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Changing the lineup of a band can be a fatal mistake in the music world. Not for Evanescence. They are back after a three-year wait for their highly anticipated sophomore album, The Open Door.

The departure of the band’s original guitarist, Ben Moody, and the addition of Terry Balsamo of the band Cold, threatened a dramatic change in musical style from the last album, Fallen.

Fans of Evanescence’s debut album have no need to worry. At first listen, The Open Door could easily be renamed “Fallen: Volume Two,” which is not to say these two albums are identical. There are several differences in The Open Door, but it does take a second listen to hear the differences.

Lead singer of Evanescence, Amy Lee, is a power house of vocal talent. Compared to the last album, her voice has made a major improvement, being much stronger and adding more of her falsetto into the songs.

One of the better changes the band made was integrating more piano music into the songs. The piano is now played in almost every song, giving a haunting, gothic feel to the album. The techno influence that was present in small sections of Fallen has been expanded in The Open Door and works when introducing some of the songs.

The album begins on a horrible note. The first part of “Sweet Sacrifice” sounds messy and senseless with off-pitch vocals and sloppy instrumentation. But after the song switches tempo, it turns into something listenable.

In general, the songs are very similar lyrically as well as musically. The lyrics are often overly dramatic and shallow, dealing mainly with heartbreak and sadness.

Songs such as “Lithium” might have listeners thinking they left Fallen in their CD players, but is a catchy, hard-rock-inspired ballad that crescendos throughout the song, keeping listeners interested.

With its chilling piano and strings, the song “Good Enough” is one of the most beautiful songs musically on The Open Door. It gives Lee a chance to show the versatility in her voice by combining a Broadway musical and blues style together, turning it into one of the most unique pieces on the album and a great song to end the album on.

For fans of Evanescence’s first album, it will not be a disappointment. It delves deeper emotionally and comes up with great results.

Contact ALL correspondent Alicia Boulton at [email protected].

Evanescence The Open Door Released on Wind-Up Records Stater rating (out of five): ???