Evanescence is defined as being a dissipation or disappearance like vapour. This rock duo will be doing anything but disappearing. With their first major label album Fallen, Evanescence has given the rock music industry its first breath of fresh air in a long time. In a frustrating time when clone bands like Creed, Nickelback, and Three Doors Down are topping the rock charts everywhere, an album like this is a refreshing change. Driven by the haunting vocal talent of Amy Lee and the heavy rock guitar of Ben Moody, Fallen takes the listener on a dramatic journey into the troubled minds of Lee and Moody.

Definitely one of the best songs on the album, 'Bring Me To Life' (the first single) is a piano ballad turned hard rock anthem. Lee’s amazing voice is complimented perfectly with the guest vocals of Paul McCoy from 12 Stones. McCoy’s snappy rock voice works itself into the chorus with just enough edge to get noticed and then adds to the depth of the song in a shared verse with Lee. As a first single, 'Bring Me To Life' breaks the listener in to the new style of music that Evanescence brings to the table; a style that can’t easily be placed into one category or another but seems to fit best as a mixture of pop, goth, and metal genres.

By far the best one-two punch on this album is that of Haunted and the vibrant epic, Tourniquet. The former is a tale of an up and down relationship, juxtaposing the good with the bad in lyrics like, “Fearing you, loving you,” and, “Saving me, raping me.” The eerie feeling of Haunted is creating through layered vocals by Lee in the first verse and the use of the Millenium Choir in the bridge / chorus at the end of the song. Simple rock guitar riffs for the chorus and the use of a heavy metal guitar solo ensure that this track remains true to the rock sound Evanescence strives for. About Haunted Moody comments, “It's the song that is the most 'us'. That best sums up what we strive to sound like.”

Lyrically, 'Tourniquet' is one of the best songs on the album as it lets the listener into the deeply religious side of Moody and Lee. The question of whether God is listening or even there at all is brought up throughout the song, “I tried to kill the pain / But only brought more / I lay dying / And I’m pouring crimson regret and betrayal / I’m dying, praying, bleeding, and screaming / Am I too lost to be saved.” Energetic guitar from Moody and a great vocal performance from Lee make this track an absolute essential to the album.

We get to see the more traditional side of Lee’s vocal abilities in 'My Immortal' and 'Hello'. Both songs are driven by haunting piano accented beautifully by orchestral accompaniment. In these two songs the listener gets the real treat of hearing Lee’s amazing voice undisturbed by any heavy guitar riffs and she proves to be one of the best vocal talents in rock music.

Fallen is an amazing first look at this ‘up-and-coming’ rock duo. They show great potential for even more future success and have already developed a large and loyal fan base. For those who are fed up with the state of rock music these days, Evanescence is definitely a band worth checking out. Moody’s rock driven melodies coupled with Lee’s profound singing talent make for sound that is theirs and theirs alone. They will definitely not evanesce.

- by O'Fee, Music-Critic.ca