Tug of War

For Tug of War, Enchant took a different approach, toning down its progressive metal stance and letting its pop sensibilities bloom. In a nutshell: less crunchy guitar riffs, less screaming from singer Ted Leonard, and more memorable melodies. Because these musicians are capable of fine songcrafting, that's what they focus on for the album. The title track combines a bit of everything: the thundering rhythm section of a metal band, a good chorus, and the prog rock twists and turns that stretch the song to almost eight minutes. But the album's best moments are found in the simplest, shortest songs, like "See No Evil" and the ballad "Beautiful." "Living in a Movie," the story of an unlucky man who can't believe his Hollywood-esque bad luck, has a sweet-and-sour taste that makes it stand out. The instrumental track "Progtology" has little to offer in terms of originality, but it has a certain retro charm. Keyboardist Bill Jenkins, rarely the guy to take center stage, unveils an impressive number of cheesy, overused sounds. Douglas A. Ott on the other hand lays down a strong guitar solo and also contributes some thoughtful lines throughout the album. Tug of War is a good effort. ~ François Couture, Rovi