Review Summary: Facing the weight of the world
Perhaps it was an inevitability that we were to be graced with an Evanescence album in 2026. Perhaps this band could have simply faded into obscurity after The Bitter Truth and descended into the shadows of its' chart-topping debut, struggling to maintain its' dominance over a genre that they breathed new life into back in 2003 with
Fallen. Alt rock has never quite been the same, a whirlwind of drummers and guitarists and vocalists, all donning their black leather pants and straps and chokers, slicked back hair and heavy face makeup, trying to come as close to a cunt hair of the haunting and deeply personal sound of the pilgrims of adolescent alt opera that dominated radios and Walkmans and iPods and Zunes of the early 2000's. Evanescence has certainly been a nail in every 2x4 and every corner of a coffin of the sound. Yet here we are in 2026, gray and sullen, carrying on, only to be pulled in once again by the incredibly talented Amy Lee and her ensemble of alt-rock members that seem to differentiate themselves from the pack in
Sanctuary, declaring that this opera deserves to be heavy, emotional, and a triumph over the genre, and ambitiously, their own mold.
Sanctuary continues that familiar orchestrated sound that tugs at the heartstrings, while bringing in a heavy and at times whimsical sound to the genre that deserve a standing ovation in its ingenuity. Pick scraping, harmonic galloping, and then enrapturing piano give way to solemn lyrics only Amy could deliver, her voice absolutely
soaring among the ensemble, like a priestess or a close friend, opening their heart to you, and then turning around to vent to you even further. The band has its cues in check, in intricate moments, like in "About Us" and "Rapture." Amy is back with a vengeance in this release, and the band both accentuates and gives way to her will, and it all lines up like a perforated post card stamp in the end result.
As wonderful and introspective as Amy can be, few songs this band has ever done comes close to the sheer attitude that "About Us" and the ironically named "Calm Down" conveys, the latter being an absolute star, a legendary mash up of air-punching excitement and jonesing for a serene and eloquent romp of calming and heavy alt-rock. At the risk of speaking sheer alt-rock blasphemy, "Calm Down" may be one of the best songs this band has ever made, and followed up with the vulnerable-yet-unashamed "Self Destruct", with its breaks of silky smooth strings and synths coupled with quick and tasteful breakdowns, has to be one of the best one-two punches I've ever heard.
A third punch, solemn and stealthy, comes in the form of "Forever Without You", makes the eyes cast downward and the heart soar, Amy taking the reigns in her usual fashion, hands on the piano and voice fearless and unrelenting, narrating a story while creating its' own waves that sail the ship ever onwards, serving as a respite from the constant crescendos and underlined statements. Her haunting and beautiful voice closing out the track, only to introduce "Wide Open Heart", a sonata and a requiem of release; letting ago. Facing the weight of the world with a wide open heart. It's here we get some of the most creative outros this band has ever done. A final heart-wrenching and inspiring call to the listener to prevail, prevail.
The 2020's have been a time of reflection for many, a time of
rejuvenation, and a time of hardship.
Evanescence seems all too aware of our collective attitudes, and "Sanctuary" feels like another empathetic hand reaching out to the listener, daring them to try and keep going, and also try and see the good and the potential redemption of our day to day lives. Amy Lee never falters here, and her ensemble seems more locked in than ever in their attempts to carry her messages and her feelings to the listener. As a seasoned listener of this band, "Sanctuary" is a warm and encapsulating hug, meant for not only fans of this band, but others looking for a lighthouse in the storm of our relationships and our lives.
