Search - Enchant :: Blink of an Eye

Man, I love this band.

The Wickerman | Austin, TX | 12/17/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am just completely enthralled with Enchant's music at the moment. Every album they've put out is just amazing (well, I'm not that big into "Break" yet, but other than that one...), and each album has its own unique feel. "Blink of an Eye", their fifth release (not counting "Time Lost"), is one of their strongest albums to date (and I think that's saying a lot, considering how great most of their material is). It's a bit catchier and more light-hearted than anything they had previously done, and as such might be a bit more of an "easy listen" to a new fan. At any rate, it is top notch music.The album was released under the unfortunate circumstance of the departure of two of the band's long-time members, keyboardist Michael Geimer and drummer Paul Craddick. While this departure may worry some fans (and understandably so), there is no cause for alarm. Filling in on the keys is Phil Bennett, who was never really a fulltime member, but he filled in the space quite well. He doesn't really do anything that Geimer didn't do, but he still does an excellent job. Craddick's departure was certainly a much more significant blow, as he is not only a spectacular drummer, but he was also one of the band's main lyricists. Basically, he is pretty much irreplaceable. However, the band made a good choice in Sean Flanagan (formerly of The Truth About Seafood, which is also Slayer drummer Paul Bostaph's former band). He has a completely different style from Craddick, but he is still an excellent drummer, and he fits in really well with the band's sound (maybe even better than Craddick, although I still like his style more). So anyway, the lineup is secure, and the guys cranked out another spectacular release. As I said before, this album is much more light-hearted than their previous releases, and I suspect the lineup change had something to do with that. They were all adjusting to each other, so they didn't want to jump into anything too in-depth. The album seems a bit more straight-forward, but that's not a bad thing at all. Every song here is solidly written, and full of catchy riffs, great choruses, and beautiful melodies. The album starts off with the hard-rocking "Under Fire", with crashing riffs accompanying the attention-getting lyrics (about a soldier who is racked with guilt, after shooting someone in a war). From there, things slow down a bit with the softer "Monday", and continue in more of the mid-paced, melodic fashion throughout most of the album. For me, every song is a highlight, but a few that stand out are the super-catchy "Flat Line", the epic ballad "Ultimate Gift" (the best sappy love ballad ever, bar none), and the just flat-out jaw-dropping "Follow the Sun" (with one of the best choruses in the history of time). "My Everafter" starts with an icy keyboard melody, building into a powerful riff, and again we have a great chorus. "Despicable" starts out at kind of a mid-pace, finally building into faster, hard-rocking riffs, making for a great finale. But it's not over yet, at least not if you have the special edition. The special edition includes an instrumental bonus track called "Prognosis", which is an energetic, guitar-driven piece, filled with intense, Dream Theater-like riffs and beautiful melodies. It's actually kind of repetitive, but it's not really a big deal, because the music is so great.Maybe I'm a bit biased, as I am a total Enchant fanboy these days, but I think this album, and this band, are just fantastic. Anyone who enjoys well-played music with great melodies should buy up everything this band has to offer, and this album here is probably a good place to start. However, if you're a prog snob, who thinks that technical prowess is more important than petty things like catchiness or playing for the song, you'll probably hate it. These guys are amazing musicians, but they make songs, not wankfests. So, yeah, buy this. You might like it.(Oh, and it can't be said enough: Ted Leonard has one of the most perfect voices in all of rock.)"

Problem: Originality.

Guillaume Pelletier | Montreal, Quebec Canada | 03/26/2004

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I had never listened to any albums of Enchant before purchasing this album and quite frankly didn't know what to expect. Blink of an Eye is a fine album which has earn a spot in my album collection, unfortunately, like so many modern progressive titles, it lacks originality. Most of the musical structures are very popular and conventional in nature. I found the classic chorus-verse-chorus-solo form to be, on most tracks, tiresome. The sound of the album however can sometimes impress, but most of time its creativity doesn't add anything to the character of the album. Some pretend that Mr. Leonard is a great vocalist, I don't. He's good, but there's nothing special about the vocals on this album. Most of the highlights are in instrumental moments when not tied up by some vocal chorus or verse.Why make it sound like this album is a lemon and then give it 3 stars ? Well mostly because of promising instrumentals. You will find some very good guitar/bass riffs, keyboard explosions and nice percussion passages. The bonus track on this limited edition, "Prognosis", is probably the best track on the album. Coincidence, it is an instrumental track. Aside from the instrumentation, i felt like i should give some tracks more chances with a couple listenings. "My Everafter" had a fine bass line and some spatial keys. "Flat Line" starts well, but fades away into popularity.I will probably listen to this album a couple of times before thinking about purchasing some extra Enchant work. Overall, it isn't a bad album, i just wish the group would be an instrumental group only. Make your instruments speak your thoughts first, consider vocals as an extra instrument and do not, please, do not fall into the music business mold."