Review: Evanescence at Metro City
Evanescence at Metro City
Thursday, October 30, 2025
A little over two years since their last run down under, American rockers Evanescence returned to Perth in full force to light up Metro City in Northbridge, louder and with more power than ever before. In the first of three intimate headline shows, fans lucky enough to snag tickets were treated to a rare, up close and personal experience with the band ahead of their supporting act for Metallica’s Australian tour, hitting Optus Stadium on Saturday, November 1.
Best known for their breakthrough singles, Bring Me to Life, My Immortal and Going Under, Evanescence have long been cemented as a staple in the early-2000s rock and metal scene, particularly due to the staggering success of their 2003 debut album, Fallen, which shot them into global stardom seemingly overnight. The album fused lead singer Amy Lee’s angelic vocals and haunting melodies with a rock and nu-metal edge, creating a fresh sound that took the world by storm and is now considered a modern classic. However, with a long and impressive history to live up to, the band proved that 22 years later, they’re far from just a nostalgia act. From the moment the stage lights dimmed, the band commanded the stage with renewed force that, in a venue as tight as Metro City, felt electric.
And intimate it was. The tiered layout of the venue made it difficult to find a bad vantage point. Fans entered en masse, some climbing the steps to claim a bird’s-eye view from one of the many balconies, while the rest packed tight on the floor for a classic mosh-pit experience. The anticipation was palpable, and a little after 8pm, the lights waned, the pre-show soundtrack faded, and the opening notes of the band’s 2025 hit single Afterlife echoed, cueing a wave of cheers. Drummer Will Hunt was the first to appear, drawing an immediate roar from the audience, followed by bassist Emma Anzai, guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord, and finally, the woman of the hour, Amy Lee, who smiled and waved playfully at the crowd before her.
Despite being a recent track, Afterlife was met with an enthusiastic response from the crowd. Its performance was paired with visuals from the 2025 Netflix anime Devil May Cry, for which the song was written, adding a layer of context and a welcome nod for fans of the franchise. “What’s up, Perth? You ready to have some fun?” Lee then called as the band dove headfirst into What You Want, an upbeat track that was a perfect choice to get the ball moving.
“It’s been a really long time since we played somewhere like this,” Lee remarked, acknowledging the nostalgia of performing in such an intimate space. For longtime fans, the moment was reminiscent of the band’s earliest shows in small venues like the iconic Vino’s in Lee’s hometown of Little Rock. The band then treated the audience to the iconic Going Under, the first Fallen track of the night, which the crowd gleefully sang word for word.
Call Me When You’re Sober was another sing-along highlight, giving fans a chance to belt out every word while showcasing Lee’s breathtaking vocal range, particularly in the bridge. The band kept the momentum going with the upbeat The Change and The Other Side, a track not performed live in over six years. “Still alive?” Lee joked with fans as she entered the 2021 single, Wasted on You, which further highlighted Lee’s capability of long, sustained notes as she belted the final chorus flawlessly, drawing thunderous applause from the audience.
“I love contrast. Let’s do the opposite,” Lee remarked, referencing the intimate setting compared to their upcoming stadium tour with Metallica. “And then we got here and realised the piano didn’t fit.” The audience chuckled at the mishap. “So, we’re gonna rock it like it’s 2003,” she added as the keyboard was brought onstage. While it was being set up, Lee reached to turn off the fan blowing on her, only to redirect it towards the flustered audience in the front row, eliciting laughter across the room. It was one of many comical, conversational moments that only an intimate show like this can provide—moments that truly made the night feel special. “It’s been a minute since it looked like this, people!” she exclaimed, before thanking the crowd for welcoming the band back to Australia and launching into fan favourite Lithium.
Even though it’s a fresh release, a standout of the night was the performance of this year’s second single, Fight Like a Girl, featuring K.Flay. Lee opened with an extended piano intro before the boys erupted into ominous, driving guitar riffs, while the screens lit up with scenes from both the song’s music video and the 2025 film Ballerina, for which it was produced. Aussie bassist Emma Anzai—who some may recognise from Sydney band Sick Puppies—stepped in for K.Flay’s backing vocals, letting her own vocal talent shine. The ladies in the audience sang back every word of the girl power anthem, even enthusiastically filling in for K.Flay’s rap. Lee then chuckled and announced, “This next song’s for all the assholes,” before launching into a high-octane performance of Take Cover, with her operatic range on full display during the bridge.
Taking things down a notch, the venue was bathed in a rich purple glow. Lee stood centre stage, her haunting silhouette the sole focus as she eased into a mesmerising rendition of The End of the Dream, accompanied by a striking display of flying birds on the screens behind her. The performance opened with the slow, intense intro from the 2017 Synthesis version, which reverberated beautifully throughout the tiny venue, before erupting into the soaring might of the original track. The song also gave guitarist Troy McLawhorn a moment to shine, delivering a post-bridge solo not present in the original recording, making it one of the night’s most memorable moments.
After pumping through a few more tracks, including Better Without You and the fan favourite Imaginary, Lee paused to deliver her signature speech. “Never stop being who you are! Never let your light go out! Shine brighter! Love is powerful, and together, we are loud!” she preached. “Are you ready to use your voice?” she cried with fierce emotion and passion before getting straight to work on the political anthem Use My Voice. “Perth! This is the part where you sing!” she urged as the crowd erupted, hands clapping above their heads and belting out the chorus in a joyous, unifying moment fans are sure to carry with them. Building on the empowering message of the song, Lee then launched into Blind Belief, a heavy, hard-hitting track that champions standing against oppression, redeeming the sins of the past, and putting “love over all.”
As the night drew on, Lee paused once more to speak to the crowd. “Perth is a place we don’t always get to come to every time we tour, and that’s already too few and far between,” she said, earning enthusiastic cheers in agreement. “I never imagined we’d be here today, loving it even more than I did back then, and it’s all because of you!” Lee then playfully turned to a crew member, joking about not knowing how to transpose her keyboard, before diving into an elaborate backstory of My Immortal. “While I’m talking, come transpose this because I really don’t know how,” she giggled as the crew member stepped onstage, laughing while adjusting the keyboard. The audience erupted in laughter as Lee recounted her early mishaps with the song. It was a sweet and genuine moment, proving the magic of an intimate performance—fans and artists connecting on a personal level, with Lee even responding to shouts from the crowd throughout the night.
Hilariously, after the transposing drama, Lee then began to play My Immortal in the wrong key, much to the audience’s delight. The crowd roared with amusement as Lee laughed and pointed to her assistant, teasing, “You asshole!” with a giggle before fixing up her keyboard and urging fans to sing along with her “for old times’ sake.” The crowd obliged, and everyone in the venue came together to assist Lee in the penultimate song, holding up their lights before the rest of the band reappeared to wrap up the final chorus.
After a soaring set of spectacular vocal work from Lee and expert performance from Anzai, McLawhorn, Hunt and McCord, there was only one way to wrap up the night—and fans were hungry for it. The audience was deafening as the familiar first notes of Bring Me to Life, Evanescence’s signature anthem, rang out from Lee’s keyboard. Everyone in the crowd, from diehard fans to casual listeners, sang along word for word to the 2000s anthem as Lee and the band put their all into delivering the final blow. Mid-song, Lee stopped after delivering a long, sustained note, urging the buzzing crowd to put their hands up and clap before launching into the rap segment, performed in the original recording by Paul McCoy of 12 Stones, and closing with a triumphant finish. The energy in the room was electric, and fans cheered long after the final chord while the band bowed their heads and threw picks and drumsticks into the crowd, all smiling and waving. It was clear then that not only had the intimate experience been special to the fans, but also to the band themselves.
Evanescence delivered more than just a concert—they created an unforgettable, shared experience for fans and themselves. From Lee’s booming vocals over the heavy-hitting bangers to the playful and candid moments, the band reminded everyone why their music continues to resonate so heavily over two decades later. The setlist was stellar, and while some casual fans may have missed more Fallen classics, the performance proved that the band’s entire discography is rich with powerful, compelling material—and they know it.
Rather than relying on nostalgia, Evanescence continues to create and perform fresh hits that solidify their place at the top of the rock leaderboard. As Metro City emptied and the buzz from the night lingered, one thing was clear: Evanescence’s power and presence are as undeniable now as they were when Fallen first rocked the world.
ELLIS WAKELAM
Photos by Adrian Thomson
