It has been a few years since fans have been gifted a new album from Evanescence. The hard rock band rose to fame in 2003 with the hit single, “Bring Me to Life.” Their debut album, “Fallen,” has sold over 17,000,000 copies worldwide and paved the way for countless female-fronted bands for nearly twenty years. While the band has gone through several lineup changes over the years, vocalist Amy Lee has always been the heart and soul of the band. Her distinct style and sound have branded her as one of hard rock’s finest musicians.
Now, the Arkansas band (Amy Lee- vocals/piano, Troy McLawhorn- guitar, Jen Majura- guitar/backing vocals, Tim McCord- bass, Will Hunt-drums) are releasing their fifth album, “The Bitter Truth” on March 26 through BMG records. It has been just over three years since the band released an album and nearly ten years since they released a full-length album entirely comprised of new material. “The Bitter Truth” features twelve tracks that not only showcase the band’s maturity but their diversity in song-writing.
The first single released, “Wasted On You,” was released last spring and the official music video has already amassed over five million views on YouTube. The music video is quite unique as each band member recorded themselves with their iPhones during the COVID-19 lockdown. The videos were then pieced together to give a somber, isolated tone. Musically and lyrically, “Wasted On You” gives the feeling that the band wrote the song specifically for each listener, all the while giving that anthemic feeling that unifies every fan at once.
“The Game Is Over” premiered as the band’s second single last summer. Lyrically, it seems as though Amy didn’t hold back from being vulnerable and confronting the issue of social media portrayal. She has been quoted saying, “[The Game Is Over] is about being sick of the facade. The disguises we wear for others to make them feel comfortable, the inside feelings being so different than what we show on the outside to fit within the boundaries of what’s socially acceptable, or what’s not going to make you unpleasant or too ‘weird’ to be around.” The third single, “Use My Voice,” was released prior to the country’s presidential election. The band hoped this song would inspire fans to use their voices and vote.
The single, “Yeah Right,” showcases the band’s musical diversity as they infused a good amount of electronica into an already heavy song. The band had begun writing the song over a decade ago but never completed it. Lee’s powerful vocals are, as always, displaying her impressive range until the song ends with her whisper. The last single to hit radio before the album’s release was “Better Without You.” With its heavy riffs and taunting lyrics, this single is Evanescence at its finest. Amy seems to have been a woman scorned by the industry and she is a force to be reckoned with.
Evanescence has always written and produced incredible music, and “The Bitter Truth” is no exception. Whether you have been a fan since their beginnings or are just getting into the band, this album is sure to be a staple in your music rotation. “The Bitter Truth” combines nostalgia with a fresh instinct, proving Evanescence just gets better as the years go on.
