Evanescence: Fourth Studio Album ‘Synthesis’ Out Today; Album And ‘Synthesis Live’ Tour Garner Glowing Reviews

EVANESCENCE
RELEASE FOURTH STUDIO ALBUM
‘SYNTHESIS’
TODAY, NOVEMBER 10th 2017
NEW ALBUM AND “SYNTHESIS LIVE” U.S./CANADA TOUR GARNER GLOWING REVIEWS
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Evanescence has long had dual personalities, mixing alt-metal and symphonic rock on its three studio albums. On its fourth, ‘Synthesis’ (BMG), out on Friday, it changes the template: Though Amy Lee’s powerfully theatrical mezzo-soprano and neo-gothic rock compositions remain its dominant features, Evanescence discards metal in favor of orchestral grandeur.
Jim Fusilli, 

(11/8/17)

 
Evanescence achieve electronic-symphonic symmetry on their lush new single‘Imperfection.’ Singer Amy Lee commands the track with a swaggering cadence along with her signature belting. ‘You know you can’t deny it,’ she sings. ‘The world’s a little more fucked up every day.'” 
Ryan Reed, 

(9/15/17)

“The relationship between organic and electronic has always been at the core of Evanescence’s music, and on the sprawling ‘Synthesis,’ Lee has brought it to its most dramatic form.”
Claire Greising, 

PASTE  

(11/8/17)

 
 ‘Imperfection’ finds Evanescence mixing their dark rock with electronic elements; Lee veers into sprechgesang (sing-speak) territory across the verses. The chorus is pure Evanescence, cinematic and macabre.”  
Hayden Manders, NYLON (9/15/2017)
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The two-time GRAMMY® Award-winning group EVANESCENCE have today,(November 10) released their new album SYNTHESIS(BMG).  The new album is a reimagining of some of EVANESCENCE’s best-loved songs–as well as a couple of new ones–recorded with a full orchestra and electronics combined with the band and AMY LEE‘s virtuosic piano and voice.
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EVANESCENCE–lead singer-songwriter and pianist AMY LEE, bassist TIM MCCORD, drummer WILL HUNT, lead guitarist/backing vocalist TROY MCLAWHORN and guitarist/background vocalist JEN MAJURA–are currently their U.S. and Canadian “Synthesis Live” tour. It features AMY LEE and the band embedded with a live 28-piece orchestra and electronic programming, delivering a transcendent experience. Critical acclaim is already pouring in for this unique concert event (see below).
Synthesis
Living up to its name, SYNTHESIS is a combination of organic and synthesized sounds featuring LEE’s virtuosic singing and piano playing, supported by her band and a full symphony orchestra performing arrangements by long-time collaborator, orchestra arranger and composer David Campbell as well as an array of electronic music programming and effects engineered by the band, co-producer William Hunt and programmer/mixer Damian Taylor (Björk, The Killers & Arcade Fire). The album features two new EVANESCENCE songs: the first single “Imperfection” and “Hi-Lo,” the latter of which includes a guest performance by famed violinist Lindsey Stirling. Watch the video for EVANESCENCE‘s first single “Imperfection”–which REVOLVER magazine described as “an emotionally-charged epic that confronts mental illness and suicide head on” (9/15/17)–HERE and the behind-the-scenes video story and interviews HERE.
Following are handful of live reviews from the “Synthesis Live” U.S. tour:
“The majesty of Ms. Lee accompanied by Mr. Campbell’s arrangements was undeniable.”
–Jim Fusilli, WALL STREET JOURNAL (11/8/2017)
 
Evanescence lead singer Amy Lee made the leap from goth-rocker to opera diva last night, and she and the band led a 28-piece orchestra through a sold-out performance at the Greek Theatre. Both the concert and the album, offer a re-imagining of the group’s catalog with a full symphony orchestra, arranged by none other than Beck’s father, veteran arranger David Campbell, whose collaboration with the band goes back to the group’s first album. The concert was the second of Evanescence’s current ‘Synthesis Live’ tour, as they team up with a different symphony orchestra-under the direction of conductor Susie Seiter-in each city for an 80-minute, 18-song set….Lee firmly re-establishes herself as one of rock’s pre-eminent vocalists, exhibiting an impressive range that still packs a wallop, this time cutting through a full orchestra. …she and the ensemble turn the familiar material–including crowd favorites like the GRAMMY-winning ‘Bring Me To Life,’ ‘My Immortal,’ ‘Lithium’ and ‘Your Star’–into full-throttle, wide-screen epics, its themes of loss, guilt and self-doubt enlarged to tragedy on the Greek proscenium. The arrangements substitute strings, woodwinds, brass, synths and drum machines for electric guitars and bass, while maintaining drummer Will Hunt’s booming beats (augmented on-stage by album co-producer William B. Hunt)…a synthesis of rock, classical and EDM.”
–Roy Trakin,  VARIETY (10/17/17)
 
Lee’s big, full majestic voice easily filled the room, backed elegantly by an orchestra and her seated bandmates for a special evening titled Evanescence: Synthesis Live…Wearing a sleeveless, dark green gown and a thick bracelet, Lee came across as friendly and humble, explaining that singing with an orchestra had been a longtime dream. She achieved it with gusto Monday, sounding more New Age than alt-rock as she flawlessly belted out Evanescence songs like ‘Lost in Paradise,’ encore standout ‘Good Enough’ and the symphonic-electronic new one ‘Imperfection.‘”
–Scott Tady, BEAVER COUNTY TIMES (10/31/17)
 
“…a delight – while Ms. Lee and her bandmates shared the stage with a 28-piece ensembleher voice emerged as the most noteworthy instrument. It was enough to make you wonder whether she was a rock star or an opera star.”
–Courtney Linder, PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE (10/31/17)
 
Few people in rock music have the pipes of Evanescence’s Amy Lee. Her soulful tone and distinguished sound are as identifiable as they are unique. Belting out tunes like ‘Never Go Back’ and ‘Lacrymosa’ it was clear she was not only there to sing-she came to rock.
–Richie Downs,  THE VINYL DISTRICT  (11/6/17)
 
“…one of the most beautiful showsThe band and orchestra brought drama and passion to the performance, with front woman Amy Lee’s haunting vocals leading the way as they performed songs such as ‘Bring Me to Life,’ ‘My Immortal’ and ‘My Heart is Broken,’ as well as new songs like ‘Imperfection.’
 
–Denise Truscello,  LAS VEGAS INFORMER MAGAZINE (10/15/15)

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Tickets for EVANESCENCE’s “Synthesis Live” fall tour (all remaining dates below) are on-sale now (here).
DATE
LOCATION
VENUE
FRI
11/10
Brooklyn, NY
Kings Theatre
THU
11/30
Chicago, IL
Chicago Theatre
SAT
12/2
Carmel, IN
The Palladium
SUN
12/3
St. Louis, MO
Peabody Opera House
TUE
12/5
Minneapolis, MN
State Theatre
WED
12/6
Madison, WI
Orpheum Theatre
FRI
12/8
Toronto, ON Canada
Sony Centre for Performing Arts
SAT
12/9
Windsor, ON Canada
Caesar’s Windsor
MON
12/11
Kansas City, MO
Kansas City Music Hall
WED
12/13
Denver, CO
Paramount Theatre
FRI
12/15
Reno, NV
Grand Theatre at The Grand Sierra Resort
SAT
12/16
San Francisco, CA
Masonic Auditorium
TUE
12/19
Portland, OR
Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall
 
Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE, photo credit: P.R. Brown (download).
EVANESCENCE, photo, credit P.R. Brown (download).
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