Amy Lee Unfazed and Excited for Evanescence’s Role Opening for Metallica

As Evanescence prepares to join Metallica for the Australian and New Zealand leg of the legendary metal band’s M72 World Tour, frontwoman Amy Lee reflects on the magnitude of the moment, the band’s ongoing legacy, and their latest creative projects — including a cinematic new single and a string of career-defining performances.

“We’re Just Going to Bring It”: Evanescence Joins Metallica Down Under

In a recent interview with Pablo from Minneapolis radio station 93X, Amy Lee shared her thoughts on what it means for Evanescence to support Metallica on a stadium run — a first for the Arkansas-born rock band.

“I’m not scared at all,” Lee said. “We’ve played venues this big before, but usually as part of festivals. This time, it’s different — it’s their show. Metallica fans are going to be pumped. But I also know how intense they can be. I’ve been in this game for a while. I know what I have to bring, and what not to play,” she added with a laugh. “We’re just going to bring it and have a blast.”

Lee also highlighted a personal connection to the region through bassist Emma Anzai, who hails from both Australia and New Zealand. “It’s really special for her,” Lee said. “How badass is it to go home and say, ‘I’m opening for Metallica tonight’?”

The Australia–New Zealand leg of the M72 tour kicks off on November 1, 2025, at Optus Stadium in Perth, followed by stops in Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Sydney, before wrapping up on November 19 at Eden Park in Auckland. The tour also features Suicidal Tendencies as a support act alongside Evanescence.

Cinematic Collaborations: “Fight Like a Girl” and Beyond

Beyond touring, Evanescence has also made waves with their new collaboration alongside alt-rock artist K.Flay. Their track, Fight Like a Girl, was released with an official music video tied to Ballerina, the latest spin-off film in the John Wick universe. The track plays over the end credits of the film, which is now in theaters and available via PVOD.

The video was directed by Chad Stahelski, the filmmaker behind the John Wick series and a producer of Ballerina. The song was co-written by Lee, K.Flay, producer Tyler Bates (who also composed the film’s score), and Dylan Eiland. It follows the release of Hand That Feeds, Lee’s earlier high-energy collaboration with Halsey, which debuted in May.

The band is also scheduled to appear at major events later this year, including the Louder Than Life Festival, as well as select dates on My Chemical Romance’s Black Parade tour, ahead of their support role on Metallica’s international stadium trek.

Twenty Years Later, Fallen Still Rises

It’s been more than two decades since Evanescence reshaped the rock landscape with their 2003 debut, Fallen. At a time when male-dominated nu-metal and post-grunge acts ruled the charts, Evanescence stood apart with orchestral flourishes, piano-driven ballads, and Lee’s signature voice. Fallen became a generational touchstone and a commercial juggernaut.

The album sold over 141,000 copies in its first week, peaking at No. 3 on the Billboard 200, where it remained in the Top 10 for 43 weeks. It quickly went platinum, topped charts across the U.K., Canada, and Australia, and produced global hits like Bring Me to Life and My Immortal. The former reached the Top 10 in over 15 countries and dominated multiple U.S. radio formats, while the latter became a fan-favorite ballad worldwide.

At the 2004 Grammy Awards, Evanescence earned five nominations, winning Best New Artist and Best Hard Rock Performance. A year later, My Immortal received a nod for Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group.

As of today, Fallen remains one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century, with over 17 million copies sold globally. In 2022, it received diamond certification from the RIAA. The Bring Me to Life video has surpassed 1.2 billion views on YouTube, making it one of the most-watched rock videos ever.

Since their debut, Evanescence has released five studio albums, including the multi-platinum The Open Door (2006) and their self-titled Evanescence (2011), both of which topped the Billboard 200. In 2021, the band returned with The Bitter Truth, their first album of new material in a decade.

Their current lineup — Amy Lee (vocals, keyboards), Tim McCord (guitar/bass), Will Hunt (drums), Troy McLawhorn (guitar), and Emma Anzai (bass, backing vocals) — continues to perform to massive audiences worldwide. Their recent show at Allianz Parque in São Paulo drew 40,000 fans, the largest headlining performance in the band’s history.

Their latest single, Afterlife, from the Netflix anime series Devil May Cry, has also proven to be a breakthrough moment. With over 20 million streams and 10 million YouTube views in just a few weeks, it is now the fastest-moving single of their career.