The Bitter Truth: Difference between revisions

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| Artist      = [[Evanescence]]
| Artist      = [[Evanescence]]
| Cover        = TheBitterTruth.jpg
| Cover        = TheBitterTruth.jpg
| Released    = TBC
| Released    = March 26, 2021
| Format      = TBC
| Format      = Digital download, CD, vinyl
| Recorded    = January - February, July 2020; Rock Falcon Studio, Nashville, TN
| Recorded    = January - February, July - November 2020; [[Rock Falcon Studio]], Nashville, TN; [[Blackbird Studio|Blackbird]], Nashville, TN; [[Ocean Way Studios#Ocean Way Nashville|Ocean Way Nashville]], TN
| Length      = TBC
| Length      = 47:25
| Label        = [[Evanescence]] <small>under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC</small>
| Label        = [[Evanescence]] <small>under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC</small>
| Producer    = [[Nick Raskulinecz]]
| Producer    = [[Nick Raskulinecz]]
| Last album  = ''[[Synthesis Live DVD|Synthesis Live]]''<br />(2018)
| Last album  = ''[[Synthesis Live DVD|Synthesis Live]]''<br />(2018)
| This album  = '''''The Bitter Truth'''''<br>(2020)
| This album  = '''''The Bitter Truth'''''<br>(2021)
| Next album  =  
| Next album  = ''[[Sixth studio album]]''<br />(TBC)
{{Singles
{{Singles
  | Name = The Bitter Truth
  | Name = The Bitter Truth
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  | single 3 = [[Use My Voice]]
  | single 3 = [[Use My Voice]]
  | single 3 date = August 14, 2020
  | single 3 date = August 14, 2020
  | single 4 =  
  | single 4 = [[Yeah Right]]
  | single 4 date =
  | single 4 date = December 4, 2020
| single 5 = [[Better Without You]]
| single 5 date = March 5, 2021
}}
}}
}}
}}
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{{lang}}
{{lang}}


''The Bitter Truth'' is [[Evanescence]]'s fifth studio album that is currently in the recording process, with the band scheduling to hit the studio multiple times in 2020.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n2UiznKzVw "¡Entrevista antes del desastre! Amy Lee de @Evanescence"] (in Spanish). December 10, 2019.</ref>
''The Bitter Truth'' is [[Evanescence]]'s fifth studio album<ref name="4th" /> that was released on March 26, 2021 through [[BMG]]. It was originally going to be released in late 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic which slowed down the recording. The band hit the studio multiple times in 2020 to record the album.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4n2UiznKzVw "¡Entrevista antes del desastre! Amy Lee de @Evanescence"] (in Spanish). December 10, 2019.</ref>


Amy confirmed that the new music will go back to its rock roots and that they've got some ideas in the bank, including previous songs that didn't make it to the [[Evanescence (album)|self-titled record]] and ''[[Synthesis]]''.<ref>KaaosTV (June 13, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpNAFMi0wOs "Evanescence Interview @ The Rockfest"]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref>[http://www.kerrang.com/the-news/k-1694-code-orange-surviving-rocks-violent-new-reality/ "K!1694: Code Orange  – Surviving Rock's Violent New Reality"]. October 24, 2017. ''Kerrang!''</ref> There is currently no confirmed release date, but there is intention to release the new music in 2020.<ref name=moodtorock />
The album is described in the press release as an epic, guitar-driven collection inspired by the (often-bitter) realities of the 21st century and our world.


She also explained that the new music is "dark and heavy" and has "''[[The Open Door]]'' vibes" in terms of it having "weird and sparse" moments.<ref>Lee, Amy (November 21, 2019). [https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/dzqjla/i_am_amy_lee_from_evanescence_our_new_song_the/f89rx6q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x "I am Amy Lee from Evanescence, our new song “The Chain (from Gears 5)” is out tonight! AMA"]. ''Reddit''.</ref>  
Prior to its release, on March 11, 2021, the album was leaked in its entirety online.
 
Amy confirmed that the new music will go back to its rock roots and that they've got some ideas in the bank, including previous songs that didn't make it to the [[Evanescence (album)|self-titled record]] and ''[[Synthesis]]''.<ref>KaaosTV (June 13, 2017). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpNAFMi0wOs "Evanescence Interview @ The Rockfest"]. ''YouTube''.</ref><ref>[http://www.kerrang.com/the-news/k-1694-code-orange-surviving-rocks-violent-new-reality/ "K!1694: Code Orange  – Surviving Rock's Violent New Reality"]. October 24, 2017. ''Kerrang!''</ref> The band wrote intermittently during the [[Live Shows 2019|2019 tour]].<ref name=variety /> The band made it clear from the start that they will release songs throughout 2020 before releasing the full album.<ref name=moodtorock />
 
She also explained that the new music is "dark and heavy" and has "''[[The Open Door]]'' vibes" in terms of it having "weird and sparse" moments.<ref>Lee, Amy (November 21, 2019). [https://www.reddit.com/r/Music/comments/dzqjla/i_am_amy_lee_from_evanescence_our_new_song_the/f89rx6q?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x "I am Amy Lee from Evanescence, our new song “The Chain (from Gears 5)” is out tonight! AMA"]. ''Reddit''.</ref>
 
Five singles were released throughout 2020 and 2021 in anticipation of the record. The first four singles were the first songs the band recorded in early 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.


==Conception==
==Conception==
[[File: Ev writing session May 2019.jpg|thumb|200px|The band at the first writing session for the album in May 2019.]]
After releasing 2017's ''Synthesis'', Amy said the next album would go raw and focus on the band.<ref name=kerrang2017 /> Later, she confirmed that the new songs are in a "place that’s even more raw", adding they are "all different" from each other.<ref name=rawsongs />
{{Quote|"The songs came from all different places, they're not all in the same vein. It's going really great. It's a combination of a lot of things. It's definitely 100 percent us, but it's also taking risks, and I think it's meaningful — deeply meaningful... A lot of it has attitude."


After releasing 2017's ''Synthesis'', Amy said the next album would go raw and focus on the band.<ref name=kerrang2017 /> Later, she confirmed that the new songs are in a "place that’s even more raw", adding they are "all different" from each other.<ref name=rawsongs />
"I definitely have felt like I have one foot on the other side a lot the past two years, so there's a lot of writing that's, I guess in a way back to my roots in that I'm searching for meaning in things... That stuff's all in there. But it's not all dark and serious."<ref name=riskyalbum />}}


In an interview with ''Rock Sound'' in May 2020, Amy discussed the album's sound:<ref name=rocksound />
In an interview with ''Rock Sound'' in May 2020, Amy discussed the album's sound:<ref name=rocksound />
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{{Quote|“It’s a rock record. We wanted to showcase the strength, fun and power of the band. There’s no holding back. It’s heavy sonically, and it feels ''good'' to go heavy. Really good. But it’s not heavy for heavy’s sake.”<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang />}}
{{Quote|“It’s a rock record. We wanted to showcase the strength, fun and power of the band. There’s no holding back. It’s heavy sonically, and it feels ''good'' to go heavy. Really good. But it’s not heavy for heavy’s sake.”<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang />}}


She went on to state that, despite now being three singles into the record, we “haven’t heard all the sounds of the album yet”. She promised songs with “score-like drama” and “aggressive power”. Sometimes the unbridled energy sparked by the group reconvening after months of quarantine spawned utterly joyous “balls to the wall” moments. Double bass drumming is mentioned. Perhaps most exciting is Amy revealing there is an infusion of the “catty vibe” that defined classic single ''[[Call Me When You're Sober]]''.<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang />
She went on to state that, despite as of September being three singles into the record, we “haven’t heard all the sounds of the album yet”. She promised songs with “score-like drama” and “aggressive power”. Sometimes the unbridled energy sparked by the group reconvening after months of quarantine spawned utterly joyous “balls to the wall” moments. Double bass drumming is mentioned. Perhaps most exciting is Amy revealing there is an infusion of the “catty vibe” that defined classic single ''[[Call Me When You're Sober]]''.<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang />


{{Quote|“That is definitely here, but taken to the next level. I hope we can deliver everything the fans could expect, and more. The ‘and more’ is the most exciting part for me. The music that we make is just the sound of my feelings and there are a lot of big feelings, so it’s a strong sound.”}}
{{Quote|“That is definitely here, but taken to the next level. I hope we can deliver everything the fans could expect, and more. The ‘and more’ is the most exciting part for me. The music that we make is just the sound of my feelings and there are a lot of big feelings, so it’s a strong sound.”}}
In late 2020, she told ''Kerrang!'':<ref name=hope20 />
{{Quote|“When making a complete album, especially after all this time, I always want to just put out a statement, like, ​‘This is where we’re at, this is who we are’ – it has to be a whole spectrum of emotions and reflections that make up who you are, who the band is. So far, I feel like each song that we put out is a very different colour of the spectrum and there are more colours yet to come, for sure.”}}
In a press release, she said:
{{Quote|"I want people to come away from this album feeling hope and empowerment and strength. Something that inspires me a lot in life is people who have overcome great obstacles — survivors. I hope we can pass on the idea that even when things are impossibly painful life is worth living. Leaning into those darkest, most challenging moments, facing them and finding we're not alone in them, makes us real. Makes us strong enough to take them on. And it brings us together, if we let it, in a deeper appreciation of the light... and the truth. Thanks for the memories. Now let's go make some new ones."<ref name=pressTBT />}}


==Recording Process & In the Studio==
==Recording Process & In the Studio==
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Amy has said that the band will record the album in sections during 2020 to work around their tour plans.<ref name=radioultra /> She said they might also bring in a different producer each time they hit the studio.<ref name=moodtorock />
Amy has said that the band will record the album in sections during 2020 to work around their tour plans.<ref name=radioultra /> She said they might also bring in a different producer each time they hit the studio.<ref name=moodtorock />


The band recorded the first four songs with [[Nick Raskulinecz]] at his studio, [[Rock Falcon Studio]], on January 20th and concluded on February 5th.<ref name=4songs /> One of those will be released as a single. They aimed at working with another producer on songs in the vein of ''The Open Door'' and "electronic, weird, mid-tempo world."<ref name=kyleinterview /> Amy said she wants to release songs over the course of 2020 and in the end the full album will be released.<ref name=kyleinterview />
The album opener, ''[[Artifact/The Turn]]'', was recorded by Amy herself on her laptop in a hotel room in the [[Live Shows 2019|2019 tour]].
[[File:Will drums August 2020.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Photo of Will's drums originally posted by Nick on August 10 in which it can be read the song titles ''[[Take Cover]]'' and ''Better Without You'']]
 
The band recorded the first four songs with [[Nick Raskulinecz]] at his studio, [[Rock Falcon Studio]], on January 20th and concluded on February 5th.<ref name=4songs /> One of those will be released as a single around April.<ref name=riskyalbum /> They aimed at working with another producer on songs in the vein of ''The Open Door'' and "electronic, weird, mid-tempo world."<ref name=kyleinterview /> Amy said she wants to release songs over the course of 2020 and in the end the full album will be released.<ref name=kyleinterview />
[[File:Will drums August 2020.jpg|150px|thumb|left|Photo of Will's drums originally posted by Nick on August 10 in which it can be read the song titles ''[[Take Cover]]'' and ''[[Better Without You]]'']]


No orchestra was recorded for some of the songs from the album,<ref name=rocksound /> with Amy saying "that's not because we couldn't get together with one because of the [COVID-19] pandemic!"<ref name=rawsongs /> Instead of strings, electronics (such as synthesizers, arpeggiators and sound effects) were used.<ref name=scrollin />
No orchestra was recorded for some of the songs from the album,<ref name=rocksound /> with Amy saying "that's not because we couldn't get together with one because of the [COVID-19] pandemic!"<ref name=rawsongs /> Instead of strings, electronics (such as synthesizers, arpeggiators and sound effects) were used.<ref name=scrollin />
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On August 10, producer Nick posted on Instagram that [[Will Hunt]] tracked 9 songs. On a snare it's written "Evanescence Bitter Pill Sessions" and also gave away two song titles.<ref name=drumsAugust2020 /> The post was later taken down.
On August 10, producer Nick posted on Instagram that [[Will Hunt]] tracked 9 songs. On a snare it's written "Evanescence Bitter Pill Sessions" and also gave away two song titles.<ref name=drumsAugust2020 /> The post was later taken down.


On August 14, Amy revealed in an interview with ''Billboard'' that the band went back to the studio for a few weeks to resume recording. They tested negative for COVID-19, wore masks and had contact with no one else while they were together.<ref name=billboard5min /> She also revealed on the Zoom premiere of ''Use My Voice'' that Nick will handle the production of the whole album. Thus, the band will not work with different producers as originally planned.
On August 14, Amy revealed in an interview with ''Billboard'' that the band went back to the studio for a few weeks to resume recording. All U.S.-based band members were brought by tour buses after being tested negative for COVID-19, wore masks and had contact with no one else while they were together.<ref name=billboard5min /><ref name=radiocom /> She also revealed on the Zoom premiere of ''Use My Voice'' that Nick will handle the production of the whole album. Thus, the band will not work with different producers as originally planned, turning Nick into the album's sole producer.
[[File:Amy vocals TBT.jpg|thumb|150px|"Serving up some Bitter Truth. We can’t WAIT for you to hear this."]]
[[File:Amy vocals TBT.jpg|thumb|150px|"Serving up some Bitter Truth. We can’t WAIT for you to hear this."]]
On August 21, Amy revealed in a ''SiriusXM'' interview that all American band members finished their parts in one month, Jen has been working remotely since she lives in Germany, and she's been working on lyrics, keyboards, and programming. Amy has been enjoying the use of sound design, programming and synthesizers on the new material. No strings were recorded so far, but it doesn't mean they might not add string sections in some songs.<ref name=SiriusXM2020 />
On August 21, Amy revealed in a ''SiriusXM'' interview that all American band members finished their parts in one month, Jen has been working remotely since she lives in Germany, and she's been working on lyrics, keyboards, and programming. Amy has been enjoying the use of sound design, programming and synthesizers on the new material. No strings were recorded so far, but it doesn't mean they might not add string sections in some songs.<ref name=SiriusXM2020 />
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During a Q&A held on Evanescence's Facebook on September 1, Amy said she was writing lyrics to the songs that already had guitars and drums recorded.<ref name=QAseptember /> She also revealed that some songs written during the creation of the self-titled third album that "didn't get finished or was a piece that didn't fit that puzzle" were finished out for ''The Bitter Truth''.
During a Q&A held on Evanescence's Facebook on September 1, Amy said she was writing lyrics to the songs that already had guitars and drums recorded.<ref name=QAseptember /> She also revealed that some songs written during the creation of the self-titled third album that "didn't get finished or was a piece that didn't fit that puzzle" were finished out for ''The Bitter Truth''.


Amy told ''Kerrang!'' on September 9 that the album was "70%" done, adding "It’s hard to say because I’m still writing." She also revealed a song under its working title, ''Pickle Mustard''. "It’s a tentative title. I’m pretty sure that’s going to change."<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang />
Amy told ''Kerrang!'' on September 9 that the album was "70%" done, adding "It’s hard to say because I’m still writing." She also revealed a song under its working title, ''Pickle Mustard''. "It’s a tentative title. I’m pretty sure that’s going to change."<ref name=DoneSilentKerrang /> This was later revealed to be ''[[Part of Me]]''.
 
A 25-second studio clip showing Amy playing a new song on the piano was posted on the band's Instagram stories on September 30, 2020. Watch it [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfsO1Kexj7k here]. A [https://twitter.com/EvaWebsite/status/1317566561536933891 clip] of [[Troy McLawhorn|Troy]] recording guitar to a new song was posted on their Instagram story on October 17. The former turned out to be ''[[Feeding the Dark]]'' and the latter, ''[[Broken Pieces Shine]]''.
 
Amy revealed in an interview on October 29 that the album is nearly finished, but said she can't set a release date while she's writing lyrics. She added recordings will be completed in 2020 and hinted the album may be released in early 2021.<ref name=loudwireOctober />
 
On November 3, Amy revealed she was deciding which order the songs would run on the album and was listening to it as a whole in order to think about the "journey of the stories." She said the LP is "weirdly concise" and goes through a lot of different "musical places." She noted she was still writing lyrics and added she was putting the finishing touches on the songs, such as orchestration and programming.<ref name=faceculture />
 
On November 19, the band shared an Instagram story of strings being recorded for the album at [[Ocean Way Studios#Ocean Way Nashville|Ocean Way Nashville]]. Watch it [https://twitter.com/EvaWebsite/status/1329473514668167168 here]. Recordings were completed that month.<ref name=notsobitter />
 
Amy revealed on the pre-show Q&A of the band's [[A Live Session From Rock Falcon Studio|livestream concert]] on December 5 that the album was mastered.<ref name=liveRockFalconQA />


A 25-second studio clip showing Amy playing a new song on the piano was posted on the band's Instagram stories on September 30, 2020. Watch it [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfsO1Kexj7k here]. A [https://twitter.com/EvaWebsite/status/1317566561536933891 clip] of [[Troy McLawhorn|Troy]] recording guitar to a new song was posted on their Instagram story on October 17.
On April 14, 2021, Amy revealed three unfinished songs didn't make the final cut on the album,<ref name=":0">[https://www.facebook.com/Evanescence/videos/923406555103257/ "The Record Club's interview with Evanescence"]. ''Facebook''. April 14, 2021.</ref> but the band recorded full structures, guitars and drums for these songs.<ref>Revealed by Amy during a early listening session of ''The Bitter Truth'' with selected fans on March 23, 2021.</ref> She said "a couple of them" will eventually get finished.<ref name=":0" />


==Album title and artwork==
==Album title and artwork==
The album title and artwork, taken by [[Josh Hartzler]],<ref name=icrt /> were revealed on April 17, 2020 on the band's social media.<ref name=newalbum17april />
The album title and artwork, taken by [[Josh Hartzler]],<ref name=icrt /> were revealed on April 17, 2020 on the band's social media.<ref name=newalbum17april /> The title was taken from a line of ''Wasted on You''.<ref name=TBTtitle />


In a interview in May 2020, Amy explained the album title:
In an interview in May 2020, Amy explained the album title:


{{Quote|There's a big theme of disillusionment for me. Just growing up and seeing that fairy tales aren't really real. And it's hard to be a grownup — it really is. Because somebody else isn't in charge, we really have to be able to make our own decisions, find out our own information, protect ourselves. People die — we're all going to. There's no magic castle. So that sounds like a lot of doom and gloom when I say it, but there's a choice to accept that truth and live in it and embrace it and choose to live and choose to live in a moment, and the choice to just give up. And there's a struggle there, but my choice is most definitely to take that pill.<ref name=rocksound />}}
{{Quote|There's a big theme of disillusionment for me. Just growing up and seeing that fairy tales aren't really real. And it's hard to be a grownup — it really is. Because somebody else isn't in charge, we really have to be able to make our own decisions, find out our own information, protect ourselves. People die — we're all going to. There's no magic castle. So that sounds like a lot of doom and gloom when I say it, but there's a choice to accept that truth and live in it and embrace it and choose to live and choose to live in a moment, and the choice to just give up. And there's a struggle there, but my choice is most definitely to take that pill.<ref name=rocksound />}}
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{{Quote|The album's called 'The Bitter Truth' for a reason. It's not about showing your prettiest side; it's about showing your realest inside and being more of your true self on the outside at any cost. I feel like there's a way that you can have a strong opinion and still be respectful to your fellow humans that don't necessarily agree with you.<ref name=StrongOpinion />}}
{{Quote|The album's called 'The Bitter Truth' for a reason. It's not about showing your prettiest side; it's about showing your realest inside and being more of your true self on the outside at any cost. I feel like there's a way that you can have a strong opinion and still be respectful to your fellow humans that don't necessarily agree with you.<ref name=StrongOpinion />}}
She told in the official biography accompanying press copies of the album:
{{Quote|The title, ''The Bitter Truth'', speaks on one level to the world we live in today, in the belief that we must face reality, no matter how ugly or difficult that is, in order to move forward. But there is also an internal parallel: there can be no healing without first facing the pain. The bitter truth, for me, is that life is short and the choice is that I'm not going to waste it. Our mortality is fresh in our minds. This became fuel for our fire after the pandemic, the lockdown, through 2020 and making this album. We decided we weren't going to let anything stop us. We weren't going to wait around for the world to fix itself. We were going to put all our focus into finishing the album we started. Find new ways to keep on, make our own videos, whatever it took. This time has been hard, but having the music has been an incredible life-giving outlet for me and for all of us in the band. It was a place to pour our frustrations, our rage, our grief and our love to create a world we had some control over.<ref name=pressTBT>{{cite web|title=EVANESCENCE's AMY LEE On 'The Bitter Truth' 'I Want People To Come Away From This Album Feeling Hope And Empowerment And Strength'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescences-amy-lee-on-the-bitter-truth-i-want-people-to-come-away-from-this-album-feeling-hope-and-empowerment-and-strength/|work=Blabbermouth|date=March 21, 2021}}</ref>}}
==Release==
The album was announced on April 17, 2020 with no release date, as the plan was to release one song at a time while the album was in the making. Amy suggested releasing the band's fifth effort "in a different way" in a 2019 interview.<ref name=variety /> She explained the idea behind it:<ref name=oneattime />
{{Quote|We don’t have a release date, but I like to look at it like it’s happening now. The idea behind this whole thing was always to go one song at a time, release it in real time with the fans while it’s still going on and it’s still fresh and live in the moment more.
So, in my mind it is being released. This is part of it. We live in a new world where it’s not all about just dropping a big pile of music all at once. People don’t always consume music that way. I don’t.
I still want to make an album, that’s a part of who we are and I think that’s important to our fans, so we’re doing that. We will drop the back half or whatever soon, but I don’t have a date because I never want to put a date down when I’m still writing. I don’t want to get to the end and say, ‘Eh anything. Just throw some words down’. I can’t do that. It has to be right. Sometimes it takes a minute.}}
On December 4 the album's pre-order on New Zealand's Apple Music revealed it will be released on March 26, 2021 and feature 12 tracks.<ref name=TBTdate /> It was available on digital version, CD, vinyl, and a limited edition deluxe fan box set featuring a bonus CD, journal, poster, and special cassette of exclusive audio from the making of ''The Bitter Truth''.
The Japanese edition, including the bonus tracks ''Cruel Summer (Live From Home)'' and ''The Chain'', was released on March 24, two days prior to the official release date.


==Promotion==
==Promotion==
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The second single, ''[[The Game is Over]]'', was released on July 1, 2020.<ref name="loudwireTGIO" /> [[Amy Lee]] said that the song is "a promise to [herself] and out loud that [she's] going to be more of [her] real, inner self on the outside — not lock her up because she can't be contained anymore. It's also a prayer to become better, to not feel so messed up, locked up, and hurt inside."<ref name="loudwireTGIO" />
The second single, ''[[The Game is Over]]'', was released on July 1, 2020.<ref name="loudwireTGIO" /> [[Amy Lee]] said that the song is "a promise to [herself] and out loud that [she's] going to be more of [her] real, inner self on the outside — not lock her up because she can't be contained anymore. It's also a prayer to become better, to not feel so messed up, locked up, and hurt inside."<ref name="loudwireTGIO" />


The third single, ''[[Use My Voice]]'', was released on August 14, 2020. For this, the band teamed up with [[HeadCount]] which is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, to help make it easy to register to vote for U.S. citizens. If you visit [https://p2a.co/A692vHE www.usemyvoice.org] between now and September 30, 2020 to get yourself vote-ready (for U.S. citizens only), you will get access to a free, private online performance from Evanescence in October. For fans outside the U.S. they can [https://p2a.co/iwxRq8U pledge to vote here] and they will also get sent the link for the performance nearer the time. With this song, Amy said she hopes "to inspire others to seek truth, find their own voices and use them as I step up to use mine. Don’t let anybody speak for you. Only you can do that."<ref name="umv" /> This was originally planned as the first single, but ''Wasted on You'' was released instead due to the pandemic.<ref name=marieclaire />
The third single, ''[[Use My Voice]]'', was released on August 14, 2020. For this, the band teamed up with [[HeadCount]] which is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, to help make it easy to register to vote for U.S. citizens. If you visit [https://p2a.co/A692vHE www.usemyvoice.org] between now and September 30, 2020 to get yourself vote-ready (for U.S. citizens only), you will get access to a free, private online performance from Evanescence in October. For fans outside the U.S. they can [https://p2a.co/iwxRq8U pledge to vote here] and they will also get sent the link for the performance nearer the time. With this song, Amy said she hopes "to inspire others to seek truth, find their own voices and use them as I step up to use mine. Don’t let anybody speak for you. Only you can do that."<ref name="umv" /> This was originally planned as the first single, but ''Wasted on You'' was released instead due to the pandemic.<ref name=marieclaire /><ref name=notsobitter />
 
The fourth single, ''[[Yeah Right]]'', was released on December 4, 2020 along with the album's pre-order.<ref name=preordertweet /> The song was originally written for ''Evanescence'', but scrapped at [[Wind-Up Records|Wind-Up]]'s behest along with the material recorded with [[Steve Lillywhite]] in 2010.<ref name=yeahright /> It was later revamped for ''The Bitter Truth''.
 
The fifth single, ''[[Better Without You]]'', was released on March 5, 2021 as the last single in advance of the album.<ref name=bwy />


===Music Videos===
===Music Videos===
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''The Game is Over'' is the second music video, which premiered on April 3. It was also shot by the band and edited by [[Paul R. Brown|P.R. Brown]].<ref name="loudwireTGIO" />
''The Game is Over'' is the second music video, which premiered on April 3. It was also shot by the band and edited by [[Paul R. Brown|P.R. Brown]].<ref name="loudwireTGIO" />


''Use My Voice'' is the second music video, which premiered on August 28. Directed by [[Eric D. Howell]] and shot in Nashville, Minneapolis and Germany, the video follows Amy Lee, her bandmates and a variety of other activists armed with flags, flares and signs in protest.
''Use My Voice'' is the third music video, which premiered on August 28. Directed by [[Eric D. Howell]] and shot in Nashville, Minneapolis and Germany, the video follows Amy Lee, her bandmates and a variety of other activists armed with flags, flares and signs in protest.
 
In a fan Zoom call for the listening party of ''The Bitter Truth'' on March 23, 2021, Amy confirmed that a music video for ''[[Better Without You]]'' is planned and will be directed by [[Eric D. Howell]].<ref>https://twitter.com/lostinamy/status/1374790346505342983</ref> It premiered on April 16.


===Tour===
===Tour===
{{see also|The Bitter Truth Tour}}
The band were scheduled to embark on the co-headlining [[Worlds Collide Tour 2021|Worlds Collide Tour]] with [[Within Temptation]] in Spring 2020,<ref name=wc2020 /> but it was rescheduled to Fall 2020 due to the pandemic.<ref name=wcFall20 /> Due to the same reason, the tour was postponed a second time, to September and October 2021.<ref name=wc2021 /> It was postponed a third time, to Spring 2022.<ref>[https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1381980873273171971 "We hate to push this back one more time"]. ''Twitter''. April 13, 2021.</ref> It was rescheduled a fourth time to Fall 2022 due to travel restrictions.
On May 10, 2021 the band announced a fall U.S. arena tour with [[Halestorm]] that spanned 15 shows from November 5 until December 18.<ref>Shaffer, Claire (May 10, 2021). [https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/evanescence-halestorm-fall-2021-u-s-arena-tour-1167282/ "Evanescence Announce Fall 2021 U.S. Arena Tour With Halestorm"]. ''Rolling Stone''.</ref> The last four shows were rescheduled to January 14 - 21, 2022 because the crew tested positive to Covid.
The band held a [[Cooper Tires Driven To Perform Livestream Concert|Driven To Perform livestream concert]] hosted by Alice Cooper on May 13, 2021,<ref>[https://www.nme.com/news/music/evanescence-hold-livestream-concert-hosted-alice-cooper-2922486 "Evanescence to hold livestream concert hosted by Alice Cooper"]. April 16, 2021. ''NME''.</ref> where six new songs from the album had a live debut.
On Spring 2023, the band are scheduled to tour with [[Muse]] in the US and Europe.
===Embracing The Bitter Truth===
A behind the scenes documentary of the album, called ''[[Embracing The Bitter Truth]]'', premiered on The Coda Collective and Amazon Prime on March 26th.<ref>[https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1372943394058629124 "Embrace The Bitter Truth with us as we chronicle the making of our new album during the COVID pandemic"]. March 19, 2021. ''Twitter''.</ref> It was only available on US Prime on release day, but The Coda Collective are working on expanding it to other territories.<ref>[https://twitter.com/Coda_Collection/status/1373258169309347841 "Unfortunately we can’t share the run time with you yet and correct this will be US Only on March 26th"]. March 20, 2021. ''Twitter''.</ref> On May 24, it was made available in 38 countries.<ref>Check it out the list [https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1396896302714167297 here].</ref>
===Live Footage===
[[Evanescence]]'s second show at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam as part of their [[Worlds Collide Tour 2022|Worlds Collide Tour]] was recorded along with [[Within Temptation]]'s set. The band confirmed online on December 2, 2022 that the footage will be released soon.<ref>https://www.instagram.com/p/ClqWTOdumX9/</ref>


==Track List==
==Track List==
{{Track listing
| all_lyrics =
| writing_credits = yes
| total_length    = 47:25
| title1          = [[Artifact/The Turn]]
| writer1        = [[Amy Lee]], [[Scott Kirkland]]
| length1        = 2:26
| title2          = [[Broken Pieces Shine]]
| writer2        = A. Lee, [[Jen Majura]], [[Tim McCord]], [[Troy McLawhorn]] and [[Will Hunt]]
| length2        = 3:50
| title3          = [[The Game is Over]]
| writer3        = A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt
| length3        = 4:22
| title4          = [[Yeah Right]]
| writer4        = A. Lee and [[Will "Science" Hunt|Will B. Hunt]]
| length4        = 3:30
| title5          = [[Feeding the Dark]]
| writer5        = A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. B. Hunt and W. Hunt
| length5        = 4:21
| title6          = [[Wasted on You]]
| writer6        =  A. Lee, T. McCord, J. Majura, W. Hunt and T. McLawhorn
| length6        = 4:24
| title7          = [[Better Without You]]
| writer7        =  A. Lee, J. Majura, [[Nick Raskulinecz]], T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt
| length7        = 4:05
| title8          = [[Use My Voice]]
| writer8        = A. Lee, J. Majura, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. Hunt and [[Veridia|Deena Jakoub]]
| length8        = 4:02
| title9          = [[Take Cover]]
| writer9        = A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. B. Hunt and W. Hunt
| length9        = 3:14
| title10        = [[Far From Heaven]]
| writer10        = A. Lee
| length10        = 4:56
| title11        = [[Part of Me]]
| writer11        = A. Lee, J. Majura, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt
| length11        = 3:59
| title12        = [[Blind Belief]]
| writer12        = A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt
| length12        = 4:09
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Target Exclusive and Japanese Edition bonus tracks
| collapsed      = no
| writing_credits = yes
| total_length    = 54:55
| title13        = [[Cruel Summer]]
| writer13        = Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Steve Jolley, Tony Swain
| note13        = Live From Home
| length13        = 3:23
| title14        = [[The Chain]]
| writer14        = Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks
| note14        = From "[[Gears 5]]"
| length14        = 4:12
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = Japanese Deluxe DVD
| collapsed      = no
| writing_credits = no
| total_length    =15:58
| title1        = [[Embracing The Bitter Truth|The Making of The Bitter Truth]]
| length1        =13:13
| title2        = [[Use My Voice#Video|The Making of Use My Voice]]
| length2        =2:45
}}
===Deluxe Box Set===
A deluxe edition fan box set was released via Evanescence's official webstore. The set includes:
*2CD Digipack: CD1 "The Bitter Truth" album / CD2, A Live Session from Rock Falcon Studio
*Cassette tape with exclusive audio and music from the making of “The Bitter Truth”
*Journal with personal foreword from Amy and exclusive content
*“Use My Voice” art poster print (300gsm offset paper, 156 x 218mm)
<br>
{{Track listing
| headline        = A Live Session from Rock Falcon Studio
| collapsed      = yes
| writing_credits = yes
| total_length    = 38:82
| title1        = [[Wasted on You]]
| writer1        =
| note1        = Live
| length1        = 4:24
| title2        = [[The Game is Over]]
| writer2        =
| note2        = Live
| length2        = 4:23
| title3        = [[The Only One]]
| writer3        =
| note3        = Live
| length3        = 4:32
| title4        = [[Sick]]
| writer4        =
| note4        = Live
| length4        = 3:30
| title5        = [[Going Under]]
| writer5        =
| note5        = Live
| length5        = 3:39
| title6        = [[Use My Voice]]
| writer6        =
| note6        = Live
| length6        = 4:01
| title7        = [[Bring Me to Life]]
| writer7        =
| note7        = Live
| length7        = 3:30
| title8        = [[Lost in Paradise]]
| writer8        =
| note8        = Live
| length8        = 5:05
| title9        = [[Glory Box]]
| writer9        = Portishead, Isaac Hayes
| note9        = Live
| length9        = 3:56
| title10        = [[Across the Universe]]
| writer10        = John Lennon, Paul McCartney
| note10        =
| length10        = 3:42
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = The Bitter Truth Evolution (Side A)
| collapsed      = yes
| writing_credits = no
| total_length    = 19:22
| title1        = Wolves
| length1        = 0:50
| title2        = [[The Game is Over#Versions|GIO]]
| length2        = 2:14
| title3        = [[Use My Voice#Versions|UMV]]
| length3        = 0:33
| title4        = Will Cant Catch
| length4        = 0:37
| title5        = [[Without a Sound]]
| length5        = 1:16
| title6        = [[Take Cover#Versions|Take Cover]]
| length6        = 1:00
| title7        = [[Wasted on You#Versions|WOY Bells]]
| length7        = 0:52
| title8        = Writing
| length8        = 0:54
| title9        = [[Smurfs On Fire]]
| length9        = 0:34
| title10        = [[Blind Belief#Versions|Blind Belief]]
| length10        = 0:29
| title11        = Music Box
| length11        = 0:30
| title12        = [[Better Without You#Versions|Red Stickers]]
| length12        = 0:52
| title13        = [[Avocado Cream]]
| length13        = 0:55
| title14        = [[Yeah Right#Versions|Yeah Right]]
| length14        = 1:28
| title15        = Back to the Future
| length15        = 2:02
| title16        = [[Broken Pieces Shine#Versions|BPS #7.1]]
| length16        = 0:52
| title17        = [[On My Own]]
| length17        = 0:59
| title18        = [[Teleportation]]
| length18        = 1:09
| title19        = [[Farther]]
| length19        = 1:24
}}
{{Track listing
| headline        = The Bitter Truth Evolution (Side B)
| collapsed      = yes
| writing_credits = no
| total_length    = 29:25
| title1        = [[The Game is Over]]
| length1        = 4:30
| note1          = Instrumental
| title2        = [[Yeah Right]]
| length2        = 3:33
| note2          = Instrumental
| title3        = [[Use My Voice]]
| length3        = 4:08
| note3          = Instrumental
| title4        = [[Better Without You]]
| length4        = 4:07
| note4          = Instrumental
| title5        = [[Wasted on You]]
| length5        = 4:30
| note5          = Instrumental
| title6        = [[Far From Heaven]]
| length6        = 5:02
| note6          = Instrumental
| title7        = [[Blind Belief]]
| length7        = 4:15
| note7          = Instrumental
}}


==Album Credits==
==Album Credits==


Credits taken from the liner notes of the album booklet.
====Lineup====
*[[Amy Lee]] – lead vocals, piano, keyboards, additional programming
*[[Troy McLawhorn]] – guitar
*[[Jen Majura]] – guitar, backing vocals
*[[Tim McCord]] – bass
*[[Will Hunt]] – drums
{{tab/it|
====Additional musicians====
*Tiago Nunez – programming <small>(tracks 2-11)</small>
*[[Will "Science" Hunt|Will B. Hunt]] – additional programming
*[[Scott Kirkland]] – programming production <small>(track 1)</small>
*[[Chris Vrenna]] – additional programming <small>(track 10)</small>
*[[David Campbell]] – strings arrangement
*Alan Umstead – strings contractor, concertmaster
*Nashville Music Scoring Orchestra – orchestra
*[[Veridia|Deena Jakoub]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[Halestorm|Lzzy Hale]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[Carrie Lee]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[Lori Lee]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[Within Temptation|Sharon den Adel]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[Lindsey Stirling]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*[[The Pretty Reckless|Taylor Momsen]] – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
*Amy McLawhorn – backing vocals <small>(track 8)</small>
|
====Technical====
*[[Nick Raskulinecz]] – producer, mixing engineer
*Nathan Yarborough – recording engineer
*Logan Greeson – assistant engineer
*Nick Spezia – orchestra engineer
*Austin Atwood – assistant orchestra engineer
*Chris Dries – drum technician
*Tyler Dragness – guitar technician
*Ted Jensen – mastering engineer
====Visual====
*[[Josh Hartzler]] – album cover photography
*Nick Fancher – photography
*[[Paul R. Brown|P.R. Brown]] – album design, photography
}}
==Album Reception==
==Album Reception==
The album received generally positive reviews from music critics upon the album's release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 81 based on 6 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="metacritic" /> AllMusic gave the album a positive review, saying, "Altogether, ''The Bitter Truth'' carries listeners on a journey both familiar and fresh, recapturing the heavy-yet-melodic hallmarks that made ''[[Fallen]]'' one of the most successful albums of the 2000s and pushing Evanescence into the future with a graceful maturity and worldly perspective."<ref name="allmusic" />
''Kerrang!'' gave the album 4 out of 5 and stated: "Weirdly, the feeling of it all is a mixture of things, most of them positive. There's catharsis and darkness, but they are of the most forward-looking variety, fringed at times with something approaching hopeful joy. In a time where Evanescence's usual emotional touch could easily speak to feelings of isolation, fear, confusion, hopelessness, loss and fragility, ''The Bitter Truth'' gets on that frequency and interrupts it. It's not an album that lies and tells you everything is fine, but reminds that, even in the darkest points of life, things do and will get better. And in another 10 years if they haven't, Amy Lee will doubtless have a comforting, ambitious, emotionally articulate way to navigate that as well."<ref name="Kreview" />
==Chart Performance==


==Chart Performance==  
==Trivia==
*The album is marked as explicit on streaming services, but only ''Yeah Right'' is marked as such, despite ''Take Cover'' containing the word "bitch."
*Amy originally wanted to work with different producers in order to ensure a diverse sound on the album,<ref name=moodtorock /> but the plan was set aside due to the pandemic.
*''Yeah Right'', ''Feeding the Dark'' and ''Take Cover'' were originally written for the self-titled album.
*This is the second Evanescence album not to include the [[Fonts_and_Logos#The_Anywhere_But_Home_.26_The_Open_Door_Logo|''Evanescent'' logo/font]] on the cover.
*This is the last album to feature [[Jen Majura]] before her departure in May 2022.


==References==
==References==
Line 167: Line 537:
<ref name="loudwireTGIO">{{cite news|last=Childers|first=Chad|url=https://loudwire.com/evanescence-the-game-is-over/|title=Evanescence Rock It Up With New Song 'The Game Is Over'|work=Loudwire|date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name="loudwireTGIO">{{cite news|last=Childers|first=Chad|url=https://loudwire.com/evanescence-the-game-is-over/|title=Evanescence Rock It Up With New Song 'The Game Is Over'|work=Loudwire|date=July 1, 2020}}</ref>


<ref name=drumsAugust2020>{{cite web|last=Raskulinecz|first=Nick|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CDt_tJ6hpL8/|title=The aftermath of tracking 9 songs with the “man of steel” Will Hunt!!!|work=Instagram|date=August 10, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=drumsAugust2020>{{cite web|last=Raskulinecz|first=Nick|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CDt_tJ6hpL8/|title=The aftermath of tracking 9 songs with the “man of steel” Will Hunt!!!|work=Instagram|date=August 10, 2020|archiveurl=https://twitter.com/EvaWebsite/status/1293078449460895744|archivedate=August 11, 2020}}</ref>


<ref name=nylon>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Lauren|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/evanescence-amy-lee-2020-interview|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee On New Music And What 'Goth' Really Means|date=June 23, 2020|work=NYLON}}</ref>
<ref name=nylon>{{cite news|last=McCarthy|first=Lauren|url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/evanescence-amy-lee-2020-interview|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee On New Music And What 'Goth' Really Means|date=June 23, 2020|work=NYLON}}</ref>
Line 176: Line 546:


<ref name=billboard5min>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnDWSihcPg|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Urges Fans to Vote on New Single "Use My Voice" <nowiki>|</nowiki> Billboard 5-Minute Interview|work=YouTube|date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=billboard5min>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnDWSihcPg|title=Evanescence's Amy Lee Urges Fans to Vote on New Single "Use My Voice" <nowiki>|</nowiki> Billboard 5-Minute Interview|work=YouTube|date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=radiocom>{{cite web|last=Cingrana|first=Joe|title=Amy Lee of Evanescence on Performing and Parenting: 'Not Easy Being a Mom in Quarantine'|url=https://www.radio.com/music/rock/watch-evanescence-in-an-exclusive-radio-com-live-fandemic|work=RADIO.COM|date=August 14, 2020}}</ref>


<ref name=SiriusXM2020>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MFa3G6q7o|title=Interview of AMY LEE with SiriusXM (21.AUG.2020)|date=August 21, 2020|work=YouTube}}</ref>
<ref name=SiriusXM2020>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MFa3G6q7o|title=Interview of AMY LEE with SiriusXM (21.AUG.2020)|date=August 21, 2020|work=YouTube}}</ref>
Line 188: Line 560:


<ref name=StrongOpinion>{{cite web|title=EVANESCENCE's AMY LEE: 'There's A Way That You Can Have A Strong Opinion And Still Be Respectful To Your Fellow Humans'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescences-amy-lee-theres-a-way-that-you-can-have-a-strong-opinion-and-still-be-respectful-to-your-fellow-humans/|date=September 22, 2020|work=Blabbermouth}}</ref>
<ref name=StrongOpinion>{{cite web|title=EVANESCENCE's AMY LEE: 'There's A Way That You Can Have A Strong Opinion And Still Be Respectful To Your Fellow Humans'|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescences-amy-lee-theres-a-way-that-you-can-have-a-strong-opinion-and-still-be-respectful-to-your-fellow-humans/|date=September 22, 2020|work=Blabbermouth}}</ref>
<ref name=loudwireOctober>{{cite web|title=Amy Lee: Bring Me the Horizon Helped Me When I Was Feeling Stuck|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hu9sr4YtBc|work=YouTube|date-October 29, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=faceculture>{{cite web|title=Evanescence - Amy Lee (2020)|url=https://www.buzzsprout.com/485182/6202129|date=November 3, 2020|work=Buzzsprout}}</ref>
<ref name=variety>{{cite news|last=Hampp|first=Andrew|title=Songs for Screens: Amy Lee Talks ‘Gears 5’ and Evanescence’s First Album in Nine Years|url=https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/evanescence-amy-lee-gears-5-songs-for-screens-1203444776/|newspaper=Variety|date=December 17, 2019}}</ref>
<ref name=oneattime>{{cite news|title=Amy Lee On Why Evanescence Are Releasing Their New Album "One Song At A Time"|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/amy-lee-on-why-evanescence-are-releasing-their-new-album-one-song-at-a-time/|newspaper=Kerrang!|date=August 27, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=preordertweet>{{cite web|title=Our first album of original music in almost a decade, ’The Bitter Truth’ is available for pre-order now!|url=https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1334861201893859328|work=Twitter|date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=yeahright>{{cite web|title=Yeah right was a song I started 10 years ago with our good friend Will B. Hunt|url=https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1334976374113665026|work=Twitter|date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=TBTdate>{{cite news|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|title=Evanescence Announce ‘The Bitter Truth’ Release Date|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/evanescence-the-bitter-truth-release-date-1098744/|work=Rolling Stone|date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=liveRockFalconQA>{{cite web|title=Evanescence: A Live Session From Rock Falcon Studios Pre-Show|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXEC1JOAOU|work=YouTube|date=December 5, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=TBTtitle>{{cite news|title=Amy Lee Talks Regret From Actions at Height of Evanescence Popularity, Updates on First Album in 9 Years|url=https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/amy_lee_talks_regret_from_actions_at_height_of_evanescence_popularity_updates_on_first_album_in_9_years.html|date=October 9, 2020|work=Ultimate Guitar}}</ref>
<ref name=riskyalbum>{{cite news|last=Shaffner|first=Lauryn|title=Amy Lee: New Evanescence Album Is 100 Percent Us, But Also Risky|url=https://loudwire.com/amy-lee-interview-new-evanescence-album-us-risks/|work=Loudwire|date=February 28, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=wc2020>{{cite web|last=Darus|first=Alex|title=Evanescence reveal 2020 Worlds Collide tour with Within Temptation|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/evanescence-within-temptation-worlds-collide-tour-2020/|date=September 17, 2019|work=Alternative Press}}</ref>
<ref name=wcFall20>{{cite web|title=EVANESCENCE And WITHIN TEMPTATION Announce Rescheduled 'Worlds Collide' European Tour Dates|url=https://blabbermouth.net/news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-announce-rescheduled-worlds-collide-european-tour-dates/|date=April 3, 2020|work=Blabbermouth.net}}</ref>
<ref name=wc2021>{{cite web|title=Evanescence And Within Temptation Postpone Worlds Collide Tour To 2021|url=https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-postpone-worlds-collide-tour-to-2021/|work=Kerrang!|date=June 22, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=hope20>{{cite web|last=Garner|first=George|title=Evanescence’s Amy Lee: ​“I have total hope… but it’s important to be ready to fight when it’s time”|url=https://www.kerrang.com/features/evanescence-amy-lee-my-year-2020/|work=Kerrang!|date=December 22, 2020}}</ref>
<ref name=bwy>{{cite web|title=OUR NEW SINGLE Better Without You drops this Friday|url=https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1366341948731088902|work=Twitter|date=March 1, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="4th">Amy Lee considers ''The Bitter Truth'' the band's fourth studio album, though it is the fifth album overall. [[Evanescence.com]], however, [http://www.evanescence.com/news/new-album-synthesis-fall-synthesis-live-tour/ considers] ''Synthesis'' the fourth album.</ref>
<ref name="metacritic">{{cite web|title=The Bitter Truth Review|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-bitter-truth/evanescence|work=Metacritic|accessdate=March 25, 2021}}</ref>
<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|title=Evanescence - The Bitter Truth|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bitter-truth-mw0003459334|work=AllMusic}}</ref>
<ref name="Kreview">{{cite web|last=Ruskell|first=Nick|title=Album review: Evanescence – The Bitter Truth|url=https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-evanescence-the-bitter-truth/|date=March 25, 2021|work=Kerrang!}}</ref>
<ref name=notsobitter>{{cite news|last=Titus|first=Christa|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/evanescence-amy-lee-talks-bitter-truth-9550318/|title=The Not-So ‘Bitter Truth’ About Evanescence’s First Album of New Music in a Decade|date=April 2, 2021|work=Billboard}}</ref>





Revision as of 07:07, 10 January 2023

The Bitter Truth
Studio album by Evanescence
Released March 26, 2021
Recorded January - February, July - November 2020; Rock Falcon Studio, Nashville, TN; Blackbird, Nashville, TN; Ocean Way Nashville, TN
Length 47:25
Label Evanescence under exclusive license to BMG Rights Management (US) LLC
Producer Nick Raskulinecz
Evanescence chronology
Synthesis Live
(2018)
The Bitter Truth
(2021)
Sixth studio album
(TBC)
Singles from The Bitter Truth
  1. "Wasted on You"
    Released: April 24, 2020
  2. "The Game is Over"
    Released: July 1, 2020
  3. "Use My Voice"
    Released: August 14, 2020
  4. "Yeah Right"
    Released: December 4, 2020
  5. "Better Without You"
    Released: March 5, 2021
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The Bitter Truth is Evanescence's fifth studio album[1] that was released on March 26, 2021 through BMG. It was originally going to be released in late 2020, but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic which slowed down the recording. The band hit the studio multiple times in 2020 to record the album.[2]

The album is described in the press release as an epic, guitar-driven collection inspired by the (often-bitter) realities of the 21st century and our world.

Prior to its release, on March 11, 2021, the album was leaked in its entirety online.

Amy confirmed that the new music will go back to its rock roots and that they've got some ideas in the bank, including previous songs that didn't make it to the self-titled record and Synthesis.[3][4] The band wrote intermittently during the 2019 tour.[5] The band made it clear from the start that they will release songs throughout 2020 before releasing the full album.[6]

She also explained that the new music is "dark and heavy" and has "The Open Door vibes" in terms of it having "weird and sparse" moments.[7]

Five singles were released throughout 2020 and 2021 in anticipation of the record. The first four singles were the first songs the band recorded in early 2020 prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conception

The band at the first writing session for the album in May 2019.

After releasing 2017's Synthesis, Amy said the next album would go raw and focus on the band.[8] Later, she confirmed that the new songs are in a "place that’s even more raw", adding they are "all different" from each other.[9]

Vin1.jpg "The songs came from all different places, they're not all in the same vein. It's going really great. It's a combination of a lot of things. It's definitely 100 percent us, but it's also taking risks, and I think it's meaningful — deeply meaningful... A lot of it has attitude."

"I definitely have felt like I have one foot on the other side a lot the past two years, so there's a lot of writing that's, I guess in a way back to my roots in that I'm searching for meaning in things... That stuff's all in there. But it's not all dark and serious."[10]

Vin2.jpg


In an interview with Rock Sound in May 2020, Amy discussed the album's sound:[11]

Vin1.jpg One of the things that we've been kind of aiming towards is taking the elements of what maybe are things that make up our sound and try to separate them and give each of them their own space. So some of the songs don't have strings and are fully rocking and heavy. And then some of the songs might be really in the electronic zone, and something might be more on the orchestral side. But overall, it's gonna be a rock record. Vin2.jpg


Amy said the songs from the album will be released one at a time as the album is still being written and recorded.[12][13] "I want to live more in the moment with our music. To let each song have its own moment to be felt simultaneously by us and our fans. To connect us more", she told Rolling Stone India.[14]

In June 2020, she indicated the new songs have a "90s, grungy alternative" sound:

Vin1.jpg The songs are all different. I want this album to show all of our sides, really, but most importantly I want to create without thinking too much about what I want it to be, and just let it be what it is. There’s definitely a little bit of a 90s, grungy alternative thing emerging which is lovely, that’s a return to roots for me in the most honest sense since that’s the music that inspired me so much in my formative years.[15] Vin2.jpg


In late June, she said the album will be a journey and revealed that a song from the initial sessions for Evanescence was revamped for the new album:

Vin1.jpg It's going to be a journey. One of the songs we’ve recorded so far is from 10 years ago, from the first time we went in to record our third album. Completely reformed into a special new thing. Up to now, some of the songs are being written now, some aren’t even written yet. And so much has happened this year, there’s so much to say. So yes there are themes, but I think the biggest one is about time. Past, present, and future all at once. And part of that has to do with how the album is still a living, growing thing, as it is being slowly released. Like life.[16] Vin2.jpg


She disclosed the inspiration behind the new songs in a Marie Claire interview:

Vin1.jpg “There are songs that are a part of this album that have been in the works for a decade, and songs that just started up this year. I get inspired being in nature, walking through the woods, looking up close at weird bugs.” But her biggest inspirations are the emotional experiences she’s had in her life, something that makes Evanescence’s music “as dramatic as it is.” “Things like losing someone you love, being a part of creating a new life.” Lee says. “[They] rock me on a deep level to a point where I feel like I have to make music.”[17] Vin2.jpg


On Kerrang! cover story in September, Amy discussed the album:

Vin1.jpg “It’s a rock record. We wanted to showcase the strength, fun and power of the band. There’s no holding back. It’s heavy sonically, and it feels good to go heavy. Really good. But it’s not heavy for heavy’s sake.”[18] Vin2.jpg


She went on to state that, despite as of September being three singles into the record, we “haven’t heard all the sounds of the album yet”. She promised songs with “score-like drama” and “aggressive power”. Sometimes the unbridled energy sparked by the group reconvening after months of quarantine spawned utterly joyous “balls to the wall” moments. Double bass drumming is mentioned. Perhaps most exciting is Amy revealing there is an infusion of the “catty vibe” that defined classic single Call Me When You're Sober.[18]

Vin1.jpg “That is definitely here, but taken to the next level. I hope we can deliver everything the fans could expect, and more. The ‘and more’ is the most exciting part for me. The music that we make is just the sound of my feelings and there are a lot of big feelings, so it’s a strong sound.” Vin2.jpg


In late 2020, she told Kerrang!:[19]

Vin1.jpg “When making a complete album, especially after all this time, I always want to just put out a statement, like, ​‘This is where we’re at, this is who we are’ – it has to be a whole spectrum of emotions and reflections that make up who you are, who the band is. So far, I feel like each song that we put out is a very different colour of the spectrum and there are more colours yet to come, for sure.” Vin2.jpg


In a press release, she said:

Vin1.jpg "I want people to come away from this album feeling hope and empowerment and strength. Something that inspires me a lot in life is people who have overcome great obstacles — survivors. I hope we can pass on the idea that even when things are impossibly painful life is worth living. Leaning into those darkest, most challenging moments, facing them and finding we're not alone in them, makes us real. Makes us strong enough to take them on. And it brings us together, if we let it, in a deeper appreciation of the light... and the truth. Thanks for the memories. Now let's go make some new ones."[20] Vin2.jpg


Recording Process & In the Studio

The band working at Nick's studio

Amy has said that the band will record the album in sections during 2020 to work around their tour plans.[21] She said they might also bring in a different producer each time they hit the studio.[6]

The album opener, Artifact/The Turn, was recorded by Amy herself on her laptop in a hotel room in the 2019 tour.

The band recorded the first four songs with Nick Raskulinecz at his studio, Rock Falcon Studio, on January 20th and concluded on February 5th.[22] One of those will be released as a single around April.[10] They aimed at working with another producer on songs in the vein of The Open Door and "electronic, weird, mid-tempo world."[23] Amy said she wants to release songs over the course of 2020 and in the end the full album will be released.[23]

Photo of Will's drums originally posted by Nick on August 10 in which it can be read the song titles Take Cover and Better Without You

No orchestra was recorded for some of the songs from the album,[11] with Amy saying "that's not because we couldn't get together with one because of the [COVID-19] pandemic!"[9] Instead of strings, electronics (such as synthesizers, arpeggiators and sound effects) were used.[24]

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the band worked remotely by sending ideas to each other.[25] By June Amy said they came to a point where they have to get together to finish the album and were trying to figure out how to safely get it done.[16]

On August 10, producer Nick posted on Instagram that Will Hunt tracked 9 songs. On a snare it's written "Evanescence Bitter Pill Sessions" and also gave away two song titles.[26] The post was later taken down.

On August 14, Amy revealed in an interview with Billboard that the band went back to the studio for a few weeks to resume recording. All U.S.-based band members were brought by tour buses after being tested negative for COVID-19, wore masks and had contact with no one else while they were together.[27][28] She also revealed on the Zoom premiere of Use My Voice that Nick will handle the production of the whole album. Thus, the band will not work with different producers as originally planned, turning Nick into the album's sole producer.

"Serving up some Bitter Truth. We can’t WAIT for you to hear this."

On August 21, Amy revealed in a SiriusXM interview that all American band members finished their parts in one month, Jen has been working remotely since she lives in Germany, and she's been working on lyrics, keyboards, and programming. Amy has been enjoying the use of sound design, programming and synthesizers on the new material. No strings were recorded so far, but it doesn't mean they might not add string sections in some songs.[29]

During a Q&A held on Evanescence's Facebook on September 1, Amy said she was writing lyrics to the songs that already had guitars and drums recorded.[30] She also revealed that some songs written during the creation of the self-titled third album that "didn't get finished or was a piece that didn't fit that puzzle" were finished out for The Bitter Truth.

Amy told Kerrang! on September 9 that the album was "70%" done, adding "It’s hard to say because I’m still writing." She also revealed a song under its working title, Pickle Mustard. "It’s a tentative title. I’m pretty sure that’s going to change."[18] This was later revealed to be Part of Me.

A 25-second studio clip showing Amy playing a new song on the piano was posted on the band's Instagram stories on September 30, 2020. Watch it here. A clip of Troy recording guitar to a new song was posted on their Instagram story on October 17. The former turned out to be Feeding the Dark and the latter, Broken Pieces Shine.

Amy revealed in an interview on October 29 that the album is nearly finished, but said she can't set a release date while she's writing lyrics. She added recordings will be completed in 2020 and hinted the album may be released in early 2021.[31]

On November 3, Amy revealed she was deciding which order the songs would run on the album and was listening to it as a whole in order to think about the "journey of the stories." She said the LP is "weirdly concise" and goes through a lot of different "musical places." She noted she was still writing lyrics and added she was putting the finishing touches on the songs, such as orchestration and programming.[32]

On November 19, the band shared an Instagram story of strings being recorded for the album at Ocean Way Nashville. Watch it here. Recordings were completed that month.[33]

Amy revealed on the pre-show Q&A of the band's livestream concert on December 5 that the album was mastered.[34]

On April 14, 2021, Amy revealed three unfinished songs didn't make the final cut on the album,[35] but the band recorded full structures, guitars and drums for these songs.[36] She said "a couple of them" will eventually get finished.[35]

Album title and artwork

The album title and artwork, taken by Josh Hartzler,[37] were revealed on April 17, 2020 on the band's social media.[12] The title was taken from a line of Wasted on You.[38]

In an interview in May 2020, Amy explained the album title:

Vin1.jpg There's a big theme of disillusionment for me. Just growing up and seeing that fairy tales aren't really real. And it's hard to be a grownup — it really is. Because somebody else isn't in charge, we really have to be able to make our own decisions, find out our own information, protect ourselves. People die — we're all going to. There's no magic castle. So that sounds like a lot of doom and gloom when I say it, but there's a choice to accept that truth and live in it and embrace it and choose to live and choose to live in a moment, and the choice to just give up. And there's a struggle there, but my choice is most definitely to take that pill.[11] Vin2.jpg


When asked why the album is called what it is, she answered:

Vin1.jpg Even though the truth can be incredibly difficult and painful, it's still better than living a lie.[25] Vin2.jpg


She further discussed the album title in another interview:

Vin1.jpg “It’s called The Bitter Truth because one of the biggest themes for sure is truth vs. lies, love vs. hate, shining a light in the dark. It also connects to embracing our flaws and not being afraid to be who we are outwardly. I sing about it because that’s a challenge for me. I’m always singing from my own experience and desires in life and when that crosses over for someone else that’s awesome but everything I sing about is definitely from an introspective place.”[39] Vin2.jpg


In an interview in late September 2020, she said:

Vin1.jpg The album's called 'The Bitter Truth' for a reason. It's not about showing your prettiest side; it's about showing your realest inside and being more of your true self on the outside at any cost. I feel like there's a way that you can have a strong opinion and still be respectful to your fellow humans that don't necessarily agree with you.[40] Vin2.jpg


She told in the official biography accompanying press copies of the album:

Vin1.jpg The title, The Bitter Truth, speaks on one level to the world we live in today, in the belief that we must face reality, no matter how ugly or difficult that is, in order to move forward. But there is also an internal parallel: there can be no healing without first facing the pain. The bitter truth, for me, is that life is short and the choice is that I'm not going to waste it. Our mortality is fresh in our minds. This became fuel for our fire after the pandemic, the lockdown, through 2020 and making this album. We decided we weren't going to let anything stop us. We weren't going to wait around for the world to fix itself. We were going to put all our focus into finishing the album we started. Find new ways to keep on, make our own videos, whatever it took. This time has been hard, but having the music has been an incredible life-giving outlet for me and for all of us in the band. It was a place to pour our frustrations, our rage, our grief and our love to create a world we had some control over.[20] Vin2.jpg


Release

The album was announced on April 17, 2020 with no release date, as the plan was to release one song at a time while the album was in the making. Amy suggested releasing the band's fifth effort "in a different way" in a 2019 interview.[5] She explained the idea behind it:[41]

Vin1.jpg We don’t have a release date, but I like to look at it like it’s happening now. The idea behind this whole thing was always to go one song at a time, release it in real time with the fans while it’s still going on and it’s still fresh and live in the moment more.

So, in my mind it is being released. This is part of it. We live in a new world where it’s not all about just dropping a big pile of music all at once. People don’t always consume music that way. I don’t.

I still want to make an album, that’s a part of who we are and I think that’s important to our fans, so we’re doing that. We will drop the back half or whatever soon, but I don’t have a date because I never want to put a date down when I’m still writing. I don’t want to get to the end and say, ‘Eh anything. Just throw some words down’. I can’t do that. It has to be right. Sometimes it takes a minute.

Vin2.jpg


On December 4 the album's pre-order on New Zealand's Apple Music revealed it will be released on March 26, 2021 and feature 12 tracks.[42] It was available on digital version, CD, vinyl, and a limited edition deluxe fan box set featuring a bonus CD, journal, poster, and special cassette of exclusive audio from the making of The Bitter Truth.

The Japanese edition, including the bonus tracks Cruel Summer (Live From Home) and The Chain, was released on March 24, two days prior to the official release date.

Promotion

Singles

Wasted on You was the first single that was released digitally on April 24th. The official music video premiered on YouTube later that same day. It wasn't originally planned to be the first song, but after the COVID-19 pandemic, the band decided to release it first saying "the feeling and meaning [changed] of what we wanted to say right now."[13]

The second single, The Game is Over, was released on July 1, 2020.[43] Amy Lee said that the song is "a promise to [herself] and out loud that [she's] going to be more of [her] real, inner self on the outside — not lock her up because she can't be contained anymore. It's also a prayer to become better, to not feel so messed up, locked up, and hurt inside."[43]

The third single, Use My Voice, was released on August 14, 2020. For this, the band teamed up with HeadCount which is a non-profit, non-partisan organization, to help make it easy to register to vote for U.S. citizens. If you visit www.usemyvoice.org between now and September 30, 2020 to get yourself vote-ready (for U.S. citizens only), you will get access to a free, private online performance from Evanescence in October. For fans outside the U.S. they can pledge to vote here and they will also get sent the link for the performance nearer the time. With this song, Amy said she hopes "to inspire others to seek truth, find their own voices and use them as I step up to use mine. Don’t let anybody speak for you. Only you can do that."[44] This was originally planned as the first single, but Wasted on You was released instead due to the pandemic.[17][33]

The fourth single, Yeah Right, was released on December 4, 2020 along with the album's pre-order.[45] The song was originally written for Evanescence, but scrapped at Wind-Up's behest along with the material recorded with Steve Lillywhite in 2010.[46] It was later revamped for The Bitter Truth.

The fifth single, Better Without You, was released on March 5, 2021 as the last single in advance of the album.[47]

Music Videos

Wasted on You is the first music video from the album and was shot by the band themselves on their iPhones.[13] A second official video was put together with fan clips sent on TikTok,[48] which was released on June 24.[49]

The Game is Over is the second music video, which premiered on April 3. It was also shot by the band and edited by P.R. Brown.[43]

Use My Voice is the third music video, which premiered on August 28. Directed by Eric D. Howell and shot in Nashville, Minneapolis and Germany, the video follows Amy Lee, her bandmates and a variety of other activists armed with flags, flares and signs in protest.

In a fan Zoom call for the listening party of The Bitter Truth on March 23, 2021, Amy confirmed that a music video for Better Without You is planned and will be directed by Eric D. Howell.[50] It premiered on April 16.

Tour

Exquisite-kfind.png See also: The Bitter Truth Tour

The band were scheduled to embark on the co-headlining Worlds Collide Tour with Within Temptation in Spring 2020,[51] but it was rescheduled to Fall 2020 due to the pandemic.[52] Due to the same reason, the tour was postponed a second time, to September and October 2021.[53] It was postponed a third time, to Spring 2022.[54] It was rescheduled a fourth time to Fall 2022 due to travel restrictions.

On May 10, 2021 the band announced a fall U.S. arena tour with Halestorm that spanned 15 shows from November 5 until December 18.[55] The last four shows were rescheduled to January 14 - 21, 2022 because the crew tested positive to Covid.

The band held a Driven To Perform livestream concert hosted by Alice Cooper on May 13, 2021,[56] where six new songs from the album had a live debut.

On Spring 2023, the band are scheduled to tour with Muse in the US and Europe.

Embracing The Bitter Truth

A behind the scenes documentary of the album, called Embracing The Bitter Truth, premiered on The Coda Collective and Amazon Prime on March 26th.[57] It was only available on US Prime on release day, but The Coda Collective are working on expanding it to other territories.[58] On May 24, it was made available in 38 countries.[59]

Live Footage

Evanescence's second show at the Ziggo Dome, Amsterdam as part of their Worlds Collide Tour was recorded along with Within Temptation's set. The band confirmed online on December 2, 2022 that the footage will be released soon.[60]

Track List

No. TitleWriter(s) Length
1. "Artifact/The Turn"  Amy Lee, Scott Kirkland 2:26
2. "Broken Pieces Shine"  A. Lee, Jen Majura, Tim McCord, Troy McLawhorn and Will Hunt 3:50
3. "The Game is Over"  A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt 4:22
4. "Yeah Right"  A. Lee and Will B. Hunt 3:30
5. "Feeding the Dark"  A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. B. Hunt and W. Hunt 4:21
6. "Wasted on You"  A. Lee, T. McCord, J. Majura, W. Hunt and T. McLawhorn 4:24
7. "Better Without You"  A. Lee, J. Majura, Nick Raskulinecz, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt 4:05
8. "Use My Voice"  A. Lee, J. Majura, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. Hunt and Deena Jakoub 4:02
9. "Take Cover"  A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn, W. B. Hunt and W. Hunt 3:14
10. "Far From Heaven"  A. Lee 4:56
11. "Part of Me"  A. Lee, J. Majura, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt 3:59
12. "Blind Belief"  A. Lee, T. McCord, T. McLawhorn and W. Hunt 4:09
Total length:
47:25
Target Exclusive and Japanese Edition bonus tracks
No. TitleWriter(s) Length
13. "Cruel Summer" (Live From Home)Sara Dallin, Siobhan Fahey, Keren Woodward, Steve Jolley, Tony Swain 3:23
14. "The Chain" (From "Gears 5")Lindsey Buckingham, Mick Fleetwood, Christine McVie, John McVie, Stevie Nicks 4:12
Total length:
54:55
Japanese Deluxe DVD
No. Title Length
1. "The Making of The Bitter Truth"   13:13
2. "The Making of Use My Voice"   2:45
Total length:
15:58

Deluxe Box Set

A deluxe edition fan box set was released via Evanescence's official webstore. The set includes:

  • 2CD Digipack: CD1 "The Bitter Truth" album / CD2, A Live Session from Rock Falcon Studio
  • Cassette tape with exclusive audio and music from the making of “The Bitter Truth”
  • Journal with personal foreword from Amy and exclusive content
  • “Use My Voice” art poster print (300gsm offset paper, 156 x 218mm)


Album Credits

Credits taken from the liner notes of the album booklet.

Lineup

Additional musicians

Technical

  • Nick Raskulinecz – producer, mixing engineer
  • Nathan Yarborough – recording engineer
  • Logan Greeson – assistant engineer
  • Nick Spezia – orchestra engineer
  • Austin Atwood – assistant orchestra engineer
  • Chris Dries – drum technician
  • Tyler Dragness – guitar technician
  • Ted Jensen – mastering engineer

Visual

Album Reception

The album received generally positive reviews from music critics upon the album's release. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has an average score of 81 based on 6 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".[61] AllMusic gave the album a positive review, saying, "Altogether, The Bitter Truth carries listeners on a journey both familiar and fresh, recapturing the heavy-yet-melodic hallmarks that made Fallen one of the most successful albums of the 2000s and pushing Evanescence into the future with a graceful maturity and worldly perspective."[62]

Kerrang! gave the album 4 out of 5 and stated: "Weirdly, the feeling of it all is a mixture of things, most of them positive. There's catharsis and darkness, but they are of the most forward-looking variety, fringed at times with something approaching hopeful joy. In a time where Evanescence's usual emotional touch could easily speak to feelings of isolation, fear, confusion, hopelessness, loss and fragility, The Bitter Truth gets on that frequency and interrupts it. It's not an album that lies and tells you everything is fine, but reminds that, even in the darkest points of life, things do and will get better. And in another 10 years if they haven't, Amy Lee will doubtless have a comforting, ambitious, emotionally articulate way to navigate that as well."[63]

Chart Performance

Trivia

  • The album is marked as explicit on streaming services, but only Yeah Right is marked as such, despite Take Cover containing the word "bitch."
  • Amy originally wanted to work with different producers in order to ensure a diverse sound on the album,[6] but the plan was set aside due to the pandemic.
  • Yeah Right, Feeding the Dark and Take Cover were originally written for the self-titled album.
  • This is the second Evanescence album not to include the Evanescent logo/font on the cover.
  • This is the last album to feature Jen Majura before her departure in May 2022.

References

  1. Amy Lee considers The Bitter Truth the band's fourth studio album, though it is the fifth album overall. Evanescence.com, however, considers Synthesis the fourth album.
  2. "¡Entrevista antes del desastre! Amy Lee de @Evanescence" (in Spanish). December 10, 2019.
  3. KaaosTV (June 13, 2017). "Evanescence Interview @ The Rockfest". YouTube.
  4. "K!1694: Code Orange – Surviving Rock's Violent New Reality". October 24, 2017. Kerrang!
  5. 5.0 5.1 Hampp, Andrew (December 17, 2019). "Songs for Screens: Amy Lee Talks ‘Gears 5’ and Evanescence’s First Album in Nine Years". Variety. https://variety.com/2019/digital/news/evanescence-amy-lee-gears-5-songs-for-screens-1203444776/.
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 Titus, Christa (December 16, 2019). "Amy Lee on 'The Chain' Cover and Next Evanescence Album: 'We're Definitely in the Mood to Rock'". Billboard.
  7. Lee, Amy (November 21, 2019). "I am Amy Lee from Evanescence, our new song “The Chain (from Gears 5)” is out tonight! AMA". Reddit.
  8. Law, Sam (October 2017). "Symphonic Possession". Kerrang! (1694): 24–27. ISSN ‎0262-6624. https://evthreads.proboards.com/thread/2472/symphonic-possession-kerrang-issue-1694.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Amy Lee: New Evanescence Songs Are “Going To A Place That’s Even More Raw”". Kerrang!. May 6, 2020. https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/amy-lee-new-evanescence-songs-are-going-to-a-place-thats-even-more-raw/.
  10. 10.0 10.1 Shaffner, Lauryn (February 28, 2020). "Amy Lee: New Evanescence Album Is 100 Percent Us, But Also Risky". Loudwire. https://loudwire.com/amy-lee-interview-new-evanescence-album-us-risks/.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 "Rock Sound: Evanescence's Amy Lee Talks 'Wasted On You' & New Album 'The Bitter Truth' - Video Call". YouTube. May 8, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOFLRgIqk0s.
  12. 12.0 12.1 "We promised you a new album in 2020 and we won’t let anything stop us. We are proud to begin sharing our new album ‘THE BITTER TRUTH’ with you". Twitter. April 17, 2020. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1251180922046517248.
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 "Listen To EVANESCENCE's New Single 'Wasted On You'". Blabbermouth. April 24, 2020. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/listen-to-evanescences-new-single-wasted-on-you/.
  14. Tagat, Anurag (April 29, 2020). "Evanescence’s Amy Lee: ‘Musical Experimentation in a Label-Free Zone is So Healthy’". Rolling Stone India. https://rollingstoneindia.com/evanescence-amy-lee-interview/.
  15. Lago, Amanda T. (June 11, 2020). "'Like water in the desert': Evanescence's Amy Lee on making music and 'The Bitter Truth'". Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/entertainment/music/263426-amy-lee-making-music-quarantine-evanescence-bitter-truth-album.
  16. 16.0 16.1 McCarthy, Lauren (June 23, 2020). "Evanescence's Amy Lee On New Music And What 'Goth' Really Means". NYLON. https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/evanescence-amy-lee-2020-interview.
  17. 17.0 17.1 Kaplan, Ilana (August 19, 2020). "Evanescence's Amy Lee on the Band's New Album, 'The Bitter Truth'". Marie Claire. https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a33590771/evanescence-amy-lee-new-album-the-bitter-truth/.
  18. 18.0 18.1 18.2 "Evanescence: Why Amy Lee Is Done Being Silent". Kerrang!. September 9, 2020. https://www.kerrang.com/features/evanescence-why-amy-lee-is-done-being-silent/.
  19. Garner, George (December 22, 2020). "Evanescence’s Amy Lee: ​“I have total hope… but it’s important to be ready to fight when it’s time”". Kerrang!. https://www.kerrang.com/features/evanescence-amy-lee-my-year-2020/.
  20. 20.0 20.1 "EVANESCENCE's AMY LEE On 'The Bitter Truth' 'I Want People To Come Away From This Album Feeling Hope And Empowerment And Strength'". Blabbermouth. March 21, 2021. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescences-amy-lee-on-the-bitter-truth-i-want-people-to-come-away-from-this-album-feeling-hope-and-empowerment-and-strength/.
  21. "Interview with Amy Lee (Evanescence)" (in Russian). radioultra.ru. December 20, 2019. https://radioultra.ru/news/intervyu-s-emi-li-evanescence.
  22. "Evanescence Interview". Harddrive Hotline. February 21, 2020. https://www.spreaker.com/user/harddrivedl/hddl0165.
  23. 23.0 23.1 Meredith, Kyle (January 22, 2020). "Kyle Meredith with... Evanescence". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5pe9FdhOA2o.
  24. Ghosh, Devarsi (May 9, 2020). "Evanescence’s Amy Lee on their new album: ‘Good if some songs go off the rails a little bit’". Scroll.in. https://scroll.in/article/961166/evanescences-amy-lee-on-their-new-album-good-if-some-songs-go-off-the-rails-a-little-bit.
  25. 25.0 25.1 Santos, Camille (May 19, 2020). "EVANESCENCE Reveals Struggles Working On New Album Amid The COVID-19 Pandemic". MYX PH. https://myx.abs-cbn.com/features/24051/evanescence-the-bitter-truth-myxclusive.
  26. Raskulinecz, Nick (August 10, 2020). "The aftermath of tracking 9 songs with the “man of steel” Will Hunt!!!". Instagram. Archived from the original on August 11, 2020. https://twitter.com/EvaWebsite/status/1293078449460895744.
  27. "Evanescence's Amy Lee Urges Fans to Vote on New Single "Use My Voice" | Billboard 5-Minute Interview". YouTube. August 14, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bnDWSihcPg.
  28. Cingrana, Joe (August 14, 2020). "Amy Lee of Evanescence on Performing and Parenting: 'Not Easy Being a Mom in Quarantine'". RADIO.COM. https://www.radio.com/music/rock/watch-evanescence-in-an-exclusive-radio-com-live-fandemic.
  29. "Interview of AMY LEE with SiriusXM (21.AUG.2020)". YouTube. August 21, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3MFa3G6q7o.
  30. "Amy Lee of Evanescence Interview". Facebook. September 1, 2020. https://www.facebook.com/Evanescence/videos/732098227639661.
  31. "Amy Lee: Bring Me the Horizon Helped Me When I Was Feeling Stuck". YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Hu9sr4YtBc.
  32. "Evanescence - Amy Lee (2020)". Buzzsprout. November 3, 2020. https://www.buzzsprout.com/485182/6202129.
  33. 33.0 33.1 Titus, Christa (April 2, 2021). "The Not-So ‘Bitter Truth’ About Evanescence’s First Album of New Music in a Decade". Billboard. https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/evanescence-amy-lee-talks-bitter-truth-9550318/.
  34. "Evanescence: A Live Session From Rock Falcon Studios Pre-Show". YouTube. December 5, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKXEC1JOAOU.
  35. 35.0 35.1 "The Record Club's interview with Evanescence". Facebook. April 14, 2021.
  36. Revealed by Amy during a early listening session of The Bitter Truth with selected fans on March 23, 2021.
  37. "【ICRT Reaching Out】Amy Lee|Evanescence Interview". YouTube. May 22, 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMzE7zAVURA.
  38. "Amy Lee Talks Regret From Actions at Height of Evanescence Popularity, Updates on First Album in 9 Years". Ultimate Guitar. October 9, 2020. https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/general_music_news/amy_lee_talks_regret_from_actions_at_height_of_evanescence_popularity_updates_on_first_album_in_9_years.html.
  39. Bennett, Macie (August 28, 2020). "Evanescence Urges Everyone to Vote and Offers Unity In “Use My Voice”". American Songwriter. https://americansongwriter.com/evanescence-use-my-voice-song-by-amy-lee/.
  40. "EVANESCENCE's AMY LEE: 'There's A Way That You Can Have A Strong Opinion And Still Be Respectful To Your Fellow Humans'". Blabbermouth. September 22, 2020. https://www.blabbermouth.net/news/evanescences-amy-lee-theres-a-way-that-you-can-have-a-strong-opinion-and-still-be-respectful-to-your-fellow-humans/.
  41. "Amy Lee On Why Evanescence Are Releasing Their New Album "One Song At A Time"". Kerrang!. August 27, 2020. https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/amy-lee-on-why-evanescence-are-releasing-their-new-album-one-song-at-a-time/.
  42. Shaffer, Claire (December 4, 2020). "Evanescence Announce ‘The Bitter Truth’ Release Date". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/evanescence-the-bitter-truth-release-date-1098744/.
  43. 43.0 43.1 43.2 Childers, Chad (July 1, 2020). "Evanescence Rock It Up With New Song 'The Game Is Over'". Loudwire. https://loudwire.com/evanescence-the-game-is-over/.
  44. Divita, Joe (August 14, 2020). "Evanescence Debut 'Use My Voice' Feat. Lzzy Hale + Taylor Momsen". Loudwire. https://loudwire.com/evanescence-debut-use-my-voice-feat-lzzy-hale-taylor-momsen-sharon-den-adel-lindsey-stirling/.
  45. "Our first album of original music in almost a decade, ’The Bitter Truth’ is available for pre-order now!". Twitter. December 4, 2020. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1334861201893859328.
  46. "Yeah right was a song I started 10 years ago with our good friend Will B. Hunt". Twitter. December 4, 2020. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1334976374113665026.
  47. "OUR NEW SINGLE Better Without You drops this Friday". Twitter. March 1, 2021. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1366341948731088902.
  48. "On a Mon we lost our minds & started a TikTok account, calling all fans to help us create the official WOY fan video!". Twitter. May 20, 2020. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1263181934806446081.
  49. "Here it is, the official Wasted On You fan video! Thank you to everyone who submitted.". Twitter. June 24, 2020. https://twitter.com/evanescence/status/1275921942373994497.
  50. https://twitter.com/lostinamy/status/1374790346505342983
  51. Darus, Alex (September 17, 2019). "Evanescence reveal 2020 Worlds Collide tour with Within Temptation". Alternative Press. https://www.altpress.com/news/evanescence-within-temptation-worlds-collide-tour-2020/.
  52. "EVANESCENCE And WITHIN TEMPTATION Announce Rescheduled 'Worlds Collide' European Tour Dates". Blabbermouth.net. April 3, 2020. https://blabbermouth.net/news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-announce-rescheduled-worlds-collide-european-tour-dates/.
  53. "Evanescence And Within Temptation Postpone Worlds Collide Tour To 2021". Kerrang!. June 22, 2020. https://www.kerrang.com/the-news/evanescence-and-within-temptation-postpone-worlds-collide-tour-to-2021/.
  54. "We hate to push this back one more time". Twitter. April 13, 2021.
  55. Shaffer, Claire (May 10, 2021). "Evanescence Announce Fall 2021 U.S. Arena Tour With Halestorm". Rolling Stone.
  56. "Evanescence to hold livestream concert hosted by Alice Cooper". April 16, 2021. NME.
  57. "Embrace The Bitter Truth with us as we chronicle the making of our new album during the COVID pandemic". March 19, 2021. Twitter.
  58. "Unfortunately we can’t share the run time with you yet and correct this will be US Only on March 26th". March 20, 2021. Twitter.
  59. Check it out the list here.
  60. https://www.instagram.com/p/ClqWTOdumX9/
  61. "The Bitter Truth Review". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/music/the-bitter-truth/evanescence. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  62. "Evanescence - The Bitter Truth". AllMusic. https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-bitter-truth-mw0003459334.
  63. Ruskell, Nick (March 25, 2021). "Album review: Evanescence – The Bitter Truth". Kerrang!. https://www.kerrang.com/reviews/album-review-evanescence-the-bitter-truth/.