For the 2026 season, the Accor Arena welcomes Evanescence on their Sanctuary World Tour. Arriving to defend their latest album, Amy Lee and her band spare nothing. To elevate this encounter, the group surrounded themselves with a bold and 100% female lineup: the pop metal phenomenon Poppy as a special guest, and a first support by the duo Nova Twins.
Nova Twins
No stranger to opening acts, NOVA TWINS seems to be the perfect group to warm up Bercy. The London duo delivers a 30-minute set that remains as energetic as it is creative, and even if their musical style contrasts with the headliner’s gothic lyricism, the audience is fairly receptive to the explosive blend of hip hop and punk.
On stage, Amy Love (vocals, guitar) leads with contagious energy, supported by bassist Georgia South. A true pedalboard queen, the latter crafts the entire sonic landscape without any backing track or synthesizer. In terms of setlist, the punchy “N.O.V.A” engages the crowd, while “Hummingbird” emerges as a pleasant live surprise, showcasing the technical prowess of the two musicians. After this brief passage, one hopes to see Nova Twins headline again soon at a more intimate date.
Poppy
The pit is already fairly full to welcome the evening’s guest of honor. Clad in her iconic white dress and armed with her sequined microphone, POPPY takes hold of the arena’s grand stage to unleash her modern and avant-garde metal. If the brief pauses between tracks betray a show that may be overly scripted, the setlist carefully balances the nuances of her discography (“Bruised Sky,” “Scary Mask”). The track “crystallised” captures the liveliest moment of the night; while the hypnotic “V.A.N” (originally recorded with Bad Omens) highlights the breadth of her vocal range, while letting the musicians’ power shine through.
On “new way out,” Poppy issues a final request: to split the pit in two for a wall of death, worthy in her eyes of a true “live experience.” Despite a pit divided into two (the gold square demands it), the crowd obeys the princess’s commands, finishing the set with a flourish.
Evanescence
It is with the powerful “Sanctuary” that EVANESCENCE takes the stage. The eponymous track stands as an obvious opener for the show. We are drawn into Evanescence’s fused universe, welcomed at the heart of an emotional sanctuary, carried by the masterful voice of Amy Lee.
For this tour, the band’s latest album is heavily represented. About ten songs are performed, from the mighty “Afterlife” to the more intimate “Forever Without You.” The signature of Evanescence is all there: a unique blend of metal and symphonic piano. The group deftly alternates between heavy metal riffs and piano-and-vocal ballads, never breaking the energy of the spectacle.
When guitarist Troy McLawhorn steps to the front beside Amy Lee to launch the first riffs of the long-awaited “Going Under,” the arena erupts. A communion perfectly orchestrated by the singer, whose vocal power never wavers.
Yet the frontwoman never eclipses her bandmates. Bassist Emma Anzai, a member since 2022, has clearly become the second pillar of the group, also handling backing vocals. Meanwhile, the two guitarists Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord deliver headbangs, and even benefit from a lighting moment on a rising platform during the instrumental bridge of “Calm Down.”
Not surprisingly, the legendary “Bring Me To Life” stirs the audience’s energy for the night. Placed at the heart of the setlist rather than in the encore, this alt-rock anthem from the early 2000s remains as potent and is sung in unison by the crowd. Another highlight is undoubtedly the performance of the collaboration “End Of You,” which sees Poppy rejoin the stage to duet with Amy Lee on vocals. The union of the two metal queens is symbolic. The only worthy addition would have been Courtney LaPlante to complete the trio.
Finally, a large white drape falls in front of the stage. Alone at her piano, Amy Lee softly begins the opening notes of “My Immortal,” signaling the set’s end. A genuine moment of collective catharsis.
This date has surely confirmed Evanescence’s status as one of the most influential bands in alternative metal. Still capable of filling an arena without relying solely on past glories, the formation continues to reinvent itself and offer a true modernity to its audience.
