Evanescence is an American rock band from Little Rock, Arkansas. The band was founded in 1998 by singer/pianist Amy Lee and guitarist Ben Moody.

The band has faced many departures during the last five years, including co-founder Moody in 2003, and guitarist John LeCompt and drummer Rocky Gray in 2007; Lee is now the only original member of Evanescence.

The band released their first full-length album, Fallen, on Wind-up Records in 2003. Fallen sold more than 15 million copies worldwide and helped the band win two Grammy Awards. In 2004, Evanescence released their first live album, Anywhere but Home, which sold more than one million copies worldwide. In 2006, the band released their second studio album, The Open Door, which has sold more than four million copies.

A definite definition for Evanescence's musical style is disputed. Their musical style is alternative rock and alternative metal influenced by many genres such as gothic rock and metal, symphonic rock and metal, and piano and arena rock. More defined on Fallen than The Open Door, Evanescence also mixes in electronica with their sound by utilizing synthesizers and programming, which can be heard on various songs, especially "Haunted", "Tourniquet", "Going Under" and "Snow White Queen". They have been referred to as a Christian rock band by some media and fans; however, the band has publicly declared that they do not want to be classified as such. Simple rock sounds are found on "Weight of the World," and gothic metal appears on "My Last Breath," "Haunted," "Lose Control," "Snow White Queen," and "Lacrymosa." Choir arrangements, all by the Millennium Choir, are performed on Fallen's "Haunted" and "Whisper," and The Open Door's "Lacrymosa." Amy Lee has said that her influences include Bjork and Sara Machlachlan, while guitarist Balsamo is apparently influenced by bands such as Pantera. The band has also been compared to Italy's Lacuna Coil and Dutch symphonic metal band Within Temptation.