There are times when a new artist comes along with such a ground swelling buzz, that it is impossible for anyone to ignore them. In 2003, that was a band by the name of Evanescence. Evanescence, led by Amy Lee, at the time also including the talents of Guitarist Ben Moody and Keyboardist David Hodges, were impossible to miss. Signed onto Wind-up Records (a label that built themselves on the success of megastars Creed), back in 2003, there was still funding to go around to promote acts. A time where there was also still such a thing as A&R, some would say that Evanescence were one of the last Rock acts to benefit from such perks as we transcended into a new era where many labels downsized their efforts and funding.
With these benefits on their side, Evanescence could have still very well fell flat on their faces, but they actually had the music to support everything. First releasing the single “Bring Me to Life” in April of 2003, it became so popular that even non-Rock fans knew of it and loved it. Astounding what it became, it was the perfect rocket fuel to jolt the band’s debut album, Fallen, to the top of charts worldwide. Now in 2023, we look back on this mega debut as it celebrates a very special 20th anniversary.
Fallen, released on March 4th of 2003, originally consisted of eleven tracks that showcased a band that split influences between Alternative Metal, Hard Rock, and Gothic Metal. Something that some underground fans may have stuck their nose up at the time, in truth, no one could deny that Evanescence had a sound that appealed to a wider audience, all while still fitting very nicely within the Metal world. Riding heavily on the exceptional vocal talents of Amy Lee, the songs were dark, emotional, and filled with texture. That said, while “Bring Me to Life” may have been the anchor to this ship, other singles such as “Going Under,” “Everybody’s Fool,” and “My Immortal” also did their share of damage to the top Rock charts going into 2004.
Simply put, this debut could go down as one of the biggest of the last two decades in Rock music. That is why it is exciting to see the 20th anniversary celebration include a special re-release through Craft Recordings. Released on November 17th, the 20th anniversary became available as a 2-LP set, 2-CD set, or on digital formats. Looking at the physical format editions, because that is really what matters most with a release like this, they all offers a remastered edition of the original album, as well as previously-unreleased demos of “Bring Me To Life,” live recordings from 2003, 2020, and 2022, plus a selection of rare B-sides such as “Farther Away,” along with “Missing.”
Some really cool bonus content to listen to, for those unfamiliar with the B-sides, they are well worth the time. Previously available in one shape or form, it is actually nice to have everything compacted into this new edition of Fallen… where everything belongs from this era of the band. Beyond these tracks, the overall sound quality is great and the remastering is subtle, but tastefully sharp.
For those who are going to invest in the physical formats such as the vinyl or CD set, which is highly recommended, they both have a lot of great new features. For starters, the artwork is reimagined with a really appealing new shine. Furthermore, there are also previously-unseen photos from the era, along with handwritten forewords from Amy Lee herself, who actually oversaw all aspects of this reissue. And if this is not enough, a Super Deluxe Box Set arriving February 23, 2024 with a bonus cassette of previously unreleased demos along with Amy Lee’s original voice notes that is exclusive to this box set. The set will also include an expansive book which features new track-by-track notes from Lee, plus a zoetropic turntable slipmat (featuring Evanescence’s classic “e” logo), more rare photo prints, and enamel pin set.
In all, naysayers be silent, Evanescence’s Fallen is one the most impactful Hard Rock/Metal records of the last twenty years. It brought heavy music back into the forefront within the mainstream, and if you are a cynic, it opened the doors for other female led darker Metal bands such Lacuna Coil, Within Temptation, or even Nightwish to find broader international acclaim. The cold hard truth, Fallen is worth reflecting on twenty years later, and Cryptic Rock gives Craft Recordings stellar anniversary edition releases 5 out of 5 stars.
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