Arena
9 May - Blackpool Empress Ballroom
11 May - Reading Rivermead
12 May - Brighton Centre
14 May - Bournemouth BIC
15 May - London Alexandra Palace
16 May - London Alexandra Palace
