Evanescence

Other bands Evanescence has been compared to include Lacuna Coil, Nightwish and Within Temptation, all of which also employ the use of female vocals. Overall, Front 242's new work continues to reveal new ideas in music to fellow musicians and fans alike. On many music-related news articles, the band is often compared to nu-metal band Linkin Park, but many fans find this comparison unfair because it is based almost solely on their hit single "Bring Me to Life." Much of their other music, they say, sounds very different. Meanwhile their enthusiasm for side projects has continued, as Patrick Codenys started appearing with a new group called Red Sniper, Bresanutti started recording with a new group called Troisseure, and Codenys and Richard 23 formed a quasi-DJ project called Coder23 which is touring in late 2004 and early 2005 as the opening act for VNV Nation. Critics have accused Evanescence of being "wannabe" goth rockers, but really just pop. Lee, however, dismisses these claims as mere "labels" and refuses to categorize and (to paraphrase) put in a box the band's music since she believes Evanescence has a unique sound unlike any other. They have also recently issued another re-release of their first album "Geography" on Alfa-Matrix, this time newly remastered personally by Bresanutti to surprisingly powerful effect, and with extra tracks and a second disc filled with very early material that had never before been released. The piano plays a significant role in the majority of the band's music. They have made occasional appearances in Latin America and Europe, even being rejoined by Dirk Bergen for a reunion concert in Aarschot in 2004 under the original lineup of Bresanutti, Bergen, Codenys and De Meyer (kept secret until two days before the show).

Many say that the band is goth rock, which is true in certain respects. Certainly, many of its songs focus on life's negative moments and darker themes such as lost love, loneliness and death. tour showcasing the new material from "Still and Raw" and "Pulse", originally indicating that it would take place in autumn 2004, though that has been pushed back. More widely known softer songs include "My Immortal," "Everybody's Fool" and "Imaginary," which to an extent, can be categorized as pop. Front 242 also promised a new U.S. While there are the heavier songs it is generally known for such as "Going Under," "Bring Me to Life" and "Whisper," they only really constitute a minority of all the songs by the band. The new releases also feature a much more emotional style from De Meyer than his previous Front 242 work, but which was presaged in his later recordings with C-Tec and particularly Cobalt 60 on its album "Twelve". Evanescence fits roughly into the generic genre of rock, but in fact sounds quite different among its arsenal of songs. The style of the two new releases tends to be a little more mellow than some of their past work, and makes revelatory use of glitchy and bleepy notes, while it also introduces a whole new level of manipulating De Meyer's vocals to achieve novel effects of the human voice as musical instrument.

Eventually it was Terry Balsamo, from Cold who joined the band in Moody's place. These represented another iteration of Front 242's explicitly stated goal of reinventing itself on almost every new album, as it has done through its history. Former Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland had been mentioned as a replacement for Moody and Lee described him as a friend, suggesting they may write together on their next record. "Still and Raw" and the album "Pulse", released on XIIIBis Records in Europe and Metropolis in the U.S. In an interview several months later [1] (http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/08/1073437399128.html), Lee said "we'd gotten to a point that if something didn't change, we wouldn't have been able to make a second record." Since, Lee has said it was almost a relief that he left because of tensions. Then, 2002 and 2003 also saw the release of the long-awaited first new material from Front 242 proper in a decade: the E.P. To this day, he has not fully explained the reason for his leave. In 2002 and 2003, Morf released an album, an E.P., a double album, and a DVD/CD two-disc combo, on the Belgian record label Alfa-Matrix, and went on tour through the U.S.

In October 2003, Moody left the band abruptly in the middle of a European tour. Morf, a new guise for Bresanutti and Codenys along with vocalist Elko Blijweert. When the band finally did make an appearance, they became one of the most popular acts in the area. Within three months of "Speed Tribe" was the first release from Male or Female, a.k.a. However, a song of theirs entitled "Understanding" found its way onto local music charts, and demand for a live show increased. The DVD was a collaboration with experimental documentary filmmakers Rod Chong and Sharon Matarazzo filming the 2001 24 Hour Le Mans, in which the racecars, clouds, rain and spectators are all used as impressionist elements of a visual backdrop for the music. For some time they were unable to find other musicians to play with, and did not have the funds to pay for professional assistance, thus they were unable to play live shows. This began in August 2002 with the release of a DVD/CD two-disc set called "Speed Tribe", released by Dance.com.

They discovered they shared a love of Jimi Hendrix and Björk, and they began to write songs together. Then 2002 saw the beginning of a wave of new material from Bresanutti and Codenys, and then of Front 242 itself. The two met at a youth camp in Arkansas, where Moody heard Lee playing Meat Loaf songs on the piano. However, they once again seemed to become only minimally active after 1998, making occasional appearances in Europe and Mexico, while Codenys recorded under the name Gaiden with Steve Stoll in 2001. The group was founded by Lee and former lead guitarist Ben Moody. Front 242 also indicated at this time that they were recording new material. In response, Lee encouraged fans to download the band's older songs from the internet during an interview. with Metropolis Records.

Only 2500 copies of this record were ever made, and it is thus not generally available in record stores. The new tour material was the subject of Front 242's new recording contract in the U.S. However, Lee herself does not consider the record to be an actual album; rather, she considers it merely a bundle of demo songs (some of which she says are not done properly) that was sent to record companies. They acknowledged the influence of Prodigy and their "Fat of the Land" album in crafting the new, more techno style of Re:Boot. In fact, the recording of "My Immortal" found on Fallen can also be found on Origin, minus a handful of additional instrumental accompaniments. The four core members of Front 242 regrouped in 1998 to compose radically reworked versions of many of their songs, which they then performed on their first tour in five years, appropriately called the Re:Boot tour. Not atypically, Origin and the EPs contain demo versions of some of the songs on their first major-label album. Meanwhile, Richard 23 recorded with the groups Holy Gang and later LeTschak.

Their first record, Origin (released in 2000), is relatively unknown, and previously released EPs in 1998 and 1999 are even less known, though highly sought after by collectors. This was the start of a number of releases from Cobalt 60. It was included in the soundtrack for the action movie Daredevil and garnered recognition for the band at the Grammy Awards of 2004: The single was awarded Best Hard Rock Performance, and Evanescence was awarded Best New Artist. Dominique Lallement and Frederic Sebastien of Reims, France. Evanescence's debut single "Bring Me to Life" was a global hit for the band and reached #5 on the American Billboard Hot 100. 1996 also saw the debut album "Elemental" from Cobalt 60, which De Meyer formed with the members of Kriegbereit, i.e. The band's lead singer Amy Lee has insisted the band is not Christian and does not intend to send a Christian message, even though she is in fact a Christian herself. De Meyer also took over as vocalist for Birmingham 6 for their 1996 album "Error of Judgment".

The initial labeling of the band as Christian stirred much controversy, until Christian stores eventually took Fallen off the shelves. After the departure of Sharp and the demise of the Cyber-Tec label, the remaining group continued working under the name C-Tec. "Tourniquet", for example, is about suicide and redemption, with lyrics like "Am I too lost to be saved? My God, my tourniquet, return to me salvation." It should be noted however, that the song was a cover, written by members of Rocky Gray's previous band, Soul Embraced. In 1995, De Meyer met Marc Heal of Cubanate at a Front Line Assembly concert, and the two of them collaborated along with Ged Denton and Jonathan Sharp, to record as Cyber-Tec Project for the new (and short-lived) Cyber-Tec record label. Originally considered by many to be part of the Christian rock scene — and for a short time promoted in Christian stores — the band has distanced itself from such categorization, even though Fallen (2003), their first major-label release, had some religious themes. Earlier, Richard 23 had a side project as a member of Revolting Cocks, and De Meyer had a side project doing vocals for Bigod 20 for their debut single, "The Bog" in 1990.
. However, this period also saw a proliferation of side projects, an inordinate number of which involved De Meyer.

Past Band members:. To the disappointment of many, the years following 06:21:03:11 Up Evil and 05:22:09:12 Off would be bereft of new material from Front 242 under any lineup, filled instead with a stream of live recordings and remixes. Evanescence is a rock band from Little Rock, Arkansas, consisting of:. commercials for the film "K2" were set to the Front 242 song "Moldavia", also from the album "Tyranny >For You<", although there was no Front 242 in the film itself. Everybody's Fool, Modern rock tracks, peaked at #36. Also in 1992, the T.V. My Immortal, Top 40 tracks, peaked at #2. is playing the Front 242 video for "Tragedy >For You<" from the album "Tyranny >For You<".

My Immortal, Top 40 mainstream, peaked at #2. to drown out the sound of Fonda calling for help; the T.V. My Immortal, Adult Top 40 Recurrents, reached #1. A broader segment of the non-industrial-music-loving public was exposed to Front 242 in 1992 in the film "Single White Female" starring Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, when evil roommate Leigh ties up good roommate Fonda to a chair, and then turns the volume way up on the T.V. My Immortal, Hot 100, peaked at #7. 99 Kowalski is the assumed name of Kristin Kowalski, making a tradition out of Richard 23's idea of number-as-name. My Immortal, Canadian singles chart, reached #1. On the other hand, a variety of new contributors were listed as members of Front 242 on these albums: Jean-Marc Pauly and Pierre Pauly on Up Evil, and 99 Kowalski and Eran Westwood on Off.

My Immortal, Adult Top 40, reached #1. Neither of these albums had significant input from Richard 23, and 05:22:09:12 OFF only intermittently included their lead vocalist, Jean-Luc De Meyer. My Immortal, Adult contemporary, peaked at #19. (The numbers correspond to letters, spelling "FUCK UP EVIL" and "EVIL OFF".) However at this point there were strains emerging, with the band members apparently having different artistic views about how to progress. Going Under, Canadian singles chart, peaked at #14. 06:21:03:11 UP EVIL and 05:22:09:12 OFF were brilliant releases musically and once again showed that Front 242 did not need to follow existing trends to stay fresh and original, even using a female vocalist. Going Under, Modern rock tracks, peaked at #5. Front 242's style shifted abruptly with each of their next two albums, released in rapid succession in 1993 (originally planned as a double-CD).

Going Under, Mainstream rock tracks, peaked at #26. This is the only known solo work from any of Front 242's members. Bring Me To Life, Adult Top 40 Recurrents, reached #1. Bresanutti also composed a solo half-hour atmospheric recording called Art and Strategy (or The Art Corporation) to play during viewings of the lithographs, and released this in a limited edition of 1,000 CD's. Bring Me To Life, Canadian singles chart, peaked at #3. 1992 saw Bresanutti return his focus on combining graphic arts with music, with a tour of his lithographs to three U.S. galleries. Bring Me To Life, Top 40 tracks, reached #1. Sony/Epic also issued re-released versions of Front 242's five earlier albums, with several E.P.'s and singles consolidated as extra tracks on the albums.

Bring Me To Life, Top 40 mainstream, reached #1. Tyranny was also the first album they released under contract with a major corporate label, Sony/Epic, after the widespread popularity of "Front by Front". Bring Me To Life, Hot 100, peaked at #5. This album, like Front By Front was a huge success and it seemed as if the Frontmen could just go from strength to strength. Bring Me To Life, Modern rock tracks, reached #1. Tyranny >For You<, released in 1991, brought the world a much denser, multi-layered sound which would push them straight into the 1990s. Bring Me To Life, Mainstream rock tracks, peaked at #11. With the turn of the decade the band went through many changes.

Bring Me To Life, Adult Top 40, peaked at #4. They're too stupid!". Anywhere But Home (2004). In fact the complete opposite is true, with them famously saying that "Neo-nazis couldn't make the music we do. Fallen (includes 'My Immortal' (Band Version)) (2004). Possibly due to this rather in-your-face approach, they have often been falsely accused of being neo-nazis or extreme right-wing. Fallen (2003). As they put it, they were merely presenting the world around them as it was.

Origin (2000). They would use militaristic samples, preachers and the TV as a source for inspiration, but refused to admit to having any message. Sound Asleep EP. During these releases Front 242 also presented a style and imagery which was political in a decidedly apolitical style. Evanescence EP. "Headhunter" is possibly one of the most popularly played and remixed songs of the entire genre. David Hodges - Keyboards (left December 2002). By this point, Front 242 had developed a style of strong backbeats, slices, samples, and ominous vocals.

Ben Moody - Lead guitar (co-founder - left October 2003). Their popularity would reach even higher with the 1988 "Headhunter" single and video by Anton Corbijn, and its accompanying album Front By Front. Terry Balsamo - Guitar (replacement for co-founder Ben Moody). The 1985 album BackCatalogue collected material from the group's earlier years, but their international breakthrough didn't occur until the release of Official Version in 1987, on the Red Rhino Europe label, followed by their "Official Warfare" tour in support of the album. William Boyd - Bass. This tour led to the creation of Revolting Cocks by Richard 23, Alain Jourgensen of Ministry and others. Rocky Gray - Drums. Front 242 signed with the legendary Wax Trax label in 1984, and started their first tour in the United States with Ministry.

John LeCompt - Guitar. Front 242 was becoming the most popular musical group in Belgium; their next album, No Comment would cement the group's place in electronic music, and was the first to introduce the term "Electronic Body Music" in association with their sound. Amy Lee - Vocals and Piano (co-founder). Jonkheere was usually referred to by the name Richard 23. In 1983, Dirk Bergen left the band to pursue graphic design full time, and Richard Jonckheere was admitted to the group as a loosely backing vocalist and charismatic stage presence. These first releases, while cited as influential by a number of other artists in the genre, were not as characteristically strong and hard-hitting as the group's later efforts.

Their next single, U-Men, would be released in 1982, followed by the band's first album Geography in 1983. They also decided during this formative period never to use the regular waveform settings on their synthesizers, saying instead that creating the waveform itself for each note was part of the creative process. De Meyer also came to write almost all of the lyrics. Bresanutti, Codenys and De Meyer all took turns on vocals at first, until they settled on De Meyer as the lead vocalist; only recently have early recordings with Bresanutti on vocals been widely released.

Contact between Bresanutti and Codenys led the two duos to join together in 1982. Codenys said his father received a lottery winning and shared enough of it with him so that he could buy a car, but he bought his first synthesizer instead. Patrick Codenys and Jean-Luc De Meyer had separately formed a group called Under Viewer at about the same time. The first single to be released was Principles, late in that year.

They were interested in creating both music and graphic design using emerging electronic tools, and reportedly decided on changing their name to Front 242 because the name had greater potential as a subject of graphic design. Front 242 was created in 1981 in Aarschot, Belgium by Daniel Bresanutti and Dirk Bergen, who originally went by the name Prothese. It is perhaps no coincidence that Varese's great mark on the music world took place at the 1958 World Fair in Brussels, where Front 242 would work a few decades later. Going back earlier, these innovations can be seen as an extension of the work of Edgard Varese, the first significant composer to adopt electronic sources of sound as musical instruments, and who also used overwhelming percussion including with found objects.

The origin of Front 242 should be understood within the rise of industrial music, which originated in England in 1975 with the first performances of Cabaret Voltaire and Throbbing Gristle. These revolutionary groups introduced elements of style later taken up by Front 242 such as electronic instrumentation, overwhelming percussion often with found objects, and looped samples of found soundbytes. Front 242 is a pioneering Belgian electronic music group that came into prominence during the 1980s. During their most active period (effectively ending in 1993 with the albums 06:21:03:11 UP EVIL and 05:22:09:12 OFF) they were influential to a number of other industrial and electronic artists, coining the term electronic body music (EBM) to describe their music. Coder 23 - Patrick Codenys, Richard 23. Troissoeur - Daniel Bressanutti.

Red Sniper - Patrick Codenys. Male or Female - Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys. Gaiden - Patrick Codenys. LaTchak - Richard 23.

Grisha Zeme - Daniel Bressanutti, Patrick Codenys. Cobalt 60 - Jean-Luc De Meyer. C-Tec - Jean-Luc De Meyer. Cyber-Tec Project - Jean-Luc De Meyer.

Holy Gang - Richard 23. The Art Corporation - Daniel Bressanutti. Birmingham 6 - Jean-Luc De Meyer. Bigod 20 - Jean-Luc De Meyer.

Revolting Cocks - Richard 23. Under Viewer - Patrick Codenys, Jean-Luc De Meyer. Prothese - Daniel Bressanutti, Dirk Bergen. Still and Raw (e.p., 2003).

Religion (e.p., 1993). Angels Versus Animals (e.p., 1993). Animal (single, 1993). Mixed By Fear (e.p., 1991).

Rhythm of Time (single, 1991). Tragedy (For You) (single, 1990). Never Stop! (e.p., 1989). Headhunter (single, 1988).

Masterhit (single, 1987). Interception (single, 1986). Politics of Pressure (e.p., 1985). No Shuffle (single, 1985).

Live in Chicago (e.p., included free with early copies of No Comment, 1984). Two In One (e.p., 1983). Endless Riddance (e.p., 1983). U-Men (single, 1981).

Principles (single, 1981). Singles and EPs: