Music Reviews – Tear the World Down by We Are the Fallen

[Bill L.]

“Tear the World down” by We are the Fallen

Listening to this disc causes me to recall the phrase “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Fanatical Evanescence fans who quite rightly have been moping [as only Evanescence fans can] for more goth/metal/piano rock pain these last three years will already be aware of this disc, and their thoughts are best left to the darkest regions of their soul. For the rest of us, this disc attempts to recapture the sound of the phenomenal discs “Fallen” and “The Open Door.” This is not at all bad or surprising as band member Ben Moody, who was one half of the original Evanescence duo, is clearly present on “Tear the World Down,”  as is guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky gray, both late of the band . All promise a great listen.

The tracks go through the motions and yet … it is unfulfilling. It is seemingly dark but without the – dare one say genius of Amy Lee’s [the other original half of Evanescence] delicious lyrics with her bottomless pit of pain and despair, to say nothing of her semi-operatic voice and virtuosic piano playing. One finds that with the exception of “Bury me Alive” which is rightly a feast for proto-Goths and its delightful video music, proving no doubt that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, we are left empty. Indeed there is even piano in several songs on this disc — imitation as flattery indeed.

Nevertheless, Carly Smithson’s vocals are powerful and sincere and yet, and yet … We are the Fallen’s attempts at musical pain, loss and regret ought to be more heartfelt and more moving and deeper and ought to delight.  More is needed than the seeming desire for revenge. As the phrase goes, I really wanted to like this disc, I really, really did. But . . .

It is odd that one should spend so much time in a review of one band in commenting on another, but in a larger sense it is/was the same band. And in goth brooding fashion it has generated even more pain and discontent over time. For those who do not know, “evanescence” is a meteorological term describing what happens to nighttime fog as the rising sun, after dawn, scatters and burns away those nighttime mists. As a mental image it is really cool. And to a certain extent, that act of scattering has dogged Evanescence almost since its first disc, “Fallen.” Thus the new band’s name. The implication is that they are the true band.

I await Evanescence’s third studio album which hopefully will be released this fall. Let’s see if that dish too is served cold – or will it be suitably seasoned with the lively passion of Amy Lee and as she has sung, in the darkness before the dawn.

– Bill Littlefield