Metro City Perth, 30 October 2025.
Review by Krystal Galloway
Photography by Sheldon Ang
When the side show to Metallica’s Perth date was announced, the internet erupted. Alarms were set, browsers refreshed, and in two breathless minutes, every ticket was gone. When the night finally came, Evanescence didn’t just arrive. They descended on Metro City, turning the venue into a cathedral of sound. This wasn’t just a side gig. It was a homecoming, a shared awakening twenty years in the making. Two nights later, Amy Lee and her band would stand before tens of thousands at Optus Stadium, opening for metal’s living legends. On this night, the crowd pressed close in the industrial-chic Thunderdome of Metro City Perth. The excitement in the air felt almost sacred.
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
This Metro City show was one of only three intimate headline performances the band would play while joining Metallica on the M72 World Tour. These shows in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney were golden tickets, a chance to experience Evanescence up close and personal before the stadium lights swallowed them whole. The anxiety over securing elusive tickets suddenly felt completely worth it. Metro City was a cathedral of sound, a sacred space to witness two decades of music and emotion distilled into one unforgettable performance.
Evanescence first exploded onto the world stage in 2003 with their debut album Fallen. Their mix of heavy guitars, soaring piano, and Amy Lee’s unforgettable voice made them instantly impossible to ignore. Over the years the band has released five studio albums, picked up two Grammy Awards, and earned a rare Diamond certification for Fallen. Their songs still hit just as hard today as they did when we first memorised the lyrics in high school.
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
This marks the band’s fourth time in Perth, following visits in 2004, 2007, and 2023. Thursday night, Perth had the rare privilege of witnessing Evanescence in a way few others in Australia would see.
The shift from pre-show buzz to full-throttle Evanescence was pure Metro City mayhem. The floor was packed tight, every inch claimed by fans desperate for the best view. Shoulder to shoulder, hearts pounding, waiting for that first note, and when it hit, the room came alive. Then the lights dropped. Rage Against The Machine’s Killing in the Name unexpectedly blasted through the speakers. The entire venue went wild with the collective chant “f**k you, I won’t do what you tell me.” It was the perfect cathartic release before the main event.
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
The stage exploded in beams of blinding yellow and deep moody magenta as the band strode out, and the crowd erupted. Afterlife opened the night, a cinematic surge of sound. The guitars of Troy McLawhorn and Tim McCord were a crushing wave, Will Hunt’s drumming drove the rhythm with unstoppable force, while Emma Anzai on bass traded looks of power with Amy Lee, creating a brilliant moment of hometown pride. Amy commanded the stage with fierce elegance, her long dark hair flowing with every note, radiating the dark, soaring power she is known for. “What’s up, Perth? Are you ready to have some fun?” she asked. Amy’s opening notes slammed into the room with urgent, raw intensity, enchanting and shattering all at once. Every fiber of her being channeled the music, a masterclass in vocal power.
The set continued with What You Want and one of the well-known hits; Going Under. A perfect one-two punch of essential Evanescence energy. Call Me When You’re Sober reminded us of how many hits have been released over the years. Newer anthems like Wasted On You felt written for this room, for this moment. Amy transitioned to the keyboard for Yeah Right, and the crowd responded, bellowing out the lyrics with her. “I’m having a good time,” she confirmed, smiling at the energy around her.
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Amy shared a personal story about her early days, admitting she used to be scared of the piano. Then she threw a massive shout-out to the fans: “Let’s take it back to 2003!” Lithium, Felt Like a Girl and Imaginary followed, and the audience sang every word, a collective choir within the cathedral-like venue. During USE MY VOICE, the crowd chanted in unison, a synchronised release of energy that made the night feel sacred.
The night moved toward its emotional peak with My Immortal. Amy’s voice floated delicately over the crowd, each word hanging in stillness as hundreds of phone lights illuminated each of the 3 levels of the venue. This moment was devastatingly beautiful, a collective release and glowing proof of the music’s enduring power. The final song, the one we all had been waiting for Bring Me To Life exploded through the venue. The reaction was staggering. Every fan sang as if their lives depended on it. Amy Lee commanded the song with ferocity and grace, backed by the full band. The walls of Metro City pulsed with the combined voices of hundreds, lifting the song into something almost sacred. The energy surged, crashing over the audience in waves.
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
As the final notes rang out, awe, exhaustion, and joy filled the room. Metro City had become a temple of rock. From the crushing guitars of Afterlife to the torchlit reverence of My Immortal, the night was a definitive statement on the enduring power of Evanescence. We witnessed stadium-sized energy poured into a small, intimate space, delivered by a Theatrical Rock Queen whose voice is pure, shattering force backed by a band that gives the world a soft, gentle edge to a heavy genre of music.
My sincere thanks to Sheldon Ang Media for the opportunity to cover this unforgettable night. The intimate venue and rare closeness will be remembered forever.
Verdict: 11/10
Sheldon Ang Media would like to thank Dallas Does PR, Destroy All Lines, TEG Live and Evanescence for the media accreditation.
Evanescence in Sideshow Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
EEvanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence in Sideshow Perth 2025. Photo: ShEvanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence in Sideshow Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence in Sideshow Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025. Photo: Sheldon Ang / Sheldon Ang Media
Setlist of Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025
Evanescence Intimate Headline Show in Perth 2025
Afterlife – The Bitter Truth (2021)
What You Want – Evanescence (2011)
Going Under – Fallen (2003)
Yeah Right – The Bitter Truth (2021)
Call Me When You’re Sober – The Open Door (2006)
The Change – The Bitter Truth (2021)
The Other Side – Evanescence (2011)
Wasted on You – The Bitter Truth (2021)
Lithium – The Open Door (2006)
Fight Like a Girl – Evanescence (2011)
Take Cover – The Bitter Truth (2021)
End of the Dream – Evanescence (2011)
Better Without You – The Bitter Truth (2021)
Imaginary – Fallen (2003)
Use My Voice – The Bitter Truth (2021)
Blind Belief – The Bitter Truth (2021)
My Immortal – Fallen (2003)
Bring Me to Life – Fallen
About the writer: Krystal Galloway lives and breathes music, finding her happy place in the sea of fans who come together to experience the magic of live performances. After attending her first concert – Justin Timberlake – her enthusiasm turned into a lifelong hobby. She has since seen over 100 of her favorite acts, including global superstars like KISS, Eminem, Foo Fighters, Blink 182, Usher, Nelly, Ne-Yo and Chris Brown, along with Australian favorites like The Screaming Jets, The Angels, Birds of Tokyo, Cold Chisel, and Bliss & Eso—just to name a few—all in her home city of Western Australia. With this extensive concert experience, Krystal has developed a deep appreciation for the artistry behind live performances, gaining a unique perspective on the dedication and energy that goes into every show.
About the Photographer: The founder of Perth-based Sheldon Ang Media (est. May 2022) has been accredited to more than 200 of the hottest acts including Taylor Swift (ERAS Tour in Sydney), Coldplay (Perth), Backstreet Boys, KISS, Iron Maiden, RHCP, P!NK and Suzi Quatro with reviews shared by the likes of Belinda Carlisle, Roxette, Tina Arena, UB40, Delta Goodrem, Leo Sayer and Tina Arena on social media. He has interviewed rockers Suzi Quatro, Ace Frehley (KISS), John Steel (The Animals), Frank Ferrer (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Andrew Farris (INXS), plus over 70 artists. He’s also a contributor on Triple M Radio as a music journalist.
