Thanks to a slot on the Daredevil movie soundtrack, Evanescence got the breakthrough hit they needed to get their music to the masses, at the same time bringing Goth Rock to an entirely new audience. There’s no denying that theirs is a watered-down version of the genuine article, but it is effective nonetheless. With the vocal might of Amy Lee at the helm and a killer album in hand, it couldn’t really go wrong, but the departure of guitarist Ben Moody (who later would give us Everything Burns with Anastacia), made the band’s already difficult task of following up Fallen even harder.

Listening to the first few songs on The Open Door, you wouldn’t think so. The new album is in fact powerful, focused and anthemic, on a par with Fallen, though not all of it may be as immediately memorable. Unsurprisingly, there’s a good deal of the symphonic arrangements so typical of Goth-inspired bands but, overall, the music seems to possess a harder edge this time around. This could very well be down to the fact that Moody’s vacancy was filled by Terry Balsamo, formerly of nu-metallers Cold. Apart from the first single Call Me When You’re Sober, songs like Lithium (not that one!), Snow White Queen and Weight of the World are the album’s more appealing tracks, with the band’s darker side portrayed more prominently on Lose Control and Good Enough. This won’t lose Evanescence any fans, but new ones are advised to start with Fallen!

Rating: 3.5

CD COURTESY OF EXOTIQUE