Carly Smithson's Fallen: Is this the Evanescence you've been looking for?

The band may be new, but former Evanescence members Ben Moody, Rocky Gray and John LeCompt don't have any problem looking to the past. Unveiling two songs from their recently formed outfit the Fallen, which features former "Idol" contestant and one-time major label artist Carly Smithson, the alt-rock-era advocates didn't hide that they were courting the Evanescence fanbase.

Just look at the band's name, a reference to Evanescence's 2003's multi-million selling debut "Fallen." Speaking to local media after the performance at a Hollywood studio, LeCompt said the group wanted to "encompass all of our fans we already had" by invoking the hit album.

Rock fans missing Evanescence, who haven't been heard from since 2006 -- leader Amy Lee promises new music next year -- will likely find a quick fix in the Fallen. The songs, currently dubbed "Bury Me" and "Port Going Under," are packed with the grinding guitars and howling theatrics that propelled "Fallen" to sell more than 15 million copies worldwide. The stop-and-stop chopping guitar riff of "Port Going Under" even recalled moments of Evanescence's "Bring Me to Life." 

Cynics will scoff that it's music stuck in another era, but there's a soundtrack to a film called "Twilight" that could comfortably house either of the songs the Fallen performed on Monday afternoon. First single "Bury Me Alive" sets the mood, with the words "pain," "crying," "tears" and "sorrow" all mentioned in the first 40 seconds. There's some murky, horror-film-like sampled strings permeating underneath the churn, but this is a song built for the chorus, and a showcase for Smithson to show off her reach-for-the-horizons vocals.

Smithson certainly looks the part, sporting a black leather dress, black tights and black boots on Monday. There was no denying a resemblance to Lee, both in her look and in the drama she's striving for in her vocal approach. On "Idol," Smithson was a little more Broadway than rock 'n' roll, and she's found a band where her penchant for theater should be welcome.

In terms of gauging the band's chances for success, the most glaring obstacle would seem to be whether or not the remaining Evanescence fanbase is ready to support a band fronted by an ex-"Idol." Moody admitted to never watching the talent competition, and while Carrie Underwood and Daughtry have graduated to mainstream success, the country and power ballad market doesn't place as much emphasis on perceived authenticity as the hard rock and metal one. 

Nevertheless, the band is doing the right thing in courting its fanbase by releasing singles for free on its website. Moody promises two songs every eight weeks or so, as well as a fall tour, and the band remains free of a label at the moment. "Bury Me" was made available Monday, but if the Fallen want to stay on fans' good side, future singles will be released without forcing followers to give up a cellphone number, and won't just be limited to 100,000 people. 

If you've heard it, offer your take below.

--Todd Martens

Related: Video: The Fallen are unveiled with Carly Smithson

Photo: SKH Music

Comments

[Eddie Talaske]

Port Going Under? I think u mean a cover of Going Under...

[Todd Martens]

Hi Eddie,
Happy to update it if I'm wrong. I'll look into it. I did ask two reps for the band and repeated the title back to them two times.

[Guava]

I honestly think Carly can do better. I think shes very talented.. but joining the three ex-members of Evanescence is frikin lame. I have nothing against her at all though.

"The Fallen" or "We Are The Fallen"? I think they could have come up with a better name than that. Sounds like a tribute band to Evanescence and Lacuna Coil. And their first single "Bury Me Alive"? Sounds like Lacuna Coil as well.
I'm sure the band will be popular for a while but that's about it, they will constantly be compared to other female-fronted bands, especially Evanescence.

I think they need to branch off a little more and come up with something different. We Are The Fallen is a generic band made up of talented people.. doesn't make sense does it? Nope

Poor Carly. She could have done better on her own. Kinda like what Kelly Clarkson did. Now she's tied to this generic band.

I'm sure they will make lots of money though.. I'm pretty sure that's why this band was made. Ben, Rocky and John were kicked out of Evanescence, so they decided to make another female fronted band with Carly from American Idol (I have nothing against her btw) They want to be famous again. Perfect opportunity for them eh? Money money money. They'll make lots of it.

[rome]

i also read that the other song performed by 'we are the fallen' was originally an evanescence song. but yeah, bury me alive is pretty good.

i also agree with guava that carly's music would have been better on her own. i've heard the samples of the singles she was working on for her solo album, and was really looking forward to them. they were amazing, but she teamed up with evanescence so suddenly it was all taken off the table. i can only hope they get released sometime in the future.

[rome]

btw, guava, they were originally 'the fallen' but the name was already taken and they were dealing with copyright issues so changed their name to 'we are the fallen'

[Charles]

I like the song and think getting a song onto a popular movie soundtrack sounds like a great idea. This has been Carly's dream (rock band with 'heavy' lyrics & sound) for quite a while so I hope it is a ride that she enjoys. I remember in a post-Idol interview when Ms Smithson said she didn't want to be singing about "sunshine & rainbows" and I suspect, if Bury Me Alive is any indicator, that won't be the musical direction of We Are The Fallen any time soon.

[Christine]

Hmm...pale skin, black hair, blue eyes, an ungodly amount of black eyeliner, and a black head-to-toe wardrobe....who do you remind me of??? Oh yeah, AMY LEE!!!

I loved Carly Smithson on Idol She's got a fantastic voice, and I think she could do so much better than this. This won't be anything but a tribute band to Evanescence, with a bit of Lacuna Coil in the mix.

Rocky, Ben, John, kudos for being stuck in the past and not moving on.

[Lucas]

their sound reminded me of Lacuna Coil (no offense to them)

Well, this is just gonna be a "Amy Lee vs Carly" thing .. just like "Anette vs Tarja"
except this time, both sing beautifully

ok.. I have to shut my mouth a bit
I can say I liked Bury Me Alive, cuz it's a song made to reach everyone who like this type of music
I'm really focusing on what Amy is gonna made for us, which will certainly be the best, now that they've had a long break.
I have complain about The Fallen :D
The name ¬¬ Sorry to say that, but Ben could easily come up with a creative name.
When I first saw "The Fallen" I thought "Well, an Evanescence Tribute .. COOL" and then I realized it has nothing to do with Evanescence, except 80% of the band are ex-Evanescence

but yeah, I wish them all luck in the world.
And sure I'll keep downloading their songs, cuz I really liked Carly's voice *-*
/o/

[Elsa]

Oh. my God. I can't believe this....

I can understand why Ben formed this kind of band, but John and Rocky??

I don't know...

[Isabella]

I agree, Carly sounds at lot like Lacuna coil....but i have to say Amy is way better than this Carly. I think they are just being a rip-off of Evanescence. I'm a huge Evanescence and i must say i find it a disgrace that they would try to mock Amy in any way.

Btw, was carly a former Ev fan?

I liked it when Amy had no competition but then Ms.Carly 'i'm so cool' waltzed up on stage and acted like she was better than the world. ..and well, i'm srry to say but she's not!

I'll be looking forward to Amy's new album.

[Isabella]

I agree, Carly sounds at lot like Lacuna coil....but i have to say Amy is way better than this Carly. I think they are just being a rip-off of Evanescence. I'm a huge Evanescence and i must say i find it a disgrace that they would try to mock Amy in any way.

Btw, was carly a former Ev fan?

I liked it when Amy had no competition but then Ms.Carly 'i'm so cool' waltzed up on stage and acted like she was better than the world. ..and well, i'm srry to say but she's not!

I'll be looking forward to Amy's new album.