Evanescence set release date for new CD

Evanescence has set October 3rd as the release date for its second major label album, The Open Door. Singer Amy Lee told us that the arrival of the follow-up to 2003's Fallen couldn't come soon enough for her: "Well, I wish it was tomorrow, honestly. But it's all happening. We now have a schedule, and we're looking at, you know, photo shoots coming up and video shoots coming up and everything's happening and I'm doing interviews again. It's kind of weird -- it's like I have a job."

Lee also gave us some insight into the meaning of the album's title: "I think it's just a great representation of everything that making this album has felt like. There's not really anything holding me down. I feel free, and as a writer, like, Terry (Balsamo, guitarist) completely lifts me up in my writing and we had fun with it. Every kind of chance you could take, we just went ahead and took it, and had a great time."

The Open Door is the first Evanescence album with Terry Balsamo on guitar, who left Cold in late 2003 to replace founding Evanescence guitarist Ben Moody.

Balsamo suffered a stroke as a result of a torn neck artery last November, but Lee says he has made a "miraculous" recovery.

While making The Open Door, Evanescence sued its former manager on grounds of professional negligence and sexual assault, among other claims.

Lee also split last fall with her boyfriend of two years, Seether frontman Shaun Morgan.

The album's tentative first single is titled "Call Me When You're Sober." Touring plans are yet to be announced.