Written by: Amy Lee, Terry Balsamo
Produced by: Dave Fortman
Release date: May 25, 2007
Genre: Alternative metal, gothic metal
Running time: 3:05
“Sweet Sacrifice” is a song by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on May 25, 2007, as the third single from their second studio album, The Open Door. It was written by Amy Lee and Terry Balsamo while the production was handled by Dave Fortman. “All That I’m Living For” was initially planned to be the third single, as announced at live concerts and online. However, due to requests from the band and fan reaction, Wind-up reconsidered its release and announced that “Sweet Sacrifice” would be the band’s third single from The Open Door. Evanescence’s lead singer Amy Lee wrote the song about the abusive relationship that inspired all of the songs on the group’s debut record, Fallen (2003).
“Sweet Sacrifice” is a rock song written in a moderate tempo. Several critics found a metaphor to Evanescence’s former guitarist Ben Moody in the song. Upon its release, “Sweet Sacrifice” received mostly positive reviews by critics; many deemed the song as a highlight on the album and praised Lee’s vocals, which some described as “haunting”. Although the song failed to chart as highly as the band’s previous singles, it appeared on the charts in Turkey and Germany, as well as the Billboard Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. “Sweet Sacrifice” was nominated in the category for Best Hard Rock Performance at the 50th Grammy Awards. A music video for the song, directed by P.R. Brown, was filmed in California between March 9 and March 10, 2007; It contained mostly live performances. “Sweet Sacrifice” was also added on the set-list on Evanescence’s The Open Door Tour.
