I was a teenager when Evanescence released their debut album, Fallen. It was a huge part of the soundtrack to my life at the time. ‘The Bitter Truth‘ feels like a nostalgic experience filled with fond memories. After listening, this album left me with a craving for Smirnoff Ice and a Buffy The Vampire Slayer marathon.
‘The Bitter Truth’ is the fifth studio album from the Grammy-winning, American rock band, and comes ten years after their last proper release, Evanescence. The band did release an album called Synthesis in 2017, but this was a collection of previously released tracks, reworked with orchestral arrangements. Featuring previously released singles ‘Wasted on You’, ‘Use My Voice’, and ‘Better Without You’, ‘The Bitter Truth’ takes Evanescence’s sound right back to their heavy rock / nu-metal roots. When Ben Moody left Evanescence after the huge success of the band’s debut album, he took most of the band with him, seemingly leaving Amy Lee floundering. She was in need of new bandmates and new inspiration, taking a new direction that left many fans disappointed. After ten years, Lee and her band have finally found their feet, and have produced an album that is sure to get anyone headbanging.
Lee’s vocals are as stunning and powerful as ever, full of emotion and fantastic storytelling capabilities. Starting strong with the opening track ‘Artifact/The Turn’, Lee’s voice harmonises with itself and synth bells. This creates an eerie, ethereal new age sound; gentle, hypnotic and intriguing. Leading straight into ‘Broken Pieces Shine’ without so much as a breath, the classic Evanescence sound we know and love kicks in, taking the listener on a ride straight back to the noughties. ‘Wasted on You’ gives Lee a real chance to shine, beginning as a stripped back, piano-led ballad that relies on her heavy vocals to carry it. However, the heavy drums and overdriven guitars aren’t far behind, as the lyrics tell the story of a breakup. These lyrics compare the pain of heartbreak to drug addiction: “I don’t need drugs / I’m already six feet low / Wasted on you“.
‘Yeah Right’ briefly changes the tone of the album, with playful lyrics and a jaunty pop beat: “I’m the widow / On the tip-tippy-toppy of the highest high of low / And I’m the shadow / Of the first little flower on the brightest patch of snow”. ‘Far From Heaven’ is another beautiful piano track, and reminded me instantly of ‘My Immortal’. It features Lee’s vulnerable, sweet vocals and a string accompaniment, which slowed things down. These additions add a layer of gentleness to a heightened, theatrical sound that could easily become quite overwhelming otherwise.
The imagery created throughout the album is sublime: boned corsets, ivory towers, dark thundery nights and candlelight. It really draws the listener into a beautiful, dark and dangerous world of fantasy, that belongs to the likes of Lestat de Lioncourt and The Phantom of the Opera.
Music in this theatrical rock genre can easily become quite clichéd, playing on the same dark themes and typical teenage angst. Evanescence always manages to avoid these traps, bringing something classy and intriguing to the table. ‘The Bitter Truth’ is certainly an album to be played loud, with dimmed lights and your curtains closed. Evanescence has proven their worth, and solidified their place as one of the best nu-metal bands out there.
