Evanescence’s Sanctuary Reaches No. 1 on the U.S. iTunes Albums Chart

Just one day after its release, Evanescence’s sixth studio album Sanctuary has reached the top of the U.S. iTunes Albums Chart, marking a major achievement for the band and their dedicated fanbase.

As of June 6, Sanctuary is listed at No. 1 on Apple’s U.S. iTunes Albums Chart. Chart tracking sites PopVortex and Kworb both show the album performing strongly on iTunes.

The album’s strong performance is not limited to the U.S. According to Kworb’s worldwide iTunes rankings, Sanctuary has also reached No. 1 in several international markets and is charting strongly across Europe, Australia, and Latin America.

While iTunes rankings are based on digital album purchases through Apple’s store and do not include streaming activity, reaching No. 1 remains a significant accomplishment. The achievement highlights the continued support of Evanescence fans around the world and demonstrates strong demand for the band’s first studio album since 2021’s The Bitter Truth.

Released on June 5, 2026, Sanctuary features the single “Who Will You Follow” and has already received positive reviews from music critics. The album’s early chart success follows months of anticipation leading up to its release.

Whether Sanctuary can translate its strong digital sales into a high debut on the Billboard charts remains to be seen, but its immediate impact on the iTunes charts is an encouraging sign for the band.

Evanescence • Sanctuary

Early Reviews Praise Evanescence’s Sanctuary

With just days to go until the release of Sanctuary on June 5, early reviews for Evanescence’s sixth studio album are beginning to appear, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive.

One of the first published reviews comes from Metal Planet Music, which awarded the album an impressive 9/10 rating, praising the band’s willingness to evolve while still maintaining the core sound that has defined Evanescence for more than two decades. According to the review, Sanctuary is one of the band’s most adventurous releases yet, blending heavy guitars, electronic elements, cinematic atmosphere, and Amy Lee’s unmistakable vocals into a fresh and ambitious collection of songs.

Other early reviews have echoed similar sentiments. Kerrang! described the album as another example of Evanescence’s “quality over quantity” approach, highlighting its dramatic and cinematic style. Meanwhile, Metal Hammer called Sanctuary the band’s most vital album in years, praising its modern production, heavier edge, and confident songwriting.

The album features twelve tracks, including the singles “Who Will You Follow” and “Afterlife”, and marks Evanescence’s first full studio album since The Bitter Truth in 2021.

With multiple reviewers praising its ambition, energy, and contemporary sound, Sanctuary is shaping up to be one of the most celebrated Evanescence releases in recent memory. Fans will finally be able to hear the full album when it arrives on June 5.

Here at AmyLeeFans.com, we’re incredibly excited for the release and can’t wait to experience the album alongside fans around the world. After years of anticipation, Sanctuary is almost here, and June 5 can’t come soon enough.

Spoiler Warning

This article is spoiler-free, but some of the full reviews linked below may contain discussion of individual songs, lyrics, themes, and other album details. If you want to experience Sanctuary completely fresh on release day, you may wish to avoid reading the full reviews until after you’ve had a chance to listen.

Don’t Forget the Listening Party

Fans can also join Evanescence’s official Sanctuary Listening Party to celebrate the album’s release with fellow fans around the world. Registration is now open through the band’s official announcement. If you’re planning to listen on release day, be sure to sign up and take part in the celebration as Sanctuary finally arrives.

Register for the Sanctuary Listening Party

Evanescence • Sanctuary

Evanescence Shares “Who Will You Follow” Behind The Scenes Video

Evanescence have released a new behind the scenes look at the making of their latest music video, “Who Will You Follow.”

In a post shared on X, the band thanked fans for the overwhelming support the video has received since its release and directed fans to a new making-of feature now available on their official YouTube channel.

“The amount of love we’ve received for our new music video for ‘Who Will You Follow,’ directed by Jensen Noen, has been unbelievable. THANK YOU!” the band wrote.

The behind the scenes video gives fans a closer look at how the music video came together, including filming moments, studio footage, and production clips featuring the band throughout the shoot.

“Who Will You Follow” is the lead single from Evanescence’s upcoming album Sanctuary, set for release on June 5, 2026. The song’s official music video has continued gaining momentum online following its recent debut.

Fans can watch the full making-of video on Evanescence’s official YouTube channel here:

Evanescence • Sanctuary

Evanescence announce “Who Will You Follow” music video premiere

Evanescence have officially announced that the music video for their new single “Who Will You Follow” will premiere tomorrow, following a teaser posted across the band’s social media accounts. The track is the lead single from their upcoming album Sanctuary, due out June 5.

After weeks of anticipation, Evanescence have officially confirmed that the music video for their latest single, Who Will You Follow, will premiere tomorrow.

The announcement was made through the band’s social media accounts alongside a dark and cryptic teaser for the upcoming video, featuring the line: “The rats in the wall are already coming through…” The short clip immediately sparked excitement among fans, many of whom have been eagerly awaiting the visual companion to the song since its release in April.

“Who Will You Follow” serves as the lead single from Evanescence’s upcoming sixth studio album, Sanctuary, which arrives June 5, 2026. The song has already continued to gain momentum online and across streaming platforms, becoming one of the band’s fastest-growing releases in recent years.

The upcoming music video will mark the first official visual release from the Sanctuary era and is expected to expand on the dark imagery and themes teased throughout the album campaign so far.

Watch the teaser announcement below:

“The rats in the wall are already coming through…” Tomorrow — Evanescence (@evanescence) VIA

Fans can also stream “Who Will You Follow” now on all major streaming platforms ahead of the video premiere tomorrow.

Amy Lee • Evanescence

Amy Lee Opens Up About Sanctuary: “We’ve Been Obsessing Over This Music”

Evanescence are officially entering a new era with their upcoming sixth studio album, Sanctuary, and according to Amy Lee, the journey to this release has been deeply personal and long in the making.

In a recent interview Abe Kanan of Audacy Music highlighted by Blabbermouth, Lee shared just how meaningful this album is after years of work behind the scenes.

A project years in the making

Sanctuary did not come together overnight. The album has reportedly been in development for over three years, evolving through different creative phases and emotional moments.

Lee described the process as intense but rewarding, explaining that revisiting the finished album now feels overwhelming in the best way. She expressed pride in the final result and emphasized how much effort and passion went into every detail.

More than just a collection of songs, the album became a creative outlet during uncertain times, allowing her to process emotions and channel them into something powerful and meaningful.

Music as an emotional outlet

Throughout the writing and recording process, Lee leaned heavily on music as a way to cope with things that felt out of control. She explained that working on Sanctuary helped her transform those feelings into something hopeful and connective.

That emotional depth has always been a core part of Evanescence’s sound, and this new era appears to continue that tradition while pushing the band forward creatively.

“Obsessed” with the final result

One of the most striking takeaways from the interview is just how invested Lee has been in this album. She said the band has been “obsessing over” the music for a long time, which reflects how deeply connected they are to the project.

That level of dedication suggests Sanctuary could be one of the band’s most refined and intentional releases yet.

The next chapter begins

The release of Sanctuary marks the next major chapter for Evanescence. Alongside the album rollout, the band has also shared new material, including the single “Who Will You Follow”.

With the album set to arrive on June 5th, anticipation continues to build as fans prepare for what could be one of the band’s most impactful releases yet.