Evanescence - Fallen (Impressive Album)

Captain Trips

I like this new album. This is here because there aren't too many comments on it so far and I think it deserves a little more talk. And it isn't because I think Amy Lee is hot. Although she is. Basically it appears that the "band" is really Amy Lee and Ben Moody. The drummer, etc., are all extras provided by Wind-Up records I think (or so the internet tells me).

Good seller track Bring Me To Life (the one with the singer wandering around a skyscraper). The sound seems sufficiently not like some skinny little **** whining about how he doesn't belong (Linkin Park).

The singing:
Overall, they have a great sound, with a nice I don't know if it's gothic or not mix of guitars and piano, violins, with almost the guitar riffing of, heck, Rammstein (yes really). Sounds very good, and the lead singer - Amy Lee - I think has a great voice - actually it's a phenomenal voice. There is some good double bass drumming in there (or ti may be a drum machine, who knows), and the lead guitar (yes there is one - the holy seal of the numetal has been broken) is not absolutely amazing and doesn't overshadow the melody too much, but fills nicely where it is. Not on every song, and seems to fit well with the recent discussion on Metallica's abandonment of solos and that while they don't make or break a song, they add well if done properly. Evanescence seem to have a good balance, and use either the lead (Going Under - Track 1) or Amy Lee's voice to do the lead fills (Bring Me To Life is a prime example). The don't do the rapping **** at all really, except for the single that's out. The guy is a guest vocalist who doesn't appear on other tracks. I did a google and it's some guy called
McCoy or something.

The rhythm section seems to be an eclectic mix of IMHO Rammstein, GnR (e.g., the opening riff to Everybody's Fool, then the Rammstein-alike verse, with a nice proper riff for the chorus, without endless power chords).

Of course, the problem is that they rely too much on having the downstrum on the rhythm guitar go along par for par with the bass drum. It sounds good, but is maybe overused. Makes it sound too similar in places. I like the way they spice it up with the classical intruments, adds a lot of depth to the music.

Very good overall. The opening of Track 6 - Tourniquet, sounds great. At times in some of the songs like that one, the melody can seem very 80's influenced - and I am not talking about Judas Priest here, I am referring to Van Halen almost.

So as a fan of the more mainstream rock (not metal, don't like Korn or Pantera that much, instead I prefer stuff like SOAD, GnR, and eh, Rammstein - something similar in the style) I think it's a great album, with a sufficiently different sound and a good lyricist/singer. It's more rock than metal I'd say. Worth buying by far compared to the **** that's been around for the past few years. By **** I mean St. Anger. Which is ****. Very much ****. Flush it out my ****ty ass.

If anyone can tell me is it "gothic" or not I'd appreciate it. Last album I bought with a female singer was probably Jagged Little Pill.

Overall, if you are skeptical:
1. They sound little like the chick-with-linkin-park that Bring Me To Life may have you believing. Download My Immortal or Tourniquet or Imaginary (great track) to see more appropriate examples of their music.
2. They appeal to me in an 80s rock way, and a futuristicy-Rammstein way. They are much more of a rock band, and I appreicate this greatly, given that I also like like Van Halen, GnR. And Twisted Sister. But lets not talk about that.
3. Haven't heard anything like them before. I am sure many here have, but the style is new to me.
After to listening to it a good few times, I can't pick a bad song on it. It *all* sounds great, which is something I have not experienced in many years (probably since Nevermind, although Toxicity was great). I don't think they are one hit wonders by any stretch, the whole album reeks of talent - be it Amy Lee's, Ben Moody or the backing group. It's probably Amy Lee's though.

Karl Hungus

Personally I just think they're ripping off Lacuna Coil. Go listen to their album 'In A Reverie'. Everything from the dual male/female vocals to the keyboards/guitar style is a direct lift from them. Or listen to the song 'Heaven's a Lie' from the new album. You'll see exactly where Evanescence get their musical style from.

And no, I certainly wouldn't think they're gothic, although they're not really a far cry from some Gothic Metal that's out there.


PS. I think you'll be in trouble with a certain member of boards for mentioning Pantera with Korn.

Pugsley

Well the first album just annoyed me, mmy brother liked it and thus played it alot, and the only song that was barable was Wake Me Up, the rest of the songs are samey boring, and simply irritating.

3. Haven't heard anything like them before. I am sure many here have, but the style is new to me.

Linkin Park with a female singer and the occasional wee solo in thbere, very similar, nothing overly new.

PS. I think you'll be in trouble with a certain member of boards for mentioning Pantera with Korn.

Expect some removal of heads by Pornapster

cournioni

I'll just have to pretend I didn't see that Captain Trips...

As for Evanescence, they're alright. But as AW says they are a Lacunia Coil rip off. I don't like the male vocals at all. The female vocals sound fairly good.

Captain Trips

Fair enough. I'll go pick up a Lacuna Coil album or d/l some stuff. I don't like the mix of male/female vocals too much. Evanescence seem to have made it on the success of the one single with the bloke raprocking or whatever it's called, but for the rest of it, it's almost like a rock version of Morcheeba or something. Plus, I now know why the guitar style appeals to me: take out the lyrics, and it could be the Quake II soundtrack.

I've heard of Lacuna Coil, never listened to them.

Regarding the metal being Korn or Pantera, well basically when Pantera, Sepultura et al were big I always preferred stuff like GnR, Van Halen, etc., . More rock than metal. So these days stuff like Korn or Slipknot seem like what metal is, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit were pop, but it's rare that stuff that sounds like rock comes out; SoAD seem like rock to me?

Thanks for mentioning Lacuna Coil though. If they are similar I'd probably like them; unfortunately my 33.2kbps connection won't . What's a good song - one that is say, of the MTV would play it, or it would be the lead track on an album? That one you mentioned above?

cournioni

Originally posted by Captain Trips
Regarding the metal being Korn or Pantera, well basically when Pantera, Sepultura et al were big I always preferred stuff like GnR, Van Halen, etc., . More rock than metal. So these days stuff like Korn or Slipknot seem like what metal is, Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit were pop, but it's rare that stuff that sounds like rock comes out; SoAD seem like rock to me?

Please do not use Pantera in the same sentence as Korn.

Karl Hungus

Read the charter, Captain.
No download of music, so zip it.

Captain Trips

Sorry about that.

beardedchicken

so here i am, tail between my legs...........

after all my cheerleading about how wonderful and original and just plain great evenescence were (elsewhere on this forum) i have to say the album disappointed me somewhat. it's all a bit too samey for my liking.
i heard the first single, and liked it, so i bought the album, in hindsight, i probably should have just bought the single, but i digress.
while the rest of the album retains that mixture of piano and orchestral music, with quite dramatic rocky undertones and a strong female vocal (which i admit, i haven't grown tired of), which first drew me to the band, the later tracks on the album don't offer much variation on that formula. there are still some standout tracks like My immortal and tourniquet, and the third track everybody's fool is worth it if only for that gorgeous clash of hamonies in the second verse- not something you generally hear in mainstream music, but overall a bit too dare i say it- pop for my liking (the comparisons with linkin park are obvious)

frood4t2

The male singer is only on the single, isn't he? (I heard that somewhere, wish I remembered where, I wouldn't know cuz I wouldn't buy the album.)

nadir

yeah, i got the fallen and origin albums, i was very sceptical at first, considering seeing the music video on mtv so much. But I reckon theyre pretty good, like some of the songs, and btw AW I think they are better than Lacuna Coil imho. I get loads of grief off my house mates for playing the album, which is kinda awkward at times. I guess it is easy to see how people would consider Evanescence real dodgy..
They got good emotion and stuff, but when it comes down to wealth of material in songs, they pall compared to the heavy weight bands, like Cof, Old Mans Child .etc
:ninja:

nesthead

i think they were playing it in DNC and i have to say i didnt think much of it.....

Lacuna Coil are excellent and I cant see another female singer metal band doing that melodic kind of stuff they do better than them.