June 30, 2026
Three Generations of Heavy Music Unite at Bell Centre as Evanescence Deliver a Spectacular Montreal Performance
Some tours feel like carefully curated packages, and others just feel like statements. Evanescence’s current North American run is very much the latter, bringing together three bands that each challenge expectations of what heavy music can be. On June 30, Montreal’s Bell Centre played host to an evening that showcased the genre’s past, present and future with support from Nova Twins and Spiritbox.
What made the lineup even more significant was that all three bands are fronted by exceptional women. While female-fronted rock and metal bands are thankfully becoming far more common than they once were, a tour of this scale featuring three powerhouse female vocalists still feels refreshingly important. Rather than being marketed as a novelty, it simply highlighted what today’s heavy music scene has become; one where talent speaks louder than outdated stereotypes. Amy Lee, Courtney LaPlante along with Amy Love and Georgia South each command a stage in completely different ways, proving that heavy music has never been more diverse, inclusive or creatively fearless.
Nova Twins Kick Off the Evening in Explosive Fashion
If anyone in the Bell Centre wasn’t already familiar with Nova Twins, they certainly were by the end of their set.
The London, UK duo, consisting of vocalist/guitarist Amy Love and bassist Georgia South, have built a reputation for blending punk, rock, grime and alternative influences into a sound entirely their own. Their relentless energy immediately filled the arena, proving that you don’t need a massive production to command a room.
From the opening moments, the pair bounced effortlessly across the stage, feeding off one another while delivering crushing bass tones and infectious hooks. Their confidence was contagious, and although many in attendance had clearly arrived early for the headliners, Nova Twins left with what was undoubtedly a legion of new fans.
Spiritbox Continue Their Meteoric Rise
By the time Spiritbox took the stage, it was impossible to ignore just how far the Canadian metal powerhouse has come over the past few years.
Fronted by the phenomenal Courtney LaPlante alongside guitarist Mike Stringer, bassist Josh Gilbert and drummer Zev Rose, Spiritbox have rapidly evolved from rising stars into one of modern metal’s biggest success stories. Their 12-song set showcased exactly why.
Surprisingly, however, the Montreal crowd felt unusually reserved throughout much of the performance. Despite Stringer’s repeated attempts to coax more noise from the audience, the response remained oddly subdued for a band capable of producing such crushing heaviness.
But LaPlante remained unfazed. Midway through the set, she shared a personal story about recently completing an ancestry test, revealing that her family had lived in Quebec for more than 100 years. Although American-born, LaPlante has called Canada home for years, and the revelation earned warm applause and approving cheers throughout the arena.
Before closing, LaPlante dedicated ‘Holy Roller’ to both longtime supporters and those discovering Spiritbox for the first time. Then, with a grin, she introduced the final song, ‘Soft Spine’, as being dedicated to people she “fucking hates.” The arena finally erupted.
Evanescence Prove Greatness Doesn’t Fade
More than two decades after breaking into the mainstream, Evanescence continue to demonstrate why they’ve remained one of rock’s most enduring acts.
Amy Lee somehow sounds even stronger today than she did during the band’s early years. Her voice possesses an effortless combination of power, precision and emotion that few singers can match, effortlessly soaring above the band’s increasingly heavier musical direction.
The current lineup: front woman Amy Lee, guitarists Tim McCord and Troy McLawhorn, drummer Will Hunt and the mesmerizing Emma Anzai on bass, has become an exceptionally tight live unit, with their newer material embracing a noticeably heavier edge while never abandoning the band’s signature cinematic atmosphere.
The production perfectly matched the scale of the music. Towering flames erupted during heavier moments, confetti cannons transformed the arena into a celebration, and, perhaps most dramatically, Lee’s grand piano rose from beneath the stage for several of the evening’s most intimate performances.
The setlist balanced nostalgia with evolution beautifully. Classics such as ‘Going Under’ arrived surprisingly early as the fifth song, while ‘Call Me When You’re Sober’ had the Bell Centre singing every word. ‘Bring Me To Life’ naturally produced one of the night’s loudest reactions, but it was the haunting beauty of ‘My Immortal’, performed with Lee at her elevated piano, that created one of the concert’s most emotional moments.
One of the evening’s biggest highlights came during the 2026 anthem ‘Fight Like A Girl’, when Lee welcomed both Courtney LaPlante and Nova Twins to the stage. The collaboration carried an empowering message of solidarity and strength, transforming an already powerful song into one of the night’s defining moments as the Bell Centre erupted in approval.
Seeing the four female artists at the edge of the catwalk, united, felt symbolic beyond the song itself. It was a powerful image of three generations of female artists continuing to push heavy music forward, each inspiring a new wave of musicians who no longer have to wonder whether there’s a place for women in metal. They’re already helping define its future.
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After over twenty years, Evanescence continue to evolve without losing sight of what made them special in the first place. Supported by two of the most exciting modern heavy acts, this wasn’t simply a nostalgia trip, it was a celebration of where heavy music has been, where it is today, and where it’s heading next. More importantly, it served as a reminder that some of the genre’s most exciting voices, and its brightest future, belong to women who continue to redefine what heavy music is.
