Evanescence is Amy Lee.
In fact, she is the only remaining founding member.
That means we are really looking for artists like Amy Lee, when we look for other bands like Evanescence.
And there is no one else quite like Amy.
But there are other amazing female artists who front their own bands with similarities to Evanescence.
There are some great male-fronted groups who fit the mold too.
Keep reading for a rundown of the best bands that sound like Evanescence.
Table of Contents
Bands That Sound Like Evanescence
Delain
Out of all female-fronted metal bands, Delain really stands out. The band was originally formed back in 2002 with only keyboard player Martijn Westerholt remaining from the original lineup.
In 2021, the band’s lineup dissolved, with Martijn turning it into his solo project. However, the fans will still remember Delain for vocalist Charlotte Wessels who contributed her awesome musicianship, helping create the band’s unique style.
Overall, their style can be described as symphonic metal. But there are a lot of other elements in there. A lot of their stuff is pretty catchy and we can certainly draw parallels between Delain and Evanescence.
Within Temptation
Like Delain, Within Temptation is also a successful symphonic metal band from the Netherlands. However, their beginnings go way back to 1996.
Vocalist Sharon den Adel, guitarist and vocalist Robert Westerholt, and bass guitarist Jeroen van Veen have been the constant members since Within Temptation’s formation.
The band’s debut album Enter from 1997 had some serious doom metal elements in it. But overall, the band kept the gothic metal approach on most of their releases. And, of course, Within Temptation are best-known for Sharon den Adel’s unique vocals.
It’s also worth noting that Martijn Westerholt of Delain was the band’s original keyboard player. So these two bands have some serious similarities between them.
Nightwish
Of course, it’s impossible not to mention Nightwish on this list. The band actually reinvented the whole approach to metal music. And they did it long before bands like Babymetal (who, in fairness, kind of did it again).
They originally started back in 1996 with Emppu Vuorinen on guitars, Tuomas Holopainen on keyboards, and the magnificent Tarja Turunen on vocals.
Although she wasn’t a metal fan, Tarja’s operatic voice blended in perfectly. There are a total of five albums with her leading the way. Classics like Wishmaster, Nemo, and Wish I Had an Angel will always be remembered for her voice.
However, the band went through several lineup changes, including hiring new singers. After parting ways with Tarja, they got together with Anette Olzon, recording two albums before parting ways with her as well. At this point, they’re fronted by Floor Jansen and her powerful voice.
Hollywood Undead
Although not female-fronted and a rap metal band, Hollywood Undead came to prominence around the same time as Evanescence. They’re a band that could fall into the nu metal movement of the late 1990s and the 2000s.
If you like Evanescence, but are looking for something with more edge, then they’re worth checking out.
Since their formation in 2005, the band has been led by Jorel “J-Dog” Decker. He’s the primary creative force and he covers most of the instruments.
They have seven albums and several other releases under their belt. Notes From the Underground is a pretty great record so you can start there.
Lacuna Coil
Now we’re heading over to Milan, Italy to check out Lacuna Coil. They’re one of the groups that changed metal during the late 1990s and the 2000s, delivering their unique blend with gothic rock. At this point, they’re best-known for Cristina Scabbia’s awesome vocals.
Between 1999 and today, they’ve released a total of nine full-length albums and two EPs. And, of course, you can expect a lot of similar elements that we hear with Evanescence. However, they’re a bit heavier and darker in a way, but it’s highly likely that you’ll enjoy their stuff if you’re into Evanescence.
Halestorm
If you like something that gravitates more towards classic hard rock and metal, then we suggest that you check out Halestorm. Fronted and led by Lzzy Hale, the group is inspired by some of the biggest names that pioneered metal, including Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Deep Purple.
However, there’s still of a more modern twist to their works. You can get started with pretty much any of the group’s four albums and numerous EPs.
I Miss the Misery from their second full-length studio album The Strange Case of… from 2021 is probably the group’s biggest song. So this would be the safest way to get into them.
Paramore
If you’re tired of heavier stuff and want to get into some pop rock, Paramore would be a good way to go. After all, they have some obvious rock elements in there. On the other hand, their music is a lot softer and has a very ambiental feel to it.
Vocalist Hayley Williams is pretty much the leader of the band, including Paramore’s creative process. From their formation in 2004 and up until now, they’ve released five full-length albums and five EPs.
There’s a lot of stuff to check out in there. Decode seems to receive the most attention among music fans.
What’s also really great about Paramore is their diversity and accessibility. You can find anyone from metal to mainstream pop fans enjoying their music.
Flyleaf
Flyleaf is not a band that you hear that often. However, this doesn’t take away from their greatness. And they’re often popular among fans of Evanescence and other female-fronted rock and metal bands.
Coming from Texas, they’ve been active since 2002 and are currently on a hiatus that started in 2016. But we’d definitely like to hear them do something again.
The band’s four albums and seven EPs had some pretty great stuff on it. Their lineup was mostly stable, apart from the departure of vocalist Lacey Sturm who was replaced by Kirsten May in 2012. May then left the band in 2016, which led the remaining members to announce a hiatus.
Nonetheless, they’re still remembered for both of these awesome vocalists. The stuff with Lacey Sturm is usually more popular, including their hit All Around Me.
Tristania
Coming from Norway, Tristania is a band that you should definitely check out. However, they’re a bit more specific and some of their material might be too dark for some. But if this is something that you’re looking for, then go ahead and check them out!
The debut album Widow’s Weeds, with Vibeke Stene and Morten Veland on vocals, was pretty dark, going more towards doom metal, with some symphonic elements. The later efforts saw them changing their direction a bit, but there’s always some mingling with those Scandinavian metal substyles.
The Pretty Reckless
Now going on into some different subgenres, The Pretty Reckless are a group that takes Avril Lavigne’s style into some darker territories.
Coming from New York City, they’re fronted by Taylor Momsen who also does rhythm guitar parts. It’s pretty much her band as she’s the creative leader and the voice and face everyone remembers them for.
Similar to Halestorm, The Pretty Reckless goes more towards hard rock and classic metal. However, you can notice some pop elements as well. They’re a great choice if you want a more conventional approach to rock music with female vocals on top.
We Are The Fallen
Featuring former American Idol contestant Carly Smithson, We Are the Fallen are a gothic and symphonic metal band from Los Angeles, California.
If you’re a fan of Evanescence, you’re definitely going to love them. After all, their band name is inspired by Evanescence’s 2002 record Fallen. In fact, some would say that they’re way more energetic. But you be the judge of that.
Unfortunately, they’ve only released one studio album. And they haven’t had many live performances either. Nonetheless, there’s some pretty good stuff on 2010’s Tear the World Down.
Ghost
Interestingly enough, Ghost came to prominence by bringing classic hard rock and metal back into the spotlight. The band is led by Swedish musician Tobias Forge who presents himself through different pseudonyms. In fact, these are all characters that are part of the band’s lore.
All of the other members are pretty much backing musicians and are referred to as “nameless ghouls,” with each of them represented with a symbol rather than actual names. This puts Tobias into the role of creative leader.
Ghost have four albums and three EPs, all filled with some great stuff. There aren’t any fillers and the music is appealing to fans of many different genres. We’re sure that you’ll like them.
Linkin Park
The rise of nu metal and the fusion with other styles of music pretty much marked the 2000s. But probably the biggest name to come out of all this is Linkin Park. There’s not much to say about the band other than that they changed the game in the genre.
With well over 100 million records sold worldwide, Linkin Park remain one of the biggest names in the world of music. Unfortunately, Chester Bennington’s tragic passing stopped the band’s work. Nonetheless, their legacy remains and they’re thinking about releasing new stuff.
Bands Like Evanescence: Final Thoughts
Many of the bands listed above have female lead singers, just like Evanescence. That is, after all, one of the defining characteristics. A strong female lead singer who is also the creative force behind the band.
But there are a few male-fronted bands in there as well. They were included because they have a similar style and sound to Evanescence. Of course, we probably missed a few other great artists.
Please feel free to let us know of any bands we should have included, or if you disagree with any of our inclusions. We always love to hear from you!
And if you’re a fan of Evanescence, you might be interested t know that we included one of their songs in our list of songs about bad friends. Can you guess which one we included?
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