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Opening New Doors

Evanescence have had a whirlwind ride to success on the back of the single 'Bring Me To Life', from their 2003 album "Fallen". Now, after over three years comes their third album, "The Open Door".

Whilst "Fallen" was jam packed with catchy pop-metal tunes, "Origin" was the opposite, with power hidden beneath slower paced songs. "The Open Door" bridges the gap between their previous albums. The songs slide between sing-along anthems such as recent single "Call Me When You're Sober" and the hauntingly beautiful "Good Enough". Strangely, there's a touch of Silverchair clinging to the strings and the lower pitched vocals.

The album doesn't get off the best of starts, 'Sweet Sacrifice' is rather nondescript and barely leaves an impression. Having listened to the album several times now, I find myself starting it on the second track- 'Call Me When You're Sober', an altogether more interesting and dynamic song. 'Weight of The World' is another track that grows on you. It seems that as well as returning to the songwriting style seen more often on "Origin", Amy Lee has also abandoned the annoying whine from "Fallen".

'Lithium' is a haunting piano driven song that still packs a punch. There is many a scathing lyric to be found throughout the album, one can only assume, directed towards Shaun Morgan of Seether fame, and the song holds one of these. Amy Lee declares "Just didn't drink enough to say you love me". The band seems to have modernised and there is less talk of longing to be dead and lingering thoughts of gravestones- something that frequently cropped up in their previous work.

Focussing more on the here and now, "The Open Door" is an emotionally charged album that experiments with various styles to much success. Song's such as 'Lost Control' and 'Your Star' show the bands desire to move in different directions. Certainly for those expecting another album of the same type as 'Fallen', this is not the album they wanted. But for those with a preference to the older material Evanescence have released, this album is guaranteed to satisfy.

Overall, this is an album that shows a great deal of maturity and a huge leap in the songwriting ability of Amy Lee - not to mention the improvement of her voice! If that whine on "Fallen" kept you away from the band, fear not, and welcome "The Open Door" with open arms for despite the mixed reaction, it is a record that shows Evanescence are slowly reaching the potential shown by their previous work. Still, I must admit I am hoping for a re-release of their first album to bridge the potentially long bridge between "The Open Door" and their fourth album!