Evanescence - Better Without You - Single [Review]

American alternative metal band Evanescence's brand new studio album (the first wholly original one in a decade) The Bitter Truth is set to drop in just a few weeks (March 26th), and "Better Without You" marks the fifth single (and very likely the final single before the album is released) released from the album. It has been nearly a year since the album's first single "Wasted on You" was released in April of last year, and that one remains by far my favorite of the five songs released so far. "Better Without You" is strong, although there are some problems that I have with it which I will discuss shortly. My favorite aspect of the song is the very opening - the sound of a device winding up and then a music box playing a haunting and beautiful melody that reminds me a lot of Ben Steed's "Your Lullaby" (which I am 100% sure is a complete coincidence, especially since Ben is an indie artist whom Amy and the band probably have not heard). The intro also reminds me a lot of Lindsey Stirling and Lzzy Hale's song "Shatter Me," and that probably is not a coincidence. Frontwoman Amy Lee covered "Shatter Me" with Lindsey at certain shows during the Synthesis tour, and she is also good friends with both Lindsey and Lzzy, so the intro here could very well be an intentional homage to that song. The music box melody is eventually broken by a staticky electronic sound (although the melody continues as accompaniment throughout much of the song), and the song then gets pretty heavy. (In fact, it might be the heaviest single released so far. It's either this or "The Game Is Over." I can't decide.) The slamming and unforgiving guitar riffs are definitely some of the song's highlights. The tightly controlled melody of the chorus is also pretty powerful, and it reminds me a lot of the song "Virtual Reality" by the band Scarlett Seven (a rock band that has sadly retired which was fronted by Amy's sister Lori Lee).

Revolver has called the song "a biting, anthemic fuck-you to the forces that have attempted to hold [Amy] back," and Amy herself has also made a statement about the song on her Instagram page: "This song is about my journey, and some of what I had to overcome to get where I am, and where our band is, today. I've fought many battles for my self and my music which are very intertwined..." The song touches upon sexism in society and in the industry (as did previous single "Use My Voice"). Speaking from the perspective of a patriarchal figure attempting to put her in what he perceives to be her proper place, she sings in the first verse, "...This is my world, little girl; you'd be lost on your own." It's fairly obvious that Lee is referencing people in the past - especially men - who attempted to hold her back creatively, and I don't think that it's any coincidence that the song opens with the sound of a music box "winding up." (Evanescence fans should understand what I mean by that.) It is a very empowering song that can have individualized meaning and significance depending on the listener. Amy even said on the aforementioned Instagram post, "Don't ever let fear stop you from being who you were born to be." If that fear is ultimately the you that we are better without, we're all afraid of different things. I do love how brutally honest the lyrics of the singles have been thus far; they have definitely lived up to the title of the album. However, I am fearful that while I definitely won't hate The Bitter Truth, it might end up being my least favorite Evanescence album so far based on what I have heard so far. Like many of the singles thus far, it's poorly mixed; Amy's vocals are often drowned out by the instruments (especially guitar), and it's hard to understand the lyrics as a result. I also really miss the theatricality of epic tracks like "Whisper," "Your Star," "Never Go Back," and so forth; The Bitter Truth has so far not offered much in the way of that grand-scale sound, but we will find out in approximately three weeks!