Sanctuary (Evanescence album)

In September 2024, the band stated that they would be entering the studio to record new music for their sixth studio album that November.^[1][2]

The album's fifth track, "Afterlife," from the Netflix animated series Devil May Cry, was released as a single on March 28, 2025. Amy Lee called it "the first of many" new songs that were to be released.^[3]

In December 2025, Lee stated that there would be a new Evanescence album released in 2026.^[4]

The album's title was announced in March 2026, and its artwork and tracklist were revealed. The lead single, "Who Will You Follow",^[5][6] was released on April 10 to positive reception.

Speaking about the album's title during an interview with Kerrang! on April 22, 2026, Lee revealed how she came up with it during a tour in Australia: "I said, 'This is our sanctuary, we find comfort and connection through the power of music.'"^[7] She further elaborated how with the record, she tried to raise the bar of how honest the music was as compared to preivous albums. Made in the midst of American president Donald Trump's re-election as US president, Lee revealed how the album came about when the band was stunned by the political turmoil in the country and wanted to channel the emotions of rage and anger into their songs, saying:

"Turn on the news and you can get inspired to write a heavy rock song with plenty of rage, especially as a woman. It's just really hard, because I'm not political. I don't want this. This was put upon us all. How we react and respond to this moment has nothing to do with if we want to be a 'political voice'. I absolutely do not, but I do want to rise to the moment. We don't have a choice. We've been forced into this situation where if we don't speak up and fight back against tyranny, against human rights violations, against blowing people up, we're next.”^[7]

Sanctuary is set to be released on June 5, 2026, through BMG Rights Management.^[8]

"Afterlife", the first song released from the album, was released on March 28, 2025 as part of the soundtrack of the adult animated series Devil May Cry.^[9][10] The album's second single, "Who Will You Follow", was released on April 10, 2026.^[11][12]

The album will be promoted by a headlining world tour set to begin on June 11, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Florida. Openers across select dates of the tour include K.Flay, with whom the band released the non-album single "Fight Like a Girl", from the soundtrack of Ballerina (2025);^[13] Spiritbox; Poppy; and Nova Twins.^[14]