The preeminent question for this band is whether or not it is some kind of Christian conspiracy to hook Gothic kids back into the mainstream of Christian Amerikkkan life. Unfortunately, the answer is "yes, it is a Christian conspiracy."
The album cover features the Gothic look--completely Black hair with a completely make-up-whitened face. The Gothic look is something that we see a minority of alienated often intellectual white youth take up as a rejection of mainstream culture. In fact, Christian activists target Gothic youth as "at risk" for developing actively "Satanist" ideas.
The same people putting out Evanescence music also put out the 12 Stones Christian band that Evanescence tours with.(1) "The fact that Evanescence drummer Rocky Gray also plays with outspoken Christian metal bands Living Sacrifice and Soul Embraced doesn't help distinguish Evanescence from the Christian set; neither does a 2000 interview with the spiritual-leaning magazine Stranger Things, in which Moody said, 'The message we as a band want to convey more than anything is simple ? God is love.'"(2) Evanescence also scored a 94% rating on the Christian Music Central web page.(3)
The industry news talk is that Evanescence sold only 3500 copies through Christian channels and over half a million through normal outlets. The song "Bring Me to Life" was getting extensive air-time on hard-rock stations that might usually be closed to Christian-label music. MIM has to conclude that band leader Amy Lee realized the Christian label was hurting the band and she tried to break out of her confining label. After all, controversy has great potential to sell records if the controversy is within certain limits.
Some of the dumber Christians say that Amy Lee's use of the word "fuck" (and not on the album) means she's not a Christian. (Talk about a cardinal question to divide over!) In interviews, Amy Lee also mentions the others that were crucified along with Christ. Whether as part of the plot or as part of narrow sectarian principle, Jesusfreak.com ran and then pulled their web page for Evanescence.
On the other hand, the song "Tourniquet" says, "My God My Tourniquet/Return to Me Salvation. . . My Soul Cries for Deliverance/Will I Be Denied Christ." This is the sort of thing that Amy Lee is wondering about in agony in the album.
Right in the CD jacket it says, "Ben thanks Jesus -- all the life left in me is you." Ben Moody is the guitarist.
This album has not hit platinum yet, but the other big question besides the Christian plotting is why there has not been a female lead singer like Amy Lee singing in a grunge or metal band that made it big by singing songs of pain in a haunting voice. Of course there are such bands out there, but the female vocalists who manage to sell millions of albums do not offer harsh criticism of anything and almost all stick to the pop formula of singing about loving their boyfriends.
In terms of having a womyn sing in a hard rock band, we cannot say enough about Amy Lee and Evanescence. Amy Lee has a great voice for her ballads and haunting effects.
"Fallen" is a Christian album, Amy Lee's marketing bullshit notwithstanding. However, if she has really had a change of heart, we can see it in future albums. This band has great musical talent. We will hate to see Amy Lee's voice wasted on any future Christian efforts.
Notes:
1. http://www.evanescence.com/tour/index.html
2. http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1471313/04162003/evanescence.jhtml
For the whole quote from Christian guitarist Ben Moody, see,
http://www.strangerthingsmag.com/evanescence.html
3. http://www.cmcentral.com/reviews/298.html ;
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/newsarticle.asp?nid=17904
http://www.mindcage.com/wwwboard/messages/10277.html
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