Growing up in the ’90s and early 2000s, MTV was the hub for new music videos. Back then, a song’s success often depended as much on the reception of these elaborate, cinematic productions as it did on radio play and physical CD sales. In March 2003, the video for the debut single by a band from Little Rock, Arkansas, captivated both mainstream audiences and the alternative scene.
“Bring Me to Life” opens with a camera gliding through a brooding, dimly lit city at night, almost reminiscent of those seen in early 2000s superhero films, before slowly approaching an open window with curtains billowing in the wind. Suddenly, a lyric mezzo-soprano voice that could just as well belong in an opera stage fills the air: “How can you see into my eyes like open doors?” Accompanied by strings and piano, it is the kind of voice that stops you dead in your tracks. Before your jaw has a chance to leave the floor, a slow, heavy guitar riff crashes in, building up to an explosive full-band chorus.
The voice belongs to Amy Lee, whose rich, ethereal vocals, combined with the band’s blend of rock, metal, and classical influences, have made Evanescence one of the world’s most successful hard rock bands for more than 20 years. On July 8, that long-lasting legacy was on full display as the band delivered an earthshaking performance at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre.
The setlist heavily focused on the band’s 2026 release Sanctuary, its first studio album in five years. Walking onto the stage with her signature heavy eyeliner and long black hair flowing in the wind, Lee’s voice filled the packed venue as if casting a spell over the audience and pulling them into a trance. Rather than opening with one of its classic hits, Evanescence kicked off the night with four songs from the new album, including the title track and “Afterlife,” which also serves as the main theme for the Netflix animated series Devil May Cry.
While the production included several visually striking elements such as confetti and pyrotechnics along with platforms that raised guitarist Tim McCord, drummer Will Hunt, and guitarist Troy McLawhorn several feet up in the air, it was the performance itself that proved to be the most dramatic. Hunt played with such raw intensity that his long blond hair spent much of the set covering his face. On stage left, McLawhorn dipped and twisted with each melody, mirroring the intensity of the music.
As the set went on, there was a definite surge in energy from the crowd when older hits like “Going Under,” “Call Me When You’re Sober,” and the recently diamond certified “Bring Me to Life” were played. But rather than a reflection on Sanctuary, the relative shift in energy was likely a consequence of the album having only been out for a few weeks. “Who Will You Follow,” which was released back in April, previously reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Hard Rock Songs and Mainstream Rock Airplay.
Sanctuary has been praised by fans and critics for its aggressive metal-inspired melodies and intricate production. Jordan Fish, who has collaborated with artists like Architects and Poppy, co-produced and co-wrote the record. Formerly the keyboardist for British rock band Bring Me the Horizon, Fish has been credited with helping the band incorporate fresh electronic elements, including industrial synths, into tracks like “Rapture.” This is something that translated well onto the stage, as every riff and synth line loudly filled the amphitheatre and sent waves of energy through the crowd. Combined with dramatic lighting and industrial-inspired visuals projected on the venue’s screens, the result was a dark, almost post-apocalyptic atmosphere that complemented the band’s intensity.
Like with Evanescence’s earlier releases, Sanctuary balances those explosive, full-band tracks with softer, piano-driven compositions. This duality has long been a defining characteristic of the band’s music and was reflected throughout the set. For the stripped-down piano performances, Lee alternated between a keyboard and a baby grand, delivering some of the most emotional moments of the night.
“This next song is very personal to me,” Lee said at one point. It was clear how much weight these words carried as she nervously tugged on her sleeves, her voice trembling at times. But as she continued, her voice steadied. “I just want to say, first of all, never regret love, never! You’re not bad, you’re not stupid for loving someone… but you don’t have to stay. And as terrifying and impossible as it may seem to take that first step out the door of a bad situation, I promise you, it’s infinitely better on the other side.”
Tossing her hair back, she took a deep breath before launching into the first notes of “Forever Without You.” Echoing the message of her speech, she belted the lyrics, “Thought I’d fall forever without you / Turns out forever without you is good for me,” as the crowd swayed to the melody.
While Lee is both hauntingly captivating alone at the piano and magnetic as she leads the full band, Evanescence’s strength lies just as much in the talent and chemistry of the ensemble. Although the lineup has evolved over the years, it continues to prioritize both technical musicianship and showmanship.
In 2022, longtime bassist Tim McCord switched to guitar, making way for Sick Puppies member Emma Anzai to become Evanescence’s first female bassist. The addition feels seamless, with Anzai’s commanding stage presence complementing the band as she headbanged through the set, her curly locks illuminated by bursts of pyrotechnics.
The tour features a female-driven lineup with female-led Canadian heavy metal band Spiritbox and British rock duo Nova Twins serving as openers. During “Fight Like a Girl,” Lee welcomed Spiritbox’s Courtney LaPlante along with Nova Twins’ Amy Love and Georgia South back on the stage. Throughout the performance, a sense of camaraderie and mutual admiration was palpable, as they exchanged genuine smiles and appreciative glances with one another. As the song came to a close, LaPlante bounced up and down with excitement and cheered for her fellow musicians before the four women embraced in a group hug.
While many of us first experienced Evanescence through the glow of a bulky box television, whose sheer size would seem comical to younger generations, more than two decades later in one of the largest music venues in the Chicago area, that feeling remained exactly the same: hypnotic, captivating, cathartic. As a second wave of bird-shaped black and red confetti filled the air (a nod to the pigeon on the album artwork), Lee blew a kiss and waved to the roaring crowd before the rest of the band joined her for a bow. With a packed tour schedule that currently extends well into 2027, Evanescence remains a force far from fading.
