There's nothing like a breakup to focus your muse. This follow-up to the stunning, multi-platinum Fallen was penned as singer Amy Lee's troubled romance with bandmate Ben Moody was spiraling out of control, impelling her to craft an anxious record full of recriminations, revelation, and self-flagellation, as she questioned everything that kept her whole. It's a fascinating journey for the listener as she ventures into her own personal heart of darkness, her stricken, perfect voice suspended on an unsteady precipice between breakdown and breakthrough. Despite the loss of two members, including guitarist Moody who left mid-tour in 2003, the album has a maturity, sophistication, and a singular vision that wasn't found in their earlier work. Stately and as exotic as Led Zeppelin's Physical Graffiti, with its intricate instrumentation, disturbing imagery, and disembodied chorus, The Open Door shows exactly what this band is capable of. "Snow White Queen" is a goth-y alternative to Mariah Carey's "We Belong Together," equally anthemic, but with much more grit and pain. --Jaan Uhelszki

The follow-up to their Multi-Platinum Debut Featuring the hit single "Call Me When You're Sober"

Evanescence features a wonderful female singer named Amy Lee. Amy has a very good, deep sounding voice. You won't have the generic female singer that the mainstream is used to. The music in this one has a good amount of variety to it. Sometimes you will hear rock music, electronica, or some weird other sounds. One problem I have with this one though is that Amy Lee sounds the same in most of the sounds. Still, she sounds good, just the same.

The obvious audience for this one is someone who feels weak and wants to rise up. Not in a political way, but in a more emotional way. Soem of the lyrics are based around females more then males, but you can deal with it.

Songs like "Lithium" and "Weight of the world" are my personal favorites. The obvious favorite is "Call Me When You're Sober", which was the hit song for this album. The rest of the songs aren't too bad either. Some of them come just come off as a bit generic though.

If your a huge amy lee fan then buy it, other wise just get the singles song you like

The band brings back all it's power in it's second album released in the US with the Open Door. The lyrics and sound move up to a whole new level of power and depth.

Not many people do music like this anymore; you know the over the top heavy metal grunge hybrid that was so popular with kids in the late 90s, Live is gone, Candlebox has been snuffed out and yet Evanescence not only continues to do this type of music, they sell millions of gazillions of CDs doing it. Of course they do have the angst ridden Amy Lee to lead them, something those other bands never had.

Despite myself I really like Evanescence, the first album blew me away due to the fact that I didn't think it would ever get more than a passing glance on my CD shelf, but every now and then it ends up back on the stereo. So I figured I'd take a shot and get The Open Door. If you liked the first album, you're going to like this one. There's nothing new from the band, perhaps the songs are a tad more personal on the lyrical level, but Amy studied her Tori Amos lyric sheets and is a princess in training at lyrical ambiguity.

I can tell by her overpowering vocals and the band's rigid jumble of quiet guitars, louder and louder guitars and pounding drums that they are in pain, it's just hard to relate to what that pain is sometimes. Sometimes it's obvious, the first single "Call Me When You're Sober" couldn't be more direct, however that's the title, the lyrics aren't quite as simplistic, but it's still a really good songs.

In fact all the songs are really good, they're all heart wrenching and dripping with emotion, it's just that as a whole; the package can burn you out. 13 songs of bombastic woes and pain is a little too much for my little blonde head, but should I ever have a fight with my lovah, this one's going on the stereo and playing very loud.

"Fallen" is a great album, and "The Open Door" picks up where it's predecessor left off. A creative blend of melodic elements, grinding guitar, Amy Lee's piano work, stunning vocals and murky lyrics work very well to make the band's best effort to date.