American rock band, Evanescence, found a great amount of success with their first two studio albums, but unfortunately took some time off due to problems between members of the band. Five years later the group has return with their long awaited self-titled third album which was officially released in the US on Oct. 11. Preceded by lead single, “What You Want”, the album is similar to the group’s previous work, but that is not an insult. Lead singer, Amy Lee, pours emotion into each and every self-written track to bring together a cohesive mix of songs that sound as if they are coming from a place of agony and pain. Five years is a long time, but the band is back and far from forgotten.
The anticipated album begins with lead single, “What You Want”, a loud rock anthem reminiscent of the band’s early work. Lee sings that she is back and still the one that no one could ever control. The track proves that the group is very much a part of the rock genre while showcasing so much talent that gives Lee the title of “Queen of Rock”. After a powerful instrumental intro, “Made of Stone” is a song directed towards the person that hurt Lee in the past, but she is now stronger than before. The track goes a bit harder than most of the track list and it is enjoyable to hear the lead singer give a song everything that she has. The song is an example that the band is at the top of the game. “The Change” does sound as it was ripped right off the band’s debut album; I do not know if that is a good or bad thing. It is good in the sense that the song is almost perfect and will please fans, but is the band just relying on what they have crafted in the past. I just like the vocals and progression of the track; it works for me. The album continues with upcoming second single, “My Heart is Broken”. Even though the song starts off as a slow, piano driven ballad, the percussions comes in to take the track to a whole different level that makes it unique and new. The hard rock instrumentals are balanced by Lee’s sweet and soft performance of loss and heartbreak that just pulls everything together nicely. On “The Other Side”, the song actually contains a very catchy hook and chorus, but unfortunately I feel that was the only intriguing part of the entire thing. There was just something about the track that made me feel like I had heard it before; I just can’t put my finger on the reason why. The song is not bad; it just is not what I was expecting after a five year absence. Lee deals with despair on “Erase This”, a track that would fit perfectly on a Twilight movie soundtrack, but it was too good to ever be featured on such a thing. The beginning reminds me of some horror movie, but the soothing vocals allow the song to contain a meaning, a feat that Evanescence has always excelled at. Lee makes everyone want to experience despair.
The second half of the album kicks off with “Lost in Paradise”, a track that saw the highest charting peak on iTunes after the album’s release. The song is as close to “My Immortal” as the band will ever come which is why I think many people have developed a liking for it. The instrumentals and production are toned down to let Lee’s vocals shine, and they do. I feel that “Sick” could be directed towards the people that run our government, but then again I could be way off in the message. Lee sings that she is tired of all the lies that she sees everyday and she lets out her anger in a very compelling track. The song contains that rock edge that made them famous; a nice piece. When “End of the Dream” comes up I am transported to another reality, the song just surrounds me and I cannot think of anything else. I honestly feel that I am in a real dream. The track balances the loud verses with a soft spoken chorus, it really showcases what the band is all about in four minutes and that is something hard to accomplish. Everything becomes a little more dramatic as Lee unleashes all of her demons on “Oceans”, a gothic-esque track that is filled with nothing but emotion. Accusing someone of washing blood off their hands, Lee lets the person that left her have all the blame. The song sounds as if it were ripped from a journal, the lyrics are the greatest aspect and the reason the track is so successful. Powerful guitars dominate “Never Go Back”, a song that deal with the issue of loneliness. It seems that Lee is struggling with a fear of isolation, as if she does not belong anywhere. The track really does amp up the hard rock sound and use a few old tricks mixed in with a modern touch that shows the band’s growth in a positive light. The album closes with “Swimming Home”, a soft and sweet track where the vocals and lyrics are the true highlight. The song slows down the loud and fast pace that the other tracks made the listener keep up with. Here they get to relax and hear the soothing voice of Lee as she gives a convincing performance on a nice finishing track which I enjoyed very much.
Evanescence’s third album is probably their best to date, and that is a strong statement since their previous two albums received critical acclaim and Grammy nominations. With this project the band has crafted a cohesive set of twelve tracks that tell stories and take the listener on a journey with instrumentals and powerful, heartfelt lyrics. After a five year break, the band came back and put everything they had into the effort to please fans, and I know they succeeded. Even though the band’s music is not what is being played on the radio at the moment, no one can deny the impressive work that is featured on this album. The third time is a charm. For amazing vocals, and great musicianship, the album receives a high 87%.
Tracks to Hear: “What You Want”, “Lost in Paradise”, “End of the Dream” and “Oceans”
Be sure to get a copy of the album on Amazon or iTunes now!
Evanescence - Lost in Paradise
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