Evanescence - Fallen (2003)^{Release ID: 34392}

Evanescence is another one of those alt-rock/metal bands my brother listens to and I used to as well, this one with an innovative idea of gorgeous female vocals leveling up the emotion factor in the lyrics. After Metallica's reign of thrash metal and Pantera's reign of groove metal, nu metal became the late 90s/early 2000s rage with bands such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Linkin Park rising in success, much to the dismay of metal elitists. However, one band has really changed the game...

This band, Evanescence has added some fresh ideas that bring their style closer to nu metal but replaced almost all of the rapping with goth-rock/post-punk influences, adding diversity as interesting as when Faith No More pioneered funk metal and when Rage Against the Machine developed rap metal. Nu metal usually stirs up negative-to-mixed reception, but what makes Evanescence's debut Fallen slightly more interesting and tolerable is, no overused clichés! And just in time for the beginning of that genre's downfall, with this album adding a last bit of hope there.

I love the first track "Going Under"! While it lacks a bit of potential, it is made up for the strong heavy instrumentation and Amy Lee's massive singing. Pretty much everyone knows this next track, "Bring Me to Life", and how would they never? It's a very memorable standout, resembling Linkin Park's nu metal style, especially the background rap-ish shouts of Paul McCoy of 12 Stones that remind some of Mike Shinoda. Some might say it's about God, but Evanescence wanted to stay away from the Christian label. And if you watch the Daredevil film from that year, you know the source of its popularity boost. Gothic vocal harmonies appear in "Everybody's Fool". The song is basically about how celebrities keep sexualizing themselves for the sake of success, something that has bothered Amy Lee, especially when a little sister of her was badly influenced. An interesting lyrical message in another killer highlight. "My Immortal" is the second-most popular single from this album and its first symphonic ballad. Lee and her writing partner/ex-member Ben Moody wrote it based on a ghost scenario about a spirit who wouldn't leave until you wish it away. A beautiful somber lookback at lost loved ones.

"Haunted" is quite strange, twisted the ghost scenario into a horror story when the spirit (a male) traps a girl in a haunted mansion for a decade. "Tourniquet" sounds closer to post-grunge. It's the only song in the album to actually be Christian, having originally been written by then-touring drummer Rocky Gray for Christian death metallers Soul Embraced. The tourniquet in the story is God, and the narrator of the story pleads for the chance to repent the attempted sin of suicide, questioning Heaven and what's required to join there. NO, that song isn't about drug abuse, contrary to popular belief. "Imaginary" is a POWER ballad with symphonics that clearly detail an imaginary daydream land to escape from the tormenting reality. Another beautiful highlight! "Taking Over Me" has the nu metal/post-grunge sound my brother likes, though it doesn't have the important impact despite h*lla catchy lyrics, fitting the music as memories of Lee's fallen sister Bonnie consume her.

"Hello" explores that concept in darker emotional depths. Bonnie was another one of Amy's sisters, this one having passed away from an unknown severe disease at age 3. The lyrics describe the 5 stages of grief pretty well for that song's scenario. "My Last Breath" continues the post-grunge-like sound, and in a story written in memory of the 9/11 victims, a girl who was struck in the attack confesses to her crush her love for him before dying in his arms. "Whisper" adds creepy symphonics to the nu metal/post-grunge sound that made my brother like that song. The lyrics have some religious vibes warning you to resist evil and save yourself from danger. Later pressings include the single version of "My Immortal" as a bonus track where the band joins in a for a quick guitar solo and the final chorus. I love that version much better!

In the end, Fallen marks a game-changing album almost as good as Linkin Park's Meteora from the same year. If you're looking for alt/nu-metal/post-grunge with gothic tendencies replacing all of that rap-crap, this one's for you, but not for the metal purists. Here's to the Fallen (not the clan)....

Favorites: "Going Under", "Bring Me to Life", "Everybody's Fool", "Imaginary", "Hello", "My Immortal" (single version with band)