Still Bringing The Life: Evanescence Triumph In Leeds
Evanescence prove they’re anything but a legacy act.
First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds – 8th September 2026 - Review by Steve Harrison
Evanescence returned to the Leeds Direct Bank Arena on Tuesday night, with a sold out opening night of their UK run of dates, that saw them deliver a set that showed they are as relevant today as they were over twenty years ago!
This was definitely not a nostalgia driven performance from Evanescence, with the support bill giving the sensation of a great meeting point between alternative rock, metal and industrial experimental pop metal!!
Opening up proceedings was LA based and 2 times Grammy nominated artist KFlay, with a distinctive style of grunge infused alt-rock. After getting over a false start and returning to the stage with chants of ‘Oggy Oggy Oggy…’ KFlay ripped into short set where she also treated the Leeds crowd to a brand new song ‘Rabbit Hole’, which she announced, that they hadn’t played live before. With a collection of five album releases under her belt, there was a lot to choose from to squeeze into a 30 minute set and closing out with her latest song ‘Ants’ that saw a polite response from the appreciative sell-out crowd.
Next on the bill was Poppy, whilst she may have been the support act, she definitely performed like someone already eyeing up those major headline slots. With her striking visual presentation and the heaviness of the music, clearly shows the development of music and the emergence of pop melodies tempered with breakdowns and blast beats!
A set that relied heavy on her current album ‘Empty Hands’ and previous album ‘Negative Spaces’ from Scary Mask, Crystallized, Guardian and Public Domain, and also included a Bad Omens cover of V.A.N!
For a set that was just short of an hour, the interaction with the crowd was limited but this did not deter the more enthusiastic elements breaking out into circle pits and at least an attempt at a wall of death!
Love her or loather her, you have to admire her ability to clearly transition from a successful early pop career into the arena of crushing riffs and metalcore growls that is showing she he is becoming a force to be reckoned with.
Taking to the stage to rapturous cheers, Amy Lee and the band strode on amidst a huge gothic cathedral backdrop broadcast on a huge digital screen.
Opening up with Sanctuary, the title track from the new album and then straight into three more tracks form the album, Tell Me When You’ve Had Enough, Afterlife and then Rapture. This demonstrating clearly they are still here showing us they still have passion for creating new music that resonates. That being said, dropping into the classic ‘Going Under’ had the crowd explode!
Even in an arena, there’s still something that draws you in when you see Amy Lee sit behind the grand piano, a sense of wondrous anticipation, for some stripped back raw emotion, which she duly delivered with ‘Lithium’ and the fabulous deep cut ‘Like You’ that Amy announced was the only song off the album ‘Open Door’ that they had never played live. Now celebrating 20 years of that release she told the excited crowd they had decided to honour that album by playing that on this tour.
This was definitely a set that was new album heavy, playing every song from it apart from one! The staging was epic with risers for the drums and guitarists amidst side curtains set ablaze with fire and flames!
‘Fight Like A Girl’ saw Amy and the band joined on stage by KFlay, delivering a killer rendition of their previously released collaboration amidst fire and pyro.
A poignant moment followed as Amy talked through her appreciation and support from fans though her career, leading into a fabulous vocal and piano performance of ‘Forever Without You’.
Leading into a firm favourite and anthem for Evanescence fans ‘Bring Me To Life’. You’d be forgiven for thinking we were near the end of the show but the depth of back catalogue and ability to continue to deliver epic performances is a testament to the talents of Amy’s songwriting that gives longevity to the band.
‘End Of You’ saw Poppy return to the stage to perform with Amy, on the track that they had collaborated with Courtney LaPlante of Spiritbox. A great opportubity for both support artists to perform each of their collabs through the set, which Amy announced her great appreciation! Into ‘Who Will You Follow’ with more pyro before a translucent curtain was lowered leaving Amy and her piano separated from the rest of the band.
A goosebumps moment as thousands of phone lights lit up the arena while Amy masterfully sang the enigmatic ‘My Immortal’ with the crescendo building with band playing behind the curtain to a grand reveal. Closing out the show with ‘Wide Open Heart’, tonight’s show was a statement to show Evanescence deserve the praise they still continue to garner, and will continue to do so for a long time to come.
