Gothic rock forever.
It would be too easy to bash Evanescence – because somehow I have respect for this band that reliably stays true to its strengths. There is the perhaps dull but stylishly executed pop-metal storm, the electronic elements from the nu-metal mothballs (even if the band could never do anything with the stamp), which are now zeitgeisty again (just think of Poppy, Spiritbox, Babymetal and Co!), orchestral arrangements, and last but not least: the operatic voice of vocalist Amy Lee.
And she implements exactly this mixture on SANCTUARY, her sixth album. Big feelings meet big noise, inspired by, well, the political situation in her home country of the USA. Evanescence are walking a fine line: they don’t want to make any political statements, they don’t see themselves as a political voice – but staying silent is not an option. So songs like “Who Will You Follow” are created, which can be read as a commentary on the present – or in a completely different way.
Are Evanescence a band that impresses with sophisticated sound ideas? No, definitely not. But someone has to deliver the cheesy, cinematic stadium anthems, and preferably Amy Lee.