Evanescence are back - 2011 album out now

MUSIC | It feels like ages since I last heard any news regarding Amy Lee and Evanescence. Five years, to be precise, that have passed since their last, sophomore record The Open Door, which followed up the smash hit 2003 debut "Fallen" on Wind-up Records.

I remember them topping the charts alongside acts of Avril Lavigne and Green Day calibre back then, but a lot of water has passed under the bridge since then...

Will they still have their place in today's main stream of music?

Amy Lee and her former bloke;
Seether frontman Shaun Morgan

Much has indeed changed over the past 5 years. Letting itself be hijacked by reality TV, MTV has pretty much played out its role in the realm of popular music over the said time span. And while the main stream of music is of less and less importance, popular "mainstream" music just seems to become even more scarce and uninspired every day that passes. Apart from centrefold celebrities, and old-timers who already managed to build up a large following before the early/mid 00's, seem to stand a good chance of surviving in today's climate within the music industry. It's certainly harder than ever to make a breakthrough in popular music today.

Everyone's favourite bleak and gloomy drama queen Amy Lee luckily has both these "qualities" - a large fan base of earlier years, as well as sheer fame and stardom fuelled by great deal of publicity that wasn't always related to her music.

New line-up, again?

Amy Lee and her current band, as of late 2011

Evanescence has essentially always been about Amy. So much so that no one really cares what's going on with the rest of the line-up. Between the Fallen and The Open Door LP's, a major share of the already so anonymous band was replaced with a new set of generic, grim looking jocks with the collected charisma of wet rag. All dressed in black (of course), churning out generic metal riffs on their heavily detuned black guitars - they already knew their place: behind the real star everyone couldn't help but loving; namely the adorable Amy Lee.

So, has the lineup changed since 2006 and The Open Door, then? Well... does anyone really care... honestly? Regardless, just for the sake of it, here below is the current band lineup, versus the former one(s). I would like to congratulate you if you find any name recognisable apart from Amy's!

Evanescence's Current lineup (as of 2011)

• Amy Lee – lead vocals, keyboards, harp (1995–present)
• Terry Balsamo – lead guitar (2003–present)
• Troy McLawhorn – rhythm guitar (2007, 2011–present)
• Tim McCord – bass (2006–present)
• Will Hunt – drums (2007, 2010–present)

Former Evanescence band members

• Ben Moody – lead guitar (1995–2003)
• David Hodges – keyboard, piano, drums, backing vocals (1999–2002)
• Rocky Gray – drums, percussion (2003–2007; live member 2002-2003)
• John LeCompt – rhythm guitar, backing vocals (2003–2007; live member 2002-2003)
• Will Boyd – bass (2003–2006)

(From Wikipedia)

I might post a short review of the new self-titled album fairly soon, if anyone's interested... and you're probably not ;P

/theJo