| The
Review |
K I really thought I was tired of the whole female-led,
slightly gothic heavy prog thing. I also really, really wanted
to dislike this album. I mean, this band was suddenly popular
as hell doing what so many other, arguably better, bands had
been doing for years. They just got lucky by getting publicity
through a horrid movie (Daredevil), whereas After Forever,
Nightwish, The Gathering, Lacuna Coil, etc did not. (Although
Lacuna Coil seems to also be getting more and more popular
these days). Anyway, the fact is - despite how much I really
want to dislike this album, and despite how much I will likely
hear several songs on the radio - it is really, really good.
Nearly 4 years since their last and only other album,
Evanescence return with a bang. (What were they doing all
that time? Milking the success of their first album, buying
new cars, etc.) America doesn't know that it likes prog! Piano,
tons of strings and backing keys, nice, biting guitar leads,
and the AMAZING vocals of Amy Lee will knock you on your ass
with an additionally awesome production job. Choirs soar through
a couple of tracks, and the way Lee uses her voice never ceases
to amaze me. And believe me, this is coming from a guy with
close to 1300 cds, most of them prog.
Yes, it is true - this band is not as "progressive" as
After Forever, Nightwish, Epica, etc - but they have some
great melodies. This album is chock full of them. If you liked
their first album - you will like this - as to me it is better
thought out and varied. I'm not saying this album is a masterpiece
- but it sure surprised me and is better than I thought it
would be. There are softer tracks that to me are weaker (like
the album closer, "Good Enough") but these are overshadowed
by the power of moving melodies in tracks like "Cloud Nine",
whose haunting refrain will stick in your head. Piano is used
to great effect throughout the entire cd. Imaginative album
in a time when this genre was drying out. I've been proven
wrong.
Rating: 4 stars
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