They blasted onto the scene this year with a top 10 hit and album at number one and this week won best new act at the Q awards. Ahead of their first ever Belfast gig, Edwin McFee goes behind Enemy lines

Coventry-based The Enemy are no strangers to controversy. Already in their short history the three-piece have had blazing bust-ups with record industry suits, they've offended quite a few faint-hearted journalists and most recently they've been embroiled in a war of words with the skinny jeans wearing, curly haired former Popworld presenter Alex Zane. Last month Zane declared on his XFM radio show that he would never play The Enemy's music again after the band were less than complimentary about the comedian. Zane's public banning was obviously intended to upset the Indie up-starts, but their vocalist/guitarist Tom Clarke, doesn't seem too bothered by it all.

"I'm a no-nonsense bloke and I don't put up with time wasters," sniffs the singer. "A lot of bands in this industry are willing to put up with idiots who know nothing about music because they think if they don't then it won't help their career. Well, I'm the exact opposite. I'm not going to sit there and listen to some moron prattle on about something pointless when I could be out there playing great shows and writing even better songs. I only work with people who want to help our band - not hinder us."

It's this gung-ho, devil-may-care attitude that has made The Enemy one of the shining lights on the rock scene since they emerged at the start of this year. When their first major label-released single Away From Here was released in April it crashed straight into number eight in the charts - marking the boys out as ones to watch.

"We're taking all of our success in our stride," says Clarke. "I think that you have to take things day by day when you're in a band, because if you don't then that's when it all starts to fall apart. If you listen to the PR men or people in suits talking about sales figures then that's when you've lost it and start writing bad songs."

Clearly The Enemy weren't listening to anyone when they were writing their debut album We'll Live And Die In These Towns. The record is basically a love letter dedicated to their Coventry upbringing and is a Jam and Smiths inspired tribute to the trials and tribulations of growing up in a working class family. As a statement it's as honest as they come. As a piece of music, it's a stadium-swelling, anthem-laden slab of wax that shot straight into number one in the charts on the first week of its release.

"Our album sounds like real people writing about real things and that's why it has clicked with a lot of people," offers Clarke. "I think most people can identify with The Enemy. We're three down-to-earth lads who happen to write songs about everyday life. We didn't come from the suburbs, we didn't go to London's Sylvia Young Theatre School and we don't swan around like we're better than everyone else. I think people like that about us."

To many people Coventry is a pretty nondescript sleepy town in England, but to Clarke and his bandmates, drummer Liam Watts and bassist Andrew Hopkins, it means everything to them. It's the reason why they look at life the way they do and it's why you'll never find them asking for a bowlful of brown M&Ms on their rider anytime soon.

"If people didn't like this album as much as they have then I'd be back selling TVs to people at the Co-op," he confesses. "I think it's essential that you have to remember where you come from and who buys your records. Whenever I listen to We'll Live And Die In These Towns, I remember where I was when I wrote a particular song. It all takes me back to when we were just starting out and playing at the local clubs. I think I'd always have been able to write great songs, but being from Coventry has given them a unique outlook that I wouldn't have had if I lived in somewhere like Manchester. A lot of journalists ask me if I'll ever leave and move to London but I always tell them no. I've no intentions of ever leaving because I think we've got something special here."

At the moment The Enemy are touring all over Europe. They've had a successful summer supporting The Rolling Stones and playing the festival circuit, but up until now they've never made it over to Belfast. Many bands, when interviewed, will give a rehearsed reply when asked what's taken them so long in getting here, but not Clarke. The singer seems genuinely thrilled to be playing a date that's been sold out for months in advance and he intends to play our capital city as much as possible.

"I think it's hugely important that bands come over and play in Belfast," he says. "Not enough musicians make the trip over and I think it's an absolute disgrace. It's just laziness on their part and the booking agents aren't doing their job right. As a band we usually find that when we play in places that don't get as many bands coming through they're the best crowds in the world because, unlike London, they appreciate what they've got.

"Personally I've always pushed and pushed for us to come over and play in Northern Ireland as well as in Dublin. All my family are from Drogheda and they're coming to both our gigs so it'll be a bit like a homecoming. I hear our gig's been sold out for months, which just blows my mind. I hope everyone's as up for it as I've been told."

Even though The Enemy are on course to be this generation's answer to Oasis, Clarke doesn't plan on looking too far into the future. At the moment the 18-year-old is happy hatching plans in his head for the next album and playing great gigs in as many places as possible. It certainly beats his former life of working in a supermarket that's for sure.

"I feel like I was born for this and that's why I don't get too wrapped up thinking about the future," smiles Clarke. "When we first started out playing music it was just something to do to relieve the boredom, but now it's our life. If the next album isn't as successful we'll still keep playing. After all, the way the music world works these days you never know if your single's going to be kept off the top spot by a bloody ringtone. For me it's all about writing songs that will stand the test of time and I think we're doing that."

The Enemy play the Empire Music Hall, Belfast, on October 24. The gig is now sold out. Their album We'll Live And Die In These Towns is out now on Warner Brothers' Records.