Review Summary: One of the first albums I loved, and it's still great
I need to take a break for my reviews of the worst of gothic metal, by reviewing something that's actually good. And where to begin, besides what is possibly THE album of my teenage years? "Fallen" is one of the first albums I loved, the one that started my journey into metal, and made me develop an interest in the gothic culture and in dark music in general. It's the kind of album that has almost become part of my DNA, because of how many times I've heard it.
That and because it's a very good album. I'm still impressed by how much creativity and skill was involved in those songs, from the symphonic metal ballad of "Imaginary" to the heavy guitars and creepy choirs of "Whisper", the creepy choirs, guitars and industrial sounds of "Haunted", and the way "My Last Breath" manages to make its synths and guitars sound wistful. Even the simpler songs have something to offer. "My Immortal" is a sweet ballad that didn't need a guitar solo, but has a simple, nice one in the middle. "Going Under" has a simple but instantly memorable riff (which was copied in countless other songs), and is sung with a desperate energy. "My Immortal" may have been the first Evanescence song I ever heard, but "Everybody's Fool" was their first song I loved, for its angry riff and Cristal-clear vocals and synths.
As for the three outliers of the album: "Taking over Me" is the only weak spot on the whole record. It has so little personality that it feels like a template for the typical Evanescence song. The only part of it I like is the last chorus where Amy sings "I'd give up everything just to find you" with more passion than usual. "Tourniquet" is a Living Sacrifice cover. I've never heard the original, but I like Evanescence's version of it, with its genuinely creepy and unnerving riff and mournful violin outro. "Bring me to Life" has become Eva's signature song, and you couldn't dream of a signature song that represents your style the least. Basically, their label pushed them to re-arrange the song as a Linkin Park-esque nu metal track, with some awful rap-singing-yelling-whatever by Paul McCoy from 12 Stones, a band that to this day, is mostly known for having a singer who did an Andrea Ferro impression on "Bring Me To Life". I suppose the song is at least sung with energy, and it has an interesting message about opening yourself to reality no matter how painful it may be. But you don't really notice that message until after a few listens, and the song isn't that interesting musically.
Speaking of the lyrics, there is something special about Ben and Amy's songwriting. I wouldn't exactly call them poets, but they have a gift for expressing raw emotion, and giving the songs many layers of interpretation that you only notice after several listens. They are also good at beginning a song with one situation and then, suddenly write a line that changes the way you understand the song, and reveals how dark it truly is. For example, "Hello" begins by talking about the weather, until the line "Has no one told you she's not breathing?" reveals that the song is about Amy's shock at learning the death of her little sister. "My Last Breath" seems to be about a dying woman saying goodby to her lover, until "Still you wake and now the truth: no one's there" reveals that she's already dead and her lover is simply having dreams or hallucinations about her. On these songs, and on "Whisper" and "Haunted", both about dying and having scary visions, Evanescence are obsessed with love and death. It's very romantic and gothic, in the literary sense.
Evanescence are a very interesting band to analyze, lyrically. And musically? Ben's guitar playing is really special, with his haunting and melancholic, but memorable melodies, and simple yet memorable solos. Amy's voice is the other highlight of this album. All the talent needed to carry the songs, and improve the not so good songs, she has it, with her powerful and emotional delivery, and her dark yet soothing tone. I have to salute other really good things on the album, like Josh Freese's great drumming, the production, and the amazing interventions by the Millennium Choir.
This was the peak of Amy and Ben's songwriting. They and their imitators haven't really been able to replicate it, because it’s the kind of great album you don’t hear every day. I have so many things to say about that album. Even after exploring the world of metal and hearing all sorts of great albums, I still love "Fallen". Many others on this site have a similar musical journey to mine, so I hope you agree with my review. If you've never heard it, it's one of those albums you need to hear at least once. Even if you look down on that kind of music, don't judge Evanescence solely on "Bring Me To Life", because they have so many better songs, and have such a rich and creative sound. Although they are very much of their time, very much a gothic/alt/nu metal band of the 2000s, they're also the kind of bands that resist all classifications, and have a sort of timeless feel, like they have always been there. I guess that's how you recognize the classics?
