Evanescence - The Game Is Over - Single [Review]

After releasing the lead single "Wasted on You" (which I reviewed here) from their upcoming studio album The Bitter Truth, American alternative metal band has recently dropped the second single from the project, a song titled "The Game Is Over." I am definitely left scratching my head wondering what the overall sound of The Bitter Truth will be because "Wasted on You" and "The Game Is Over" are so vastly different from each other. The only aspect that I would argue that they have in common, in fact, is that both are rather raw in regards to production (which is probably in large part because recording and production is likely happening primarily, if not only, at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic), but that is especially true of "The Game Is Over." When I first listened to the song, which dropped a little more than a week ago on Wednesday, July 1st, 2020, the first thought that came to mind, in fact, even in the first several seconds of the song, was that it reminded me of Evanescence's first full-length effort Origin (which, although Amy does not consider to be an album, is my favorite Evanescence album) because of its raw and organic production. I know of an audiophile or two who tends to be bothered by raw production (sometimes even noticing production "flaws" that I don't notice even after knowing what they apparently are and deliberately listening for them), but I would definitely argue that there is something to be said about a raw and organic sound in rock music, and "The Game Is Over" is definitely a rock track. (Some opponents of the band's 2006 album The Open Door, in fact, criticized the album for being overproduced and too polished, although I personally felt that it was fitting of the album's dreamy and lush world.) I saw many Evanescence complaining after "Wasted on You" was released, saying that the song was not heavy enough and that, after the band's 2017 album Synthesis (which I reviewed here), they really were hoping for a return to form, for the band to return with a headbanging comeback single. I personally feel that "Wasted on You" is heavy in its own way, especially in the chorus, but "The Game Is Over" is definitely heavier, and fans who complained that "Wasted on You" was not heavy enough should have no such complaints about this single. In addition to its raw production reminding me a bit of Origin, there is also one particular spot about halfway through the song (at about the 2:11 mark) in which Lee's background chanting reminds me a great deal of her operatic chanting from "Weight of the World" from The Open Door.

"The Game Is Over" begins with a stomping drum beat, reminding me a little bit of the opening of Evanescence's 2011 single "What You Want." Frontwoman Amy Lee soon comes in angrily affirming that she's "had enough, I've really had enough...," and she is accompanied by angrily chugging heavy guitar that persists throughout the track. The most powerful aspect of the song is arguably the melodic chorus in which Lee asks to "change me into something I believe in. Change me so I don't have to pretend." Lee has made a statement about the meaning behind the lyrics of "The Game Is Over," saying that the song is about rebelling against the masks that society demands that we wear, telling us that we can't be our true selves. She has also said that it's about declaring that, in the midst of depression and anxiety, it's okay to admit that you're not okay. In the incredible music video (which is so wonderfully put together considering that, like the music video for "Wasted on You," it was done in quarantine), you see the band members' individual struggles, with Amy Lee wearing masks and war paint, which definitely emphasizes the song's theme so well. I also love how in both music videos from this album thus far, the entire band is about equally represented. As much as I adore the band's older music videos, many of them visually placed most of the attention on Amy Lee (especially true of music videos such as "Everybody's Fool" and "Lithium"), and I just really like how Evanescence, perhaps more now than ever, seems to be a group effort and seems to have great chemistry. I have personally found that "The Game Is Over" is a grower. I immediately fell in love with "Wasted on You" upon first listen, but I felt rather indifferent about "The Game Is Over" the first few times that I listened to it, and even though it has absolutely grown on me and I now really like it, it definitely isn't as melodic or as infectious as "Wasted on You" is. As previously mentioned, it sounds very raw and unpolished, which, in and of itself, is not something that would normally bother me, since, as I said, I love Origin perhaps because of how raw that it is, but in this case, I don't think that "The Game Is Over" is mixed as well as it could have been. There are, for example, several parts of the track, especially the chorus, where I feel like Lee's vocals are not loud enough, and it's consequently kind of difficult to hear the lyrics. It's a great alternative metal track, however, and I am so excited to hear The Bitter Truth (although I suspect that we will get several more singles before the entire album is dropped).