CD Info
2011
Wind Up Records
12 Tracks
English Lyrics

Evanescence has been the band which most defines the genre of female fronted metal here in the United States. Due to their success, many other female bands were able to break out and also get their music heard on a grand scale. The proliferation of the female metal genre started with the album Fallen back in 2003 which went on to sell over 17 million copies and bring female metal to the masses. Now after a 5 year hiatus from releasing The Open Door, Evanescence is back with their third album, the self titled Evanescence. The success of this album will really determine what will happen to the female fronted metal scene in the next few years. Of course Amy Lee does it once again in working with her band to put out an album that is an excellent follow up to their first 2 albums. The Evanescence album has a retro feel to the music, but also brings modern elements to create a fulfilling experience from beginning to end. Amy Lee shines as usual and her beautiful voice is highlighted well throughout the album. One interesting point to note is that the band decided to put more upbeat songs on the album and shade away from the traditional ballads. This works really well and gives the album a nice flow. Let's get to the songs and how this album brings Evanescence to another level which will be even more exciting to fans of the past works.

1. What You Want - This is the song that the band released early as a teaser for the album. It is a great song to kick off the album. One of the most upbeat songs it brings Evanescence back into the spotlight and shows they haven't lost a beat along the way. Amy Lee says it all with the lyrics "Hello, hello, remember me". Yes...we all remember you and that amazing voice and are glad to have it back.

2. Made Of Stone - Kicking in with the hardest beats of the album, this song gives a chance for the band to show their darker side. The crunching rhythm fits well in conjunction with Amy Lee's vocals. She brings a rock feel to the song, but also is able to hit her signature high notes as a lead in to a short guitar solo which shows off Terry Balsamo's input on the album.

3. The Change - This song really brings back that retro 80's feel. The music has an influence that seems to come from both The Police and U2 with a tapping guitar. When it finally kicks in for the chorus the song picks up and goes back to the signature Evanescence sound that the band has perfected over the years. In this song Amy Lee asks "Can you hear me". Again the answer is yes...we can hear you and love what we hear.

4. My Heart Is Broken - This will be the second song released as a single from the album. Starting off with just a piano it brings back memories of past songs like My Immortal. But then the piano and drum combo kicks in and gives a fresh sound to the song and shows off the new writing that Evanescence has done and how well it works. Upbeat and flowing, this new musical direction is wonderful and complements Amy Lee's voice very well in the song. This will be a successful follow up and keep the momentum for Evanescence strong through the remainder of the year.

5. The Other Side - Another song with a crunching beat comes up next on the album. This song is most like the previous songs that Evanescence has put out. Amy Lee goes for a more sultry sound on this song and delivers vocally as usual. She also shows off with a nice piano interlude where she is able to bring her voice to an almost whisper before bringing back the groove that dominates the song.

6. Erase This - Another 80's retro feel comes through with this song. From the synthesizers opening the song, to Amy Lee singing in her lower register, this definitely has the feel of something Pat Benatar would have put out in her prime. Of course Evanescence brings their own flair to the song and use not only the synths well, but also the guitars when they kick in and drive the song towards its ending. This modern addition to the song makes it one of the hightlights of the album.

7. Lost In Paradise - This is the first true ballad on the album. Starting again with just piano and Amy Lee's vocals it definitely shows that Evanescence can still do the slow, emotional songs well. Amy Lee has a way to captivate the listener when she sings accompanied by just the piano. The first half of the song plays out this way, until the full band kicks in for the rest of the song. This reminds me of the 2nd version of My Immortal where the band joins in the song. With beautiful lyrics and a great feel, this would make a wonderful release as the 3rd single from the album when the band wants to show off that slower side that has been a major success for them in the past and will continue to be a success in the future. This song definitely is another highlight from the album.

8. Sick - With a nice groove and darker lyrics, this song again resembles the songs that Evaescence has put out in past albums. A nice slow rhythm underlies the mood and brings out the pain in Amy Lee's voice as she delivers some of her finest vocals on the album. In this song she also uses some distortion reminiscent of Scott Weiland and shows off a much different side than she had in the past. It works very well and fits nicely in the chorus.

9. End Of The Dream - Another mid-paced song with traditional Evanescence rhythm, this song could easily have been put onto either Fallen or The Open Door. Of course it fits well on this self titled album and shows that although the band has changed many aspects of their sound over the years, they still knows the roots that made their first 2 albums so successful. For fans of songs such as Everybody's Fool, this is a natural progression and highlights everything great about Evanescence.

10. Oceans - This song picks up where End Of The Dream leaves off and continues to show why Evanescence has been the most successful female fronted band in the past decade. Another song that combines retro elements with the modern sound. Shades of rock bands in the past such as Heart and Pat Benatar come through strongly on this song. Again though, the band makes the song their own and also adds some interesting baroque elements into the music which are refreshing. Amy Lee knows how to deliver a chorus and gives the listener a chance to get inside of her head with the lyrics she has written.

11. Never Go Back - This is the final fast paced song on the album and kicks in with a guitar hook that never lets up. Again there is a chance for the band to show what they have written as their musicality is brought to the forefront with the licks that make for a driving background to Amy Lee's vocals. The wisest move that Amy Lee made during the process of recording this album was to allow her band to develop the songs with her. This has led to a full sound across the whole album and it is really apparent in this song. Lee herself is a part of this maturity for Evanescence as she brings excellent keyboard work along with the rest of the band and their instruments.

12. Swimming Home - A final ballad closes out the album. This one brings a darker piano sound and also a deeper vocal range which gives the song another retro feel similar to Janet Jackson on her hit song Let's Wait A While. It has a much different feel than Lost In Paradise and really ends the album well. Beautiful from beginning to end this ballad shows off Amy Lee at her best. Not only can she hold the enchanting melody, but she shines in the final chorus when she switches off to her higher register. This song will be a crowd pleaser in concert and I expect it to be a staple during future tours.

What can be said about the self titled Evanescence album. This is probably the best work the band has put out and will continue their success and vault the band back to the top of the female fronted metal scene. It is a true group effort and will captivate old fans and bring in many new fans. Amy Lee has been missed the past few years, but with her return and a more cohesive unit behind her, Evanescence is ready to take the world by storm again. It is good to see that female metal will be stronger again in the coming year led by the resurgence of its de-facto leader. If you liked their past albums then the Evanescence album is highly recommended and will be a worthwhile addition to your musical collection.

9 / 10

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