Evanescence

Evanescence, an iconic American rock band, was established in 1994 in Little Rock, Arkansas, by the talented duo of singer and keyboardist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody. The band initially gained traction through independent EPs and a demo CD in the late 1990s, leading to the release of their debut studio album, Fallen, in 2003 under Wind-up Records. The album's success was propelled by hit singles such as 'Bring Me to Life' and 'My Immortal', resulting in over four million copies sold in the United States by January 2004 and earning the band two Grammy Awards from six nominations.

In 2004, Evanescence released their first live album and concert DVD, Anywhere but Home, which achieved worldwide sales exceeding one million copies. The band's second studio album, The Open Door, arrived in 2006, co-composed by Lee and guitarist Terry Balsamo, and garnered a Grammy nomination while selling more than six million copies globally. The lineup evolved as the band reconvened in 2009, including Balsamo, guitarist Troy McLawhorn, bassist Tim McCord, and drummer Will Hunt, to work on their next album, Evanescence, which was released in 2011 and marked their first collaborative writing effort as a band.

After a successful tour cycle, the band entered a hiatus, during which Lee focused on solo projects. In 2014, Evanescence transitioned to an independent band after parting ways with their record label. They emerged from hiatus in 2015, resuming touring while working on new music. In 2016, Lee announced that the band was developing a fourth album, Synthesis, which was released in 2017 and featured orchestral and electronica arrangements of their previous work, along with two new songs. This was followed by the Synthesis Live tour, showcasing their music with live orchestras for the first time.

After pandemic-related delays, Evanescence released their fifth studio album, The Bitter Truth, in 2021, which reached the top five on the Billboard Independent, Alternative, and Hard Rock charts. Known for their gothic alternative metal and hard rock sound, Evanescence incorporates a variety of musical styles, including classical, heavy metal, industrial, and electronic music, driven by Lee's introspective songwriting. The band has undergone several lineup changes, solidifying their collaboration in 2009, and currently consists of Lee, McCord, McLawhorn, Hunt, and bassist Emma Anzai, who joined in 2022. With a total of thirty-one point nine million albums sold, Evanescence stands as one of the best-selling hard rock and metal artists in history, earning numerous accolades including two Grammy Awards and multiple nominations across various prestigious music awards.