The Open Door
by Evanescence
  • Record Label: Wind-Up
  • Release Date: Oct 3, 2006
Metascore
61

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 12
  3. Negative: 1 out of 12
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    The Open Door, is more personal and, by accessing a deeper emotional palette, maybe even more universal.
  2. E! Online
    75
    Evanescence fans can rest easy knowing The Open Door handily re-creates the sonic storm of the debut.
  3. Blender
    70
    Denser and more scuzzed-up than Fallen, the album amps everything up to gloriously epic, over-the-top proportions. [Oct 2006, p.129]
  5. Billboard
    70
    Those who embraced "Fallen" will doubtlessly fall even harder into "The Open Door."
  6. Rolling Stone
    70
    The best songs on The Open Door are the creepiest.
  7. Hartford Courant
    70
    No one is likely to describe Lee as "happy" - her music relies on an element of gloom - but she sounds confident and in control, and that gets Lee most of the way there.
  8. NOW Magazine
    60
    Fans will be thrilled to know that, despite the replacement of main guitarist and co-songwriter Ben Moody, Evanescence's sophomore album is at least as unsubtle as its predecessor.
  9. AllMusic
    60
    Sonically, it captures the Evanescence mythos better and more consistently than the first album... but without the songs, it doesn't resonate.
  10. The New York Times
    50
    Many of these theatrical, midtempo songs run together.
  11. PopMatters
    50
    If the album serves any particular purpose, in fact, it’s to highlight the shortcomings of Amy Lee without her former bandmate.
  12. Uncut
    40
    Stodgy miserablism predominates. [Nov 2006, p.117]
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  13. musicOMH.com
    30
    The Open Door is an exercise in how not to make a sophomore album (or any album for that matter).

Awards & Rankings

20
#20 Most Discussed Album of 2006
46
#46 Most Shared Album of 2006

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 231 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 195 out of 231
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 231
  3. Negative: 20 out of 231
  1. AdrianS
    Dec 5, 2009
    10
    I think this album is Amazing, Amy and the band did a great job. The vocals are as outstanding as Fallen's and even more powerful. Buy It!
  2. GamecubeLover
    Jul 3, 2016
    10
    This is one of the best evanescence albums the band has created. The songs are meaningful and they aren't bad at all. This is not her bestThis is one of the best evanescence albums the band has created. The songs are meaningful and they aren't bad at all. This is not her best album but it's like the 3rd one.… Full Review »
  3. SteveW.
    Jan 2, 2008
    5
    Boring and formulaic, very simple. A massive descent in originality and I'm gonna just come out and say that Amy Lee is a singer and Boring and formulaic, very simple. A massive descent in originality and I'm gonna just come out and say that Amy Lee is a singer and shouldn't be allowed to write her own songs again. Not that it was terrible, I quite liked how some of the instrumentals fit so well together, and had some fair musical progression, but was still very uninteresting. Of course my least favorite song here has to be "sweet sacrifice", because Amy Lee's voice in that is so all over the bloody place. She needs someone telling her which tones sound good together because she doesn't have a clue.… Full Review »
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