We Are the Fallen reunites ex-Evanescence members

New York: The success of Evanescence`s 2003 album ‘Fallen’ was everything band co-founders Ben Moody and Amy Lee could have dreamed of.Lead single "Bring Me to Life" was a crossover smash that peaked at No. 5 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Fallen" sold 3.4 million copies in the United States alone that year, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

But by the time the rock act collected two Grammy Awards in March 2004, guitarist Moody had quit, his friendship and professional relationship with singer/pianist Lee in tatters for reasons never made entirely clear. She moved forward with Evanescence, and for the next six years he worked as an in-demand songwriter for such pop stars as Kelly Clarkson and Celine Dion. But Moody wasn`t ready to give up on playing live. Last year Steve Karas, his former publicist at Wind-up Records, the label that released "Fallen," half-jokingly advised him to "get the band back together." Since Moody`s departure, John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray had also left Evanescence, and he recruited them for a new project, along with "American Idol" season-seven finalist Carly Smithson and bassist Marty O`Brien. The venture born out of a wisecrack, We Are the Fallen, is getting ready to release its debut, "Tear the World Down," May 11 on Universal Republic. Moody explains that he`s not trying to relive the past, nor does he intend to ignore it. "There`s John to my right and Rocky`s behind me, and it`s just like no time has passed. That`s special," he says of playing together, adding, "The reason that we`re doing it this way is simply that this way works, and this way feels more natural than any other lineup we could have." More comparisons are inevitable: Smithson resembles Lee, and dramatic first single "Bury Me Alive" features powerful vocals and orchestral accompaniment just like "Fallen." "The similarities are there because that`s just what we do," Moody says. "John and Rocky and I -- we get together, we start playing music, that`s what it sounds like." He points out that Evanescence has moved "into a more artistic place," whereas We Are the Fallen wants to create songs "that are both epic and heavy and beautiful, but memorable and catchy." He also notes that "Tear the World Down" contains more metal and pop, evidenced on tracks like "Burn," "St. John" and an imaginative cover of Madonna`s "Like a Prayer." The band embarked March 26 on a North American supporting tour slot with HIM; the trek runs until May 7. Moody hopes more live dates will be added to his schedule. Although he`s open to songwriting gigs, his long-term focus is on the band. "As far as writing or producing a whole record, I just don`t see that happening, because this is so important to me that I don`t think I could stand the time away." Bureau Report