With over 6 million copies of a debut disc sold, it is no doubt that the bar is set high for the follow-up. And now Evanescence attempts to recapture that six times platinum glory. After some personnel changes, Evanescence returns with The Open Door.
And the lead single certainly brings back the musical stylings that made the band so popular in the first place. Call Me When You're Sober is an edgy, hard track musically. Vocally, Amy Lee is once again proving to be one of the finest around. However, where Bring Me To Life (And the entire debut disc) shined is also where Call Me When You're Sober falters. Lyrically, the track offers little depth, which is a bit of a disappointment. Musically, however, the track delivers in a big way.
Much of the Evanescence glory is recaptured in this disc. Tracks like Snow White Queen, All That I'm Living For and Lithium are just excellent all around. Throughout the disc, Lee carries the tracks with her vocals, and that is definitely how the band shines best. Tracks like Sweet Sacrifice, Lacrymosa and Your Star fall a little short when compared to prior efforts in one of the aspects (Whether it be musically or lyrically, or, at times, vocally), but they seem to work well on this disc.
Like You, Good Enough and The Only One definitely offer some of the disc's highlights. Whether through chilling piano melodies or edgy guitar riffs, the entire disc delivers quite well musically. And vocally, once again, the disc simply proves that Amy Lee is one of the top vocalists around right now. Lyrically, as well, these three tracks definitely provide some great moments.
Overall, much praise can be given to The Open Door. As a whole, it is an excellent disc that is sure to rekindle the fanaticism that surrounded Fallen. Certain tracks do fall a little short of the bar that has been set so high, but, when combined with the rest of the disc, it is clear that The Open Door is at least near the quality of Fallen. It may not match or even surpass the debut disc, but it certainly comes close.