Who’s talkin’ about Alka-Seltzer?!?

If you are a metal fan, then you know all about Evanescence, not effervescence.  Headed by the clean-voiced, meloncholy songstress Amy Lee, Evanescence returns with their third album and a whole new batch of hard, TRL-friendly singles.  The ability of Lee to create light in the darkness of the heavy guitar and beats is proof of her technical skill.  Add to the balanced meld orchestral elements, and you have an album that challenges the simplistic paradigm of most modern music.  However, the album begins to grow redundant as the tracks progress.  Beautifully produced, the songs keep their edge though they are easily listened to by users not generally accustomed to hard, intensity that only metal can bring.  In the end, I have to wonder how strong any of these tracks would be were it not for the technically strong voice of the lead singer.  The same melladramatic contrivances (heavy, overly-fast guitar entries after a quiet verse or two by the singer) and continued lyrical themes left me happy that I had listened to the album, but also happy I was done.  Once again, Thank you EVPL!!!  : p