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Synthesis
Synthesis
Released November 8, 2017 (Japan)
November 10, 2017 (US)
Length 1:02:18
Producers Amy Lee, Will "Science" Hunt
Label BMG
Discography
Lost Whispers
(2016)
Synthesis
(2017)
The Bitter Truth
(2021)
Singles from Synthesis
  1. "Bring Me to Life" (Synthesis)
    Released: August 18, 2017
  2. "Imperfection"*
    Released: September 15, 2017
  3. "Lacrymosa"
    Released: October 27, 2017
  4. "Hi-Lo"*
    Released: June 8, 2018


Synthesis is the fourth studio album[1] by American rock band Evanescence. It was released on November 10, 2017 by BMG. This is the band's first independent release after parting ways with Wind-up Records in 2014.

Background[]

The existence of a new project was first confirmed on March 20, 2017, during an interview with frontwoman Amy Lee by AOL Build. The album was next spoken of during an interview with Teamrock.com, in which Lee said:

"We’re working on something new – and the info about it is on lockdown just for a little bit longer. In a short amount of time I’ll explain exactly what it is. But we are in the studio, we are working on a new project, and it’s something different – it’s not just a straightforward next Evanescence album."[2]

On May 10, 2017, the band officially announced the project, a new album entitled Synthesis, via their Facebook. According to the post, the album will be a hybrid of the orchestral and synthetic genres, stripping all of the guitars and drums used from Evanescence's previous hard rock image. It will feature various selected songs from the band's past releases remade "from the ground up" with "different tempos, different parts, intros and outros, segways and new pieces, and putting this all together like one big piece of music", in addition to two brand-new original compositions. It was also revealed that a complete orchestra would be joining them for the production of the album as well as a fall tour.[3] The orchestra was rearranged by David Campbell, who arranged the previous three albums.

The idea of Synthesis came from Amy's wish to have a different version of Evanescence's albums for herself that was just "programming, vocals and the strings."[4][5]

On the album's title, she said:

"That word kept coming into my mind as I defined the theme of this album and its process, it's all about separate people, contrasting sounds, different moments in time, all coming together to make a new thing."[6]

Recording of the album started in February 2017 and was finished in August that same year.[7] The orchestra was recorded first at Ocean Way Recording Studios, in Nashville, TN,[8][5] and the band recorded their part at Will B. Hunt's studio, Spaceway Studios, in Forth Worth, TX.

Singles[]

Inside Synthesis[]

Inside Synthesis is a series of videos featuring behind the scenes of the recording process for the album.

These videos are part of the "From the Inside (The Creation of Synthesis)" documentary on the deluxe version of the album.

Track listing[]

* denotes new songs

  1. Overture*
  2. Never Go Back
  3. Hi-Lo*
  4. My Heart Is Broken
  5. Lacrymosa
  6. The End of the Dream
  7. Bring Me to Life
  8. Unraveling (Interlude)*
  9. Imaginary
  10. Secret Door
  11. Lithium
  12. Lost in Paradise
  13. Your Star
  14. My Immortal
  15. The In-Between (Piano Solo)*
  16. Imperfection*

Credits[]

Lineup[]

Additional musicians[]

  • Lindsey Stirling - violin (track 3)
  • David Campbell - orchestra arrangements, orchestra conductor
  • Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra - orchestra
  • Alan Umstead - orchestra contractor, concertmaster
  • Kirsten Copely - harp

Technical[]

  • Amy Lee - production
  • Will Hunt (Spaceway) - production, engineer
  • Ethan Mates - additional engineer (track 3)
  • Nick Spezia - orchestral engineer
  • Jasper LeMaster - assistant orchestral engineer
  • Gary Hedden - additional audio editing
  • Damian Taylor - mixing engineer
  • Emily Lazar - mastering engineer

Visual[]

  • Paul R. Brown - album art, design and photography
  • Beth Wilson - hair and makeup
  • Marjan Malakpour - wardrobe

References[]

  1. The album is not counted by Amy Lee as Evanescence's fourth album, though the album's announcement on Evanescence.com counted it as such.
  2. Teamrock.com Interview (March 27, 2017)
  3. "EVANESCENCE Announces 'Synthesis' Album, Tour". May 10, 2017. Blabbermouth.net.
  4. "EVANESCENCE's 'Synthesis' Album Is 'Very Much Taking It To The Next Level Musically,' Says AMY LEE". June 13, 2017. Blabbermouth.net.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Protz, Adam (January 2018). "Amy Lee: Nobody's Fool". Headliner Magazine (23): 31–32.
  6. "Evanescence's Amy Lee talks hmv.com through the making of new album Synthesis...". November 10, 2017. hmv.com.
  7. "Amy Lee on Being a Woman in Music: 'I Have Fought So Many Fights'". November 30, 2017. Billboard.
  8. "Evanescence Records at Ocean Way Nashville". June 1, 2017. Ocean Way Nashville.
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