SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES

I thoroughly enjoyed this album. It's the first The Enid record I can honestly say hasn't needed time to grow on me. Maybe that's why thus far it's gotten such mixed ratings? It seems a tradition among prog elitists to give catchy, sensible music a low score, whole praising and drooling over some of the most boring dribble the genre has to offer. Though I suppose I'm not being very fair; 4 ratings is hardly enough to get a realistic average. Nevertheless, I was floored when I realized that as of this writing, ''Something Wicked'' is the lowest-rated Studio album from this band. It seems much easier to digest musically than much of its peers, but that doesn't detract from its quality or 'worthiness'.

Frankly, I think having a more traditional take to the presentation and songwriting is a good thing, especially where this band is concerned. when you talk about The Enid, you either get a lot of love or a lot of hate; not much middle-ground is present when it comes to people's opinions of these guys, from what I've experienced. I suppose that's due to the music itself: powerful, profound and not afraid of being a little pompous now and again. There isn't much debate on what this band is about musically, so anybody who doesn't like classically-influenced pop music should definitely stay away.

However, in this album's case, there seems to be much more 'pop' than 'classical' present in the music itself, which makes it a rarity in The Enid's catalogue. A rarity, as well as one of the few records non-fans might be able to half-stand. This makes a kind of 'middle-ground' for us divided Prog listeners. Fans and non-fans a like will most likely find something to enjoy in here, and I see nothing wrong with that. perhaps the 'catchy' qualities to some of the songs on this outing make some more die-hard The Enid listeners uncomfortable, though it really shouldn't. If anything, this album may serve as a gateway for those who wish to expand their horizons, but need a little familiarity in order to truly take the plunge. Plenty of traditional, ballad-like electric guitar can be heard here, and the melodies featured are truly remarkable and beautiful.

The biggest difference this time around is that, as far as I know, this wad the first The Enid album to feature vocals. Once again, some may find this break from tradition a poor move, but I myself find that the addition of vocal melody and lyrics add even more depth to this undoubtedly complex and heavy-handed music. It adds complexity, yet with a flare of the familiar so as to not scare off the newcomers. Honestly, as I mentioned earlier, this is the perfect marriage of elements that should appeal to all corners of the prog community. I would say my personal favorite tracks on this recording are 'Raindown', 'Jessica', 'Bright Star', and the title track, 'Something Wicked This Way Comes'.

The album is light despite its complexity, lyrically deep despite its poppy flavoring, and so short, it'll be over before you think it's barely begun. So taking all that into account, you should give this one a chance, even if you have tried to get into The Enid before with no luck. As for you long-time fans, show some love and give this album more positive reviews. It seems to not be very well- known on here as of right now, and that should honestly change. It's really quite good.

A solid 4. Happy Listening.