Rockers The Enemy have accused fellow British band Arctic Monkeys of dumbing down the music industry with their "dull" songs.

Frontman Tom Clarke admits he was initially impressed with the Arctic Monkeys introduction to the music scene, but claims their second studio album Favourite Worst Nightmare was a disappointment.

Clarke says, "That first video was out - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor - y’know, I looked at that and I thought: ‘There’s a bunch of working class lads from a proper town playing a tune like they mean it’.

"It was quality and I went out and bought the first album and I thought it was top - some really good songs on there.

"(But) I was bitterly disappointed when I got the second - just dull. Certain aspects of their music on the second album, and certain aspects of their personas in the press, are just dull."

The two bands go head-to-head in the Best Album category at this year’s (08) NME Awards.