enchant

One of my all-time favourite progressive bands! Break is the band's third full-length album and is among the top five albums of the 1998/99. Ever since their first album, Blueprint of the World, ENCHANT has continued to stun the progressive rock scene with skilfully crafted and emotionally performed music reaching the peak of excellence with their previous Wounded album. Well, for the band, Break is a very natural step in a new direction and the whole feel is far away from the haunting desperation and dark emotions as so vividly portrayed on Wounded. The new album deals with a wide range of subjects such as deceitfulness, solitude and drug addiction. The overall tone is still somewhat pessimistic but with a glimpse of hope at the end of the tunnel. Musically, ENCHANT has lost Ed Platt, the excellent bass player who left for reasons unknown to me. Fans will surely notice this, as the sound is no longer underlain by a heavy and virtuoso bass. All other guys are in top-notch shape, not to worry. And the studio replacement for Ed is ok. To get to the point, the songs. Break, the title song and the album opener is really weird. It is pure grunge, its furious beat nicely fits Ted Leonard's charismatic voice. I do not understand why open otherwise a perfect album with such a relatively "rock" song. It's not like it is a bad song, no, quite the opposite, its melody is something that will stuck like a gum under the table and the overall effect is that ENCHANT can rock! Already with number two, King, there is only pure ENCHANT to the end. Ted sings so beautifully, so very emotionally, so deeply. This man can cry you a song. Doug Ott plays a really moving and haunting melody with guitar solo that is his trademark. Mike Geimer backs up the entire peace with subtle keyboards and Paul Craddick handles the drum sticks with the greatest of ease, as always. Then there is number three, Enemy. Again there is this opening, haunting melody but soon the band warms up in a passionate display of progressive skills. And then, Ted sings the chorus. This is it. This man is pure voice! The beauty, the pure flow of almost tangible emotions. Wow! In the second chorus the band takes over the lead part and blows everything away. Paul's hand work is exceptional, Mike creates the atmosphere for Doug to perform his solo, and you know this is for real. Yes, real music. Number four, Defenseless, gives you some time to stop and take a breath. Nice little melody opens up space for the band to kick in. Doug performs one of his really beautiful solos and though lyrically the song is not very happy, the music creates such mood. The Lizard is number five and it is my personal favourite. A very energetic song, with alternating dramatic passages. Ted easily reflects the lyrical mood of deceitfulness, Mike finds keyboard sounds that are really captivating and in chorus Paul, once again, shows his really exceptional hand work. I mean, the high-hat! Every time I listen to this song I break down. It relates so much to my own personal pain, it is almost scary. Brrr. Number six, Surrounded, is quite hard rocking with this weird guitar chord and odd drum rhythm. Great sounding and convincing of the qualities the band members have. Doug engineers yet another beautiful solo on his six strings. Silence, number seven opens with a drum pattern changing into already classic ENCHANT sound: glittering guitar chords, energetic bass line, handy drum work and mood-creating keyboard sounds. This one also includes a surprising bridge. Number eight, In the Dark, is the best song on the album. The greatest semi-ballad I have heard in a long, long time. Ted sings perfectly, the verse is just plain RUSH yet with more heart-felt emotions; keyboards and guitar are in perfect unison. You have to hear this song, really. My Gavel Hand, number nine is different from other songs. Its sombre mood evokes images of peace and tranquillity, at peace with destiny. This time Ted is in perfect unison with Mike and this makes the song really great-sounding. Doug offers his choice of fiery licks all turning into a very emotional bridge that intensifies to the end. The last song, number ten, The Cross is the most progressive of all. Odd guitar rhythm, odd drum rhythm, he he. The band surely knows what it can do and it is doing this in the best possible manner.