Review: Evanescence – 'Synthesis'

EVANESCENCE
'Synthesis'
BMG - SONY MUSIC

I wouldn’t be honest if I didn’t say that I’ve been waiting, dancing at the edge of anxiety, for 'Synthesis', the fourth studio album by Evanescence, a band that has come and gone with me since I was a teenager. It would be a lie as big as if I said that I don’t have a complex mix of feelings with it now that I’ve listened to it a couple of times.

The disc presents reworked versions of well known songs of band, now adapted to include a full orchestra, two new tracks, an overture, an interlude and a piano solo, but we could divide it into two big, almost balanced parts: one that contains the dramatic music, the shouts, the cries, while the second is made of calm cries, heartbreaking ballads and pure, raw vocal power.

With the first six songs, Amy unleashes all of her rage and brightness, using music as her weapon to shoot right to the heart of her followers. Just to name a few of the effects in this half, 'Hi-Lo' can be easily danced by a couple, while 'Lacrymosa' makes the heart cry in pain and joy at the same time, and 'Bring Me to Life' makes you stare to the screen in wonder, paralysed.

The second half of Synthesis, separated by the Interlude, takes more power from Amy’s goddess-like voice and remains quiet in terms of music for most of its songs, like the new 'Lithium', perfect to listen by night, the seductive vocals in 'Your Star' or the fan-favourite 'My Immortal', completely transformed into an orchestral ballad that rediscovers its own original feelings, totally devoid of electronic music.

My only problem with this album is that you easily draw the line between the two types of songs that form it, an issue that bothers me a lot coming from an Evanescence album. After a wild ride with six incredibly sick tracks, the pace slows down all of a sudden. It confuses me still some times, but it seems it’s just a matter of time before you get used to this division.

The first and only single so far, 'Imperfection' amends all the feelings as the best song the band has ever created. The general mid-tempo and its crescendos play with the ears like a gentle storm, involving the mind and creating a whole new world that could only be shown in its music video. This is not the first time Amy Lee writes a song about social issues, but it could be her best try.

Listening to 'Synthesis' is such an experience that I find a lack of words to properly describe it. Doesn’t matter that it has its flaws, as which albums is free of guilt? This one in particular has served its purpose and met almost all of my expectations and is on its way of becoming one of the best releases I’ve seen this year so far.

We know that Evanescence is not done, Amy herself has said it, and that there is still more music to come from this band, but while we wait for their dark rock style to come back, it won’t bother me at all to replay this album.

Posted in: evanescence,music,Synthesis