After almost fifteen years of career and only three studio albums, many will have a hard time accepting Evanescence as serious emo-rock and nu metal band from the 2000s wave. Amy Lee is the only "survived" original member of the band, mainly thanks to her character that is similar to Shannon Doherty in the world of teen shows. Her solo escapades are also slightly embarrassing. On her YouTube channel, you can find so-so covers of Portishead and U2; she did an unnoticed soundtrack for War Story and even less memorable album of songs for kids titled Dream Too Much. Everything is embarrassing to the point that makes you wonder Who in the world is listening to Evanescence and why? I am actually asking myself this, since Evanescence are my guilty pleasure.
However, Lee always stood out in the pop world with her startling vocal abilities and academic pedigree. Identifying Evanescence as botn rock and classical band is not a mistake by any means. I mean, in only three albums, Amy Lee managed to create worldly famous compositions. Without any pressure and full of revitalized creative impetus, she decided to rearrange the best parts of Evanescence's discography and synthesize them into a hybrid of electronic and orchestral music. Now comes the plot twist: Synthesis is the album of her career!
First of all, Synthesis is a chamber-driven and atmospheric retrospective of three albums (Fallen, Open Door and Evanescence) with only three new songs that ironically fade into the background due to fantastic new performances of past material. Songs are rejuvenated with complex string arrangements, juxtapositioned to electronic expressions, from dubstep to hip hop. Btw, classics such as Lithium, My Immortal, My Heart Is Broken and Open Door are not transformed as nearly as absolutely brilliant Your Star or cover of Mozart's Lacrimosa. Dense, multi-layer quality of these compositions deserves your best speakers.
Lee shows how experience can affect vocal interpretation and sounds like the best version of herself. Her range is more wide, and her vocal control allows her to perform exhibitions she never dared to before.
Only two new songs are added to the well known catalogue. Hi-Lo is a competition between piano, violins and hip hop, while the other one sounds like it belongs on Open Door. However, Synthesis might be the most positive surprise of the year. Even the hardest critics can not ceny that Amy Lee outdid herself.
