Amy Lee Says One Song on Evanescence’s New Album ‘Sanctuary’ Was Inspired by ‘Fallen’

Amy Lee Reflects on Evanescence’s Early Years

As anticipation continues to build for Evanescence’s upcoming album Sanctuary, Amy Lee has opened up about how revisiting the band’s past unexpectedly shaped one of the record’s new songs.

In a new interview featured in Rock Sound Issue 319, Lee revealed that the track “Forever Without You” was deeply influenced by revisiting material from Evanescence’s 2003 debut album Fallen.

“Going through old audio, old video, watching old music videos, listening to demos of songs when we were still doing it ourselves. It was a lot of feelings for me,” Lee explained.

“And I did end up right out of that writing this one particular song that feels like it had to be 20 years later for me to be in the place to write it.”

A New Perspective on ‘Fallen’

Lee also reflected on how her perspective on Fallen has evolved over time, especially while working with new collaborators who grew up loving the album.

“I’m able to see everything from back then with more of a lens of love now,” she said.

“Part of that has come from me going through it all, but then another part of it has come through working with these new collaborators who love our music and love ‘Fallen’ and see it through a different lens.”

She continued by saying that she has often viewed the band’s past through a more critical perspective. Now, she feels more at peace with embracing every part of that era.

“There is a little bit of an emotional component where I’m finally in a place where there’s no running from it anymore. It’s all of it. All that I’ve always been, all the things that I didn’t know I loved about it. I’m able to see them through a new lens of love.”

‘Sanctuary’ Releases June 5

Sanctuary will be released on June 5, 2026. The album’s lead single “Who Will You Follow” arrived on April 10, 2026.

Fans have already started speculating about how much of Evanescence’s classic sound may return throughout the record.

The comments from Amy Lee suggest that Forever Without You could become one of the album’s most emotional and reflective moments, connecting Evanescence’s past with where the band is today.

Amy Lee • Evanescence

Amy Lee Opens Up About Sanctuary: “We’ve Been Obsessing Over This Music”

Evanescence are officially entering a new era with their upcoming sixth studio album, Sanctuary, and according to Amy Lee, the journey to this release has been deeply personal and long in the making.

In a recent interview Abe Kanan of Audacy Music highlighted by Blabbermouth, Lee shared just how meaningful this album is after years of work behind the scenes.

A project years in the making

Sanctuary did not come together overnight. The album has reportedly been in development for over three years, evolving through different creative phases and emotional moments.

Lee described the process as intense but rewarding, explaining that revisiting the finished album now feels overwhelming in the best way. She expressed pride in the final result and emphasized how much effort and passion went into every detail.

More than just a collection of songs, the album became a creative outlet during uncertain times, allowing her to process emotions and channel them into something powerful and meaningful.

Music as an emotional outlet

Throughout the writing and recording process, Lee leaned heavily on music as a way to cope with things that felt out of control. She explained that working on Sanctuary helped her transform those feelings into something hopeful and connective.

That emotional depth has always been a core part of Evanescence’s sound, and this new era appears to continue that tradition while pushing the band forward creatively.

“Obsessed” with the final result

One of the most striking takeaways from the interview is just how invested Lee has been in this album. She said the band has been “obsessing over” the music for a long time, which reflects how deeply connected they are to the project.

That level of dedication suggests Sanctuary could be one of the band’s most refined and intentional releases yet.

The next chapter begins

The release of Sanctuary marks the next major chapter for Evanescence. Alongside the album rollout, the band has also shared new material, including the single “Who Will You Follow”.

With the album set to arrive on June 5th, anticipation continues to build as fans prepare for what could be one of the band’s most impactful releases yet.