Evanescence is poised to debut at Number One on the Billboard Top 200 with its new album, The Open Door, according to Hits Daily Double. Early sales tracking predicts that the CD will sell between 350,000 and 400,000 copies in the U.S. in its first week of release. The Open Door came out this past Tuesday (October 3rd) and follows up the band’s six-million-selling 2003 major label debut, Fallen.
Singer Amy Lee told us she’s not worried about equaling the previous album’s sales: “I just haven’t ever looked at it that way. Fallen is a great record, but I don’t think you can try to match the success of another body of work. I think that’s only gonna frustrate you. And if, honestly if what you really care about is record sales and money, there’s no way you’re gonna make a great piece of art, because then you’re just gonna get all confused and make something ingenuine.”
The sophomore album from the Killers, Sam’s Town, is expected to land right behind Evanescence at Number Two, with sales north of 300,000.
The band began a 17-date North American tour last night (Thursday, October 5th) in Toronto, Canada.
Evanescence recorded The Open Door while dealing with its guitarist having a stroke, a legal battle with its former manager, and Lee’s public break-up with Seether’s Shaun Morgan.
The group recently recruited Revolution Smile bassist Tim McCord to replace departed bassist Will Boyd.