I have another interesting set of reviews for you this week, with the highly vaunted return of two major acts producing mixed results. Overall, it's a pretty nice selection for you all.

CD Reviews

Evanescence: Open Door

After reading various dire reports on this album before release, I was not sure what to expect. I lowered my expectations for this sequel to the huge hit that was their debut. With the departure of Ben Moody, this is very much an Amy Lee-fest and I think it suffers from it greatly. There are times when the band does not sound as together as it did on the debut CD and Amy's singing is more whingeing than it is melodic. It was clever to put the two best tracks up front, the rather good single "Call Me When You are Sober" and "Sweet Sacrifice."

Ms. Lee, alas, has used her personal problems too much on this album and one does get a bit tired of it by the end. It's not a rubbish album, but there is far better of this sort of thing out there in the form of Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation. Since Evanescence's first cracking debut, a lot of goth pop fans have discovered there is other fine material out there. Sophomore blues maybe, but this album does not really cut it completely in '06.

Kamelot: One Cold Winter's Night

Power metallers Kamelot are not shy about venturing into female goth/pop world that seems to be so popular these days. It will be no surprise the two standout tracks on this live 2 CD set, recorded in Norway, are the frankly amazing – "The Haunting" and "Karma." "The Haunting" is as good as anything produced by Nightwish or Within Temptation. Kamelot is yet another band showing music can be heavy, melodic, and beautiful all at the same time.

I think this set is, without a doubt, essential for fans of the band, and probably for anyone who likes Scandi-powerprog. It is expertly played catchy music that puts a serious smile on your face. I just wish they would have left out the bleeding drum and keyboard solo, but, then again, that is why we have a forward button. This lot could be huge all over very soon. Quality stuff like this deserves all the ears it can find.