Enchant - Tug Of War
Year of Release: 2003
Label: InsideOut Music
Catalog Number: IOMCD 131/SPV 085-65812
Format: CD
Total Time: 66:27:00Enchant paints their story on a rock 'n' roll canvas, which happens to be on the CD cover of their spanking new release Tug Of War. If you look closely, you will notice covers of several of their albums within the picture. The title and the cover image are an intimation of the stories inside.
The title track is the one song that caught my attention in an eye popping way. The perspective of an addict and alcoholic and the person watching the one in denial of the disease that lies, gets a hard look in very clear-cut and honest way. No one knows better than this writer does, as I have lived the lie and come out the other side to tell the tale. Looking into the mirror of life and seeing the struggle from both sides of your personality, the good and evil and the endless tugging back and forth can be a trying experience. I find it interesting that there are two different people in the picture. The key is to not let what is on the other side of the mirror suck you in, because what is real is what is standing in front of the reflection?or is it? I get the message of the songs, the cover image and the entire premise of this album. The fact that the music is killer helps, too.
This band keeps getting better and better. The influence of the classic progressive-rockers Kansas is evident, particularly in the vocal department with Ted Leonard. This front man has panache to spare and the pipes to back it up. If the band is in the middle of a driving rocker complete with bobbing and hooking bass lines, pounding rhythmic drums, fiery guitar lines that pierce your soul and keyboards that 'enchant' you, Leonard has no trouble changing the inflection of his voice to fit the mood provided. That is the one key element that makes this whole thing work for Enchant. If you do not have a lead vocalist that expresses the emotion and meaning of each song your ship is lost at sea. Make no mistake; this ship knows exactly where it is going.
They have topped themselves yet again with an extraordinary album by recording 10 grand progressive rock/metal tracks that call to you repeatedly; now that is the kind of CD that is worth giving heavy rotation in your stereo.
Released in North America by the now defunct InsideOut Music America (IOMA 2063-2)
Tracklisting:
Sinking Sand (7:09) / Tug O' War (7:41) / Holding The Wind (5:45) / Beautiful (4:28) / Queen Of The Informed (7:01) / Living In A Movie (6:58) / Long Way Down (4:57) / See No Evil (5:52) / Progtology (6:46) / Comatose (8:50)
Musicians:
Ted Leonard - vocals
Douglas A. Ott - guitars
Ed Platt - bass
Sean Flanegan - drums
Bill Jenkins - keyboards
Discography:
A Blueprint of the World (1995)
Wounded (1997)
Time Lost (1997)
Break (1998)
Juggling 9 Or Dropping 10 (2000)
Blink Of An Eye (2002)
Tug Of War (2003)
Live At Last (2004)
The Great Divide (2014)
Live At Last (2004) (DVD)
Genre: Progressive Rock
Origin US
Added: August 3rd 2003
Reviewer: Keith "Muzikman" Hannaleck
Score:
Artist website: www.enchantband.com
Hits: 3017
Language: english
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