Evanescence have given us a look back to their early days with a demo of their classic “Bring Me To Life“. The song originally appeared on their 2003 debut album Fallen and has since gone on to become a staple of rock and metal culture. It is certified 3x Platinum in the US, the equivalent of three million sales. It’s racked up over 908 million streams on Spotify, and the iconic music video has been watched 1.2 BILLION times.
It is a perfect time capsule of mid-00s alt and goth culture. A sprawling, grand and devilish piece of hard rock brilliance that ebbs and flows between heaven and hell with glee. It’s difficult to picture a world where it doesn’t exist or a dancefloor that doesn’t swell every time that it comes on. So to have this incredible relic to look back on its humble beginnings is a treat, to say the least.
The first thing that you notice about this 2002 demo is the different use of electronics. There’s an industrial edge to the blips and flickers that serve as the foundations of the track. The guitars are just as guttural as the finished product but feel all the more 90s because of the production value of which they were recorded. Everything is raw but still spine-tinglingly gripping. The one thing that is truly pristine is Amy Lee and her unbelievable vocal chords. Clear as crystal, pure and passionate, she puts in the sort of display that has made her into a legend in the years since.
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The other thing to note is the lack of rap from guitarist Ben Moody. Where the usual back and forth between him and Amy would be, there is a guitar solo. Though in the confines of this version, it certainly makes more sense. There’s an intimacy to this demo. A closeness that matches its sharpness. It is of its time yet also lightyears ahead. Most important, it shows off a band at the height of their powers. And to be in that position so early into your journey, you can see why they have gone on to do great things.
Evanescence released their latest album The Bitter Truth back in 2021. A punishing and powerful record full of defiance and darkness, it served as a very special return for the band. They have been touring it non-stop ever since, captivating audiences the world over with their spellbinding live show. What they have up their sleeve next is still to be revealed. Yet you know it’s going to be fascinating nonetheless!
