Evanescence’s 'Synthesis' album, a radical symphonic reinterpretation of their Billboard-topping earlier work, has breathed new life into a band that has survived and thrived for more than two decades.
While 'Synthesis' could be interpreted as a departure from songwriter Amy Lee’s original intent, drummer Will Hunt argues that it is the opposite.
The band rode the crest of the nu-metal wave, fusing hip hop with crunching guitars, but it was sometimes the record label that layered those elements on top of Amy’s haunting melodies, as Will explains.
“I would say that certainly the hip hop element was maybe something that was forced; it was not something that she wanted to do at all and a really good example of that was ‘Bring Me To Life’ in that bridge section where it’s a full-blown hip hop/ rap part.
“She actually wrote those lyrics in a melody of that section and it was how it was originally recorded and it wasn’t until later that the label said we’ve got a really great idea, let’s throw some rap over the top of this.”
This would not come as a stunning revelation to devoted followers of the band, as Amy, when performing live, has long demonstrated her aversion to the recorded version of the band’s biggest hit.
“From the time that I joined the band in 2007, she took that part out of the song, we didn’t even do it live because she just really hated it – certainly not Paul [McEvoy], the guy from 12 Stones, she loves that guy – but just the part being forced upon her, I think was what she didn’t like.”
Many fans, though, have developed an attachment to the studio version, as Will recently discovered. “About a year ago we played a gig in Orlando, Florida and Paul came out and he did that song with us, so that was the first time that myself and Troy [McLawhorn] had performed that part of the song.
“Me, I’m sitting back on the drums and I’m looking out at the crowd and I saw when we went into that part how much the crowd was moved by it – they jumped!
"So I spoke to Amy about what I saw and said 'You know, is there a way to put that part back in where you feel comfortable with it?'”
The new version of ‘Bring Me To Life’, then, is quite literally a synthesis; an amalgam of the song the fans know and love and the original opus that Amy felt was unfairly modified. “I think for her it’s kind of cool because it’s come full circle and she was able to get to her original vision.”
Evanescence have already performed 'Synthesis' with some of the world’s finest symphony orchestras, but for Will the Australian tour will be particularly special.
“One of the coolest things about this tour is that we’ve been able to play places that we would never have been able to play because of what we’re doing and obviously the pinnacle of that is the Sydney Opera House; it’s un-freaking-real that we’re doing that.”
Will, though, is accustomed to adapting to foreign environments. As a drummer, he has moved between an army of bands including filling in for Motley Crue for nine shows.
“I like to consider myself more of a chameleon. As well as I could play a Pantera or a Black Label Society sort of thing, you could throw me in Foo Fighters and I would enjoy that as well.”
Evanescence Tour Dates
Sat 10 Feb - Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre13-14 Feb - Sydney Opera House (sold out)
Fri 16 Feb - Rod Laver Arena (Melbourne)
