It’s been six years since Evanescence’s latest, self-titled album was released. They did an international tour to support it, released music videos for “What You Want” and “My Heart Is Broken” and then…hiatus. The band wasn’t missing entirely during that time; they did a few live shows and Amy Lee released some music on her own (check that out). But the group has essentially been under the radar since self-titled.
That all changed last month. Evanescence is bringing an orchestral sound to their new album due in November, titled Synthesis. It will include a healthy blend of remastered classics and brand new songs. Currently two are already available on iTunes and Spotify; “Imperfection” and “Bring Me to Life (Synthesis).”
“Imperfection” is a refreshing resurgence of Amy Lee’s powerful voice but also a sweet departure from their normal song structure. The chorus rings familiar; Lee starts off screaming out to be heard (“Don’t you dare surrender!“) and it admittedly has a weird beat drop but you get used to it. The eerie fade out at the end of the chorus is also something you’ve heard if you’ve been listening to them for a while. What may surprise you are the verses, which are groovier than you might be used to.
While it may not be a complete departure, the chorus will quench your thirst for Amy Lee’s mystical harmonies. While recent singles like “Love Exists” and “Speak to Me” talk of more hope and innocence, Lee returns to a slightly darker lyrical tone with “Imperfection” (You know you can’t deny it – the world’s a little more fucked up everyday). With Evanescence’s older material Lee and company make you feel at home with the howls of heartache.
The remastered version of “Bring Me to Life” puts a nice spin on a classic but there is a stark difference. The biggest one is the absence of Paul McCoy’s guest vocals, and Lee on her own is a force to be reckoned with. The second is the lack of electronics and drums – it’s not as powerful as the original. Anyone who didn’t like McCoy’s back-up or thought the beat was too much may prefer the “Bring Me to Life (Synthesis).”
Evanescence is also hitting the road in support of Synthesis – check tour dates and VIP packages to see if the band is coming to a city near you.
Synthesis will be available everywhere November 10th. You can pre-order it here and watch behind the scenes videos of its creation below.
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