Heading into seeing Evanescence at the Sydney Entertainment Centre I had a few concerns about how the night would play out. Still fresh from a four year hiatus, would they be able to regain their former energy, chemistry and maintain their synchronisation as a unit? Known for her soaring, anthematic choruses, would Amy Lee be able to sing in the original pitch or would the songs be brought down to another key?
From the first number “What You Want”, the band’s trademark blunt, chaotic force answered all questions of my doubt. Heavy riffs and swirling synths were belted out as Lee hit her lines pitch-perfect. Her gasps for air between each line in every song on the night affirmed there was no lip-synching or backing tracks. It was amazing to see the ease she slipped into the impenetrable delivery of her rippling, towering yet sensitive vocals.
“We played this for the first time in five years yesterday,” Lee said before playing the emotional ballad “Sweet Sacrifice” from their 2007 album The Open Door.
The only negative of the night was the slim interaction with the crowd between songs. At 90 minutes and $99, their set felt short and too orchestrated. Still, the band delivered with a flooding energy and an undeniably fierce playing style, best demonstrated on the gut-wrenching ballads “My Heart is Broken,” “Lithium” and the night’s closer, “My Immortal”. Depth in the set was built as roadies brought out a grand-piano on to the stage, transitioning into some of their more beautiful and iconic songs.
This successful movement into the softer and more restrained numbers complemented the preservation of the bands characteristics, while reaching another depth of maturation, when time came for the harder hitting songs, “Call Me When You’re Sober” and “Going Under”.
Evanescence displayed a supreme vitality in their live show. Full of fan favourites and unwavering energy, they are an artist who challenged my expectation, and won.
– Lachlan Mitchell
