In the Shadows - Demos 1996-1998 (1998)1. Ascension of the Spirit [instrumental] 2. Demise (Farther Away) [instrumental] 3. Give Into Me - Demo 1997-1998 4. Give Into Me - Demo 1996 [instrumental] 5. Goodnight 6. October 7. Solitude About In the ShadowsThis is kind of a compilation demo. The first track starts with eight minutes of silence, possibly to express the spiritual nature of the album, followed by a lovely string ensemble. Demise (Farther Away) is a short instrumental featuring the thirteen-note ending to "Field of Innocence", a song from Origin. It could also have been where the song "Farther Away" evolved from. Who knows? There are two versions of "Give Into Me" (alternatively "Give Unto Me")--one with vocals, and one without. The last four tracks of the album contain vocals. "Give Into Me" has pretty obvious lyrics, as does "Goodnight." "October" and "Understanding" touch on the spirituality that surrounds the lyric-writing of Amy Lee. The former has definite parallels to popular Christian praise-and-worship music, containing lines such as, "I fall before you," "I fall into your abounding grace," and "I'll never stray again." Of course, she could just as easily be talking about a lover from whom she strayed; however, the lyrics are suspiciously laudatory of the recipient of her love. "Understanding" is another beast entirely. Spoken quotations about the mind and its ways of coping with distress are scattered throughout, giving the piece an existential feel. There is reason to believe that this song is the first time Lee refers to the death of her sister. Bonnie Lee died of an unknown illness at the age of three; Amy was six, and received a call while at school. Lee vented her brokenness in Evanescence's studio albums with the songs "Hello" and "Like You," but "Understanding" is usually overlooked because of its obscurity. However, I believe that she is referring to the trauma of losing her sister with the lyrics, "tell me you will live through this and I will die for you." |   |
