Artist: Enuff Z Nuff
Title: Dissonance
Type: Album
Label: Rock Candy Records

I have to admit, I gave up on this band around 1992. Their first two albums were nice listens and notable additions to my record collection back then, but then after a long period of silence in the media (pre-internet folks!), I assumed they were no more. Hence, when I was asked if I wanted to review this band’s new disc, I said yes, and after a little history lesson, finding out the loss of some band members, Chip Z’nuff (Bass) and Donnie Vie (Vocals/Guitar) came together again following the “Lost in Vegas” recordings that would become ‘Dissonance’. These two original members solidified their line up with the addition of a personal guitar legend Jake E Lee (Ozzy, Badlands) and Vinnie Castaldo completes the line up on drums.

Like their first two albums, the band mix timeless rock music with a sense of “pop”, meaning, its sometimes contemporary, sometimes lighter than the average metal fan can take, but one thing I can say is that the song writing is superb. Take ‘Rollaway’ - it’s a very light number, but there are quality flashes of bass and the vocal melody is soothing and comforting. The only thing that did take the piss for me on this album is a cover of TAFKAP’s (Prince) ‘When the Dove Cries.’ Seriously, why?! ‘High’, ‘Altered States’ and ‘Dissonance’ have plenty of grooves, melody lines laden with hooks and a mature element of perfection. Some of the tunes remind me of arrangements Lennon and McCartney released. Whilst the avid metalhead wont really appreciate this release, it is certainly not truly a distorted guitar jaunt around the fretboard, but the musician and the hard rock fan in general should take note of the quality on offer.

A welcomed return to the scene. I for one will look forward to their winter European tour, but that aside, ‘Dissonance’ is maturity, it is talent, it is a master class in memorable song writing, pure and simple.

http://www.enuffznuff.com
http://www.rockcandyrecords.com