Maps of Music

The Bitter Truth (2021)

Where the lyrics of The Bitter Truth take you, and where it was really made.

The cover photo was taken by Amy Lee in her own home, because a studio shoot was not possible during the pandemic.

Key places

Blackbird Studio, Nashville (2021)

Recording site Blackbird Studio — Listed in the source as a recording location of the album. The point marks the studio building, but the session dates are not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Ocean Way Nashville (2021)

Recording site Ocean Way Nashville — Listed in the source as another recording location of the album. The point marks the studio building, but the session dates are not given. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Bitter Truth: fifth studio album by American rock band Evanescence
• Released March 26, 2021 through BMG Rights Management, after pandemic delays
• Produced by Nick Raskulinecz
• Primarily an alternative metal album
• Follows the 2017 orchestral-electronic album Synthesis
• Described as alternative metal, gothic metal, heavy metal, and hard rock
• Discogs notes it is the band's first album of all-new material in a decade

Background

• Amy Lee first spoke about a new studio album in July 2018
• The band planned a new album after the Synthesis tour ended
• The band entered the studio in January 2020 with Raskulinecz, who had worked on the 2011 self-titled album
• Plans to work with several producers changed due to COVID-19, making Raskulinecz the sole producer
• The album was announced in April 2020, originally for late 2020
• The pandemic delayed completion to March 2021
• Lee described the core theme as facing the bitter truths of the world and of her life
• Lee became a mother, and she lost her brother in 2018

Recording

• Recording began in January 2020 at the studio sessions with Raskulinecz
• In August the US-based members returned to the studio after COVID tests
• German guitarist Jen Majura had to work remotely
• On September 9 the album was '70% done'
• Recording was completed in November
• Yeah Right, Feeding the Dark and Take Cover were first written for the 2011 album and reworked a decade later

Cover

• Cover photo taken by Amy Lee in her own home
• Cover image edited by P.R. Brown, because a studio shoot was not possible

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

Tracklist

Disc 1

Disc 2

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Formed in 1994 in Little Rock, Arkansas by singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody.
• Started as a duo that released independent EPs and a demo CD, Origin (2000).
• Signed to Wind-up Records in 2001.

Members

• Current lineup: Amy Lee (lead vocals, piano, keyboards, harp), Troy McLawhorn (guitar), Tim McCord (guitar; bass before 2022), Emma Anzai (bass), Will Hunt (drums).
• Lee has been the main songwriter since the band's start.

Career

• Debut album Fallen (2003) sold more than four million copies in the US by January 2004 and won two Grammy Awards.
• The Open Door (2006) followed, and the self-titled album Evanescence (2011) debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200.
• Went on hiatus after 2011, then returned in 2015 and released the orchestral Synthesis (2017).
• The Bitter Truth (2021) reached the top five of several Billboard charts.
• Sixth album Sanctuary was announced for June 2026.
• Total album sales are about 31.9 million.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Metacritic: generally favorable reviews, weighted average score 78 out of 100 from 8 critic scores
• Metal Hammer's Dannii Leivers: darkly emotional, empowering and politically charged
• Rolling Stone's Jon Dola: praised Lee's songwriting, calling it a take-no-prisoners battle for redemption
• Entertainment Weekly's Sydney Bucksbaum: Lee's voice has never sounded more passionate
• Los Angeles Times's Suzy Exposito: Lee wrote her fiercest songs to date
• Kerrang!'s Nick Ruskell: comfort, catharsis and a new perspective
• Consequence's Claire Colette: a triumphant return, reminiscent of older material but also fresh
• AllMusic's Neil Z. Yeung: one of the band's most engaging works
• Revolver: a triumphant statement of perseverance
• Gigwise's Vicky Greer: vocals and lyrics sometimes lost in production

Records

• US Billboard 200: number 11
• Billboard Independent, Alternative, Hard Rock, and Rock Albums charts: top five
• Multiple international album charts: top 10
• Loudwire: 25th best rock/metal album of 2021

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The lead single Wasted on You was released in April 2020, and the video shows the five members recording themselves on iPhones at home.
• The Use My Voice single featured guest vocalists from bands such as Veridia, Within Temptation, The Pretty Reckless and Halestorm.
• The intro Artifact/The Turn is a collaboration with Scott Kirkland of The Crystal Method, composed and programmed during the 2019 tour.
• The limited edition includes an audio cassette documenting the recording sessions.
• The Bitter Truth Tour began on 5 November 2021 in Portland and ended in Recife, Brazil, on 28 October 2023 after 124 concerts.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · fr.wikipedia.org

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