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Metal Chick of the Month – Laura Guldemond

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Lock, lock, lock her in the tower!

As the fires of summer continue to burn in the Northern Hemisphere, there’s nothing better than dedicating an entire article to one of our beloved Burning Witches, more specifically the one responsible for turning the band’s lyrics into sheer power and energy through her soaring, undisputed vocals. Not only a classy vocalist and frontwoman, she’s also a diehard metalhead, always ready to show her love for old school Heavy Metal, and always ready to rock our world with her incredible voice and charisma. Her name is Laura Guldemond, a crazy wild child and frontwoman for one of the must-see names of the current metallic scene, and once you know more about her career, her personal life, and her passion for heavy music, there’s certainly no turning back, as you’ll be under the spell of one of the most talented “witches” of the worldwide metal community. Having said all that, are you ready to be locked in the tower by the phenomenal Laura Guldemond here on The Headbanging Moose?

Born on July 31, 1988 in Zoetermeer, a city in the Western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland, Laura doesn’t exactly come from a family of musicians, but there was still a lot of music surrounding her in her early days. “It’s funny, because my parents weren’t into music, but my grandparents were musicians – they played the double bass and the violin. They travelled around playing music, and I guess the next generation was fed up with that, so it had to continue with me! My mum’s half-sister still plays the flute, too.” Although she could sing a little bit and was comfortable with some notes, she had to learn the high notes by taking singing lessons, and at one point she decided she wanted to become a professional singer. Then she went to a conservatory in Eindhoven called The Metal Factory to continue with her studies. “When I was about twenty years old, I decided to take things a little more seriously, and that’s when I started taking singing lessons. Later on, I decided that I had to study music somehow. I auditioned for the Haarlem conservatory and ended up in the preparatory course for it, but then I came across the Metal Factory, and I was part of the first batch of students there.”

Laura has been immersing herself in Heavy Metal and Hard Rock for most of her life, saying it was a big discovery for her when she was younger. “My parents never really went any heavier than Queen. Which I like, but then I discovered Within Temptation, and I loved it. That was probably mainly because it sounds a little mysterious. That’s what I liked about it, at least. When the time came that I had enough allowance to buy albums, I found W.A.S.P.’s Dying for the World right next to Within Temptation. I really like W.A.S.P. as well. From then on, I started listening to more and more different things. Quite quickly after that, I decided that I wanted to play guitar. And I did have a guitar, so I did try to play it, but I had no lessons, and I ended up giving up. I did already sing, and that’s what I kept doing,” she commented.

It was in 2019 when Laura joined the amazing Burning Witches, replacing the band’s original vocalist Seraina Telli, and she fit the blank spot perfectly with her undisputed vocal potency, being immediately embraced by the band’s diehard fanbase. That same year, she released her first song with the band, the excellent Wings of Steel, following by the EP Wings of Steel, also in 2019, and her first-ever full-length opus with the girls, Dance with the Devil, in 2020. That same year, the band released an EP titled Acoustic Sessions, followed by their full-length albums The Witch of the North (2021), The Dark Tower (2023), and more recently Inquisition (2025), all available on Spotify or any other streaming platform. Furthermore, you can also check Laura and the girls kicking ass on the official videos for songs like High Priestess of the Night, The Dark Tower, The Witch of the North, and Unleash the Beast, or check their official YouTube channel for those videos, full playlists and other content including interviews and live footage of all of their tours.

When Laura joined Burning Witches, she said they were all very welcoming, helping her overcome any initial challenges as she said she’s the type of person that needs a lot of time to get used to other people. There was of course a lot of rehearsal time required in the beginning until they all got used to Laura’s vocal style and vice-versa, but as expected there’s also a lot of fun involved in the overall process. “We go out to dinner sometimes, we hang out after rehearsals, so that is nice,” she commented, also having some nice words to say about the freedom she has while writing material for the band. “When it comes to writing my melodies and lyrics, I have a fairly large amount of freedom. Sometimes they come up with something they like, but even then, I am free to try something else, or we can discuss various ideas. It’s always fairly open. It kind of depends on how attached they are to the ideas they already have. There are plenty of times when there is no idea at all yet, and I can just make up whatever I like.”

Needless to say, the band’s diehard fans were all very welcoming when Laura became a member of Burning Witches, even when you take into account they already had two very solid albums released prior to her joining the band. Laura was actually more prepared for the feedback from the audiences than her bandmates in the end. “To be completely honest, I think it had been a much more emotional process for the rest of the band than it has for me. In a way, I had kind of already prepared myself for such reactions. The stories are out there. Like Tarja and Nightwish, for example. You still hear people complaining about that these days, which makes me think: guys, seriously, still? You know it is going to happen, and you know it is going to keep happening. So I was mentally prepared for that. Some of those people have returned, others haven’t. That’s just how things go.”

Before becoming the frontwoman for the indomitable Burning Witches, Laura was the vocalist for an array of very interesting bands and projects. It looks like her first Heavy Metal band was Utrecht, Netherlands-based Progressive Metal act Synergy Protocol, having played with them from 2013 until 2015, and having recorded their 2014 debut three-track demo. Around the same time, from 2014 to 2015, she was also the vocalist for Epic Rock Choir, a Netherlands-based group of singers specialized in major rock and metal opera projects like Arjen Anthony Lucassen’s The Theater Equation, and founded an Experimental and Electronic Rock and Metal project named Generation Lost together with Marco van der Hoorn, but nothing has ever been released under that flag.

The other two bands that Laura was a member of were Dordrecht, Netherlands-based Progressive Metal/Rock project Magoria, working as one of their vocalists between 2017 and 2018, and of course her main band before she joined Burning Witches, the excellent Eindhoven, Netherlands-based Symphonic Power Metal band Shadowrise, fronting the band from their inception back in 2009 until they split up in 2019 (one of the reasons being of course her full-time commitment with Burning Witches), having recorded with them the 2016 EP Escape from Shadow Island, and their 2018 self-titled full-length, both available on BandCamp and on Spotify.

Not only that, Laura can also be found as a guest musician in several different bands and projects, showcasing her absolute energy, dynamism and versatility, allowing her to sing basically any music genre you can think of. For instance, she was a guest vocalist on the song Valkyries in the Sky, from the 2024 album Gods of Metal (Year of the Dragon), by German/Italian Heavy Metal band All for Metal; choir vocals on the official video recording of the 2016 album The Theater Equation, by Dutch Progressive Metal/Rock icons Ayreon; vocals on the song Schwestern aus Stahl, from the 2025 Damokles, by German Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band Blindgänger; vocals on the song The Path That Never Ends, from the 2026 album Sons of the Abandoned, by Spanish Melodic Death Metal outfit Bloodhunter; vocals on the song Back on the Streets, from the 2022 album Back on the Streets, by UK Power Metal band Chrysalïd; and vocals on the 2025 single Fierce, by Swiss Symphonic Metal band Deep Sun.

If you think this is it, you’ve got another thing coming, as Laura was also a guest vocalist on the song Receptor, from the 2025 album Receptor, by American Progressive Metal act Dissona; vocals on the song Poison Tears, from the 2025 album Unbreakable, by the indomitable Heavy Metal/Hard Rock duo Ellefson-Soto; vocals on the song False Faced Demon, from the 2022 album Inquisition, by Dutch Symphonic Metal band Epinikion; female vocals on the song Blind Souls, from the 2017 album The Endless River, by Jordanian Melodic Death Metal band Eternal Insomnia; vocals on the 2022 album Malleus Maleficarum, and on the Avatarium cover The Fire I Long For, from the 2023 album Ventus Metallum, by German Heavy/Power/Progressive Metal project FB1964; and vocals on the song For Blood & Glory, from the 2021 album Serpent Chariot, by Austrian Blackened Thrash Metal band Golden Blood.

Do you want some more? Well, Laura was also featured as a guest vocalist on the song Stand United, from the 2022 album Dealer of Souls, by Swiss Heavy/Power Metal band Gomorra; on the song All Women in Me, from the 2023 self-titled album by Dutch Progressive/Symphonic Metal band Heavenqueen; on the song Sleeper, from the 2025 album Gilgamesh, by Ukrainian Progressive Metal/Rock act Korypheus; vocals on the song The Great Masquerade, from the 2025 album Remnants of Rapture, by Canadian Heavy Metal outfit Lycanthro; on the song Alone, from the 2024 album Shadow Empress, by Progressive Metal warrior Nino Helfrich; backing vocals on the 2015 album Wayward Sanctuary, by the now defunct Dutch Progressive Metal/Rock project ReSolve; vocals on the song Your Time Has Come, from the 2024 album Blood of the Witches, by German Heavy Metal/Hard Rock guitarist Stephan Georg; choirs on the 2015 album The Diary, by Dutch Symphonic/Progressive Metal/Rock duo The Gentle Storm; vocals on the song Neverealm, from the 2026 album Neverealm, by Greek Heavy Metal band Valiant Sentinel; and vocals as one of the “Pirate Queens” on the song The Pirate Queens, from the 2022 album Lost, by Dutch Symphonic Power Metal project Woods of Wonders.

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As you can see, Laura is one of the best vocalist of the current Heavy Metal scene worldwide, with countless bands recruiting her as a special guest in their new albums, and of course with her career with the striking Burning Witches being the icing on the cake. However, it’s important to say that before being such an accomplished vocalist, she’s also a true metalhead, nurturing deep passion for the same rock and metal icons as any of us, as well as some of the most interesting names of the non-metal scene. “Lots of awesome metal bands have influenced me during the years. To name a few I listened to a lot as a teenager; Within Temptation, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Halestorm, Eluveitie, Death Angel and Kamelot. But also great contemporary singers like Sia, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. This is reflected in the versatility of my voice,” she commented.

When asked which song she loves the most in her life, her answer was the purest, most incendiary form of Heavy Metal you can think of. “I love Painkiller by Judas Priest because the drums start playing and you immediately feel the energy.” Moreover, she considers the one and only Metal God Rob Halford as a role model, saying he’s one of the people who’ve inspired her the most in terms of how she sings with Burning Witches now, as well as the indomitable Bruce Dickinson. “What I love is that he has so many songs with a lot of vocal dynamics. So I would say both he and Bruce Dickinson inspired me. I’ve heard Bruce a few times when people are listening from a bit further away and it sounds hyper-laden. I think it’s because I have a bit of memorization there too.” Dio is also a huge influence in her life, and the fact Burning Witches recorded a cover version for the all-time classic Holy Diver also shows how much she loves his unique voice.

Speaking of cover songs, Laura also maintains a really entertaining YouTube channel as her “solo project” (which you can also find alongside all of her other links and social media by clicking HERE), recording multiple cover songs with very special guests the likes of Courtney Cox and Sara Jolís as her support band, among other interesting videos. For example, you can enjoy Laura’s soaring vocals in killer cover songs including W.A.S.P.’s Wild Child (which is by the way one of the bands she used to listen to the most when she began listening to metal music), Iron Maiden’s The Trooper, Cradle of Filth’s  Nymphetamine Fix, AC/DC’s Highway to Hell, Slayer’s Raining Blood, Pantera’s Walk, and Judas Priest’s Painkiller, among several other incredible videos where she will melt your faces with her scorching, sharp vocals.

Speaking of her vocal technique and how she prepares for the intense life on the road, Laura, who currently uses a Neumann U 87 Ai (a legendary large-diaphragm FET condenser microphone, featuring cardioid, omnidirectional, and figure-8 polar patterns), mentioned in one of her interviews how difficult it is to bring to stage what’s recorded in the studio. “Recording a song is one thing, but singing it at the same level every night is a different matter.” Owner of very versatile and dynamic vocals, as already mentioned, she said she always enjoys trying new things with her voice. “The others in Burning Witches like it when my voice sounds relatively deep, so we have been playing around with lower keys in recent years,” she commented. “These days, I have been trying to learn to use vocal fry better than I could before. So who knows? Maybe I will be doing something with that in the future. But it has to get better first. Singing clean with a bit of distortion on it is something I know I can do well at this point. If I add something that doesn’t sound quite as good, and you can actually hear that difference in quality, it will just end up sounding weird.”

She also commented about the importance of maintaining a good health, in special when your voice is your instrument of work. “I am often afraid of getting a sore throat, so my main priority is keeping nice and warm. During summers, I hardly ever have a sore throat, but once winter rears its head, I have to be careful. And to be fair, during spring and autumn as well. Also, when I work out too hard, and my body gets tired, I get a sore throat as well. That is something to watch out for.” She also mentioned it’s extremely important to build up her stamina before a headlining tour starts, alternating between singing and resting until she’s warm enough for the band’s longer-than-usual sets. “Especially if I have just been on vacation, and I haven’t sung for a while. Then it truly is important to build up my stamina, as I’m really going to feel the difference once I have to do a longer set.”

This might sound repetitive, but Laura is not only an extremely talented vocalist; she’s also a vocal coach ready to help any newcomers to the world of singing with her professional and dynamic approach. You can find more details about Laura’s services as a vocal coach (in Dutch, English or German) on her official website, including the subtypes of services available such as singing lessons, workshops, and growling. “I always try to find ways to make them practice things step by step. There are certain techniques that require you to use a little more power, which means they are potentially more dangerous, as more power is a bigger burden on your vocal cords if you do it wrong. That’s why I try to explain things step by step, so they can actually warm up to it step by step, allowing them to do things properly from the moment they start to add more power to it.”

In the end, after witnessing Laura kicking some serous ass live for the first time earlier this year in Toronto, I felt the urge to write this tribute to such a phenomenal vocalist, and after knowing more about her and her focus and hard work to keep delivering high-quality Heavy Metal for the masses, we must all agree she’s more than just another frontwoman. She’s the epitome of heavy music, a woman that puts her heart and soul into her music, delivering breathtaking vocals with endless charisma it doesn’t matter if she’s singing with Burning Witches, if it’s recording a cover song for her YouTube channel, or if it’s as a guest for another rock and metal band. Laura will most certainly hypnotize you with her stunning vocals and screams, lock you inside her tower of Heavy Metal, as I warned you in the beginning of this tribute, and throw the key away. Well, I bet you’ll be more than happy when that happens.

Laura Guldemond’s Official Facebook page
Laura Guldemond’s Official Instagram
Laura Guldemond’s Official YouTube channel
Burning Witches’ Official Facebook page
Burning Witches’ Official Instagram
Burning Witches’ Official YouTube channel

“Lots of awesome metal bands have influenced me during the years. To name a few I listened to a lot as a teenager; Within Temptation, W.A.S.P., Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Halestorm, Eluveitie, Death Angel and Kamelot. But also great contemporary singers like Sia, Christina Aguilera and Beyonce. This is reflected in the versatility of my voice.” – Laura Guldemond

Album Review – Apolaustic / No Plenitude Without Suffering (2026)

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Behold the heartfelt, meticulously put together, pristine-sounding debut from a veteran musician that is bound to stand the test of time if only on the basis of the sheer quality of melodies contained within.

Brought into being by former Stortregn vocalist and guitarist Romain Negro as an outlet for him to express his personal vision, Switzerland-based Melodic Black/Death Metal entity Apolaustic (an adjective describing someone or something entirely devoted to enjoyment, pleasure-seeking, or self-indulgence) is ready to unleash hell with their debut offering, titled No Plenitude Without Suffering. Displaying a grim, caustic artwork by Romain Negro himself, and featuring session musicians Merlin Bogado (Dyssebeia) on the guitars and bass, and Nicolas Muller (Akiavel) on drums, No Plenitude Without Suffering is a heartfelt, meticulously put together, pristine-sounding debut from a veteran musician that is bound to stand the test of time if only on the basis of the sheer quality of melodies contained within.

Devouring the Past is absolutely infuriated, grim and vile from the very first second, with Nicolas sounding inhumane on drums, therefore offering Romain exactly what he needs to vociferate like a demonic entity. They keep the atmosphere as dense and devilish as possible in Fragments from a Misty Journey, a lecture in Melodic Black Metal by Romain and his henchmen, followed by Testimony of an Obsolescent World, which starts in a serene, melancholic manner before the trio destroys our souls mercilessly, with Merlin’s riffs and solos exhaling sulfur and hatred. And Romain and his horde go full Black Metal in Shining Amidst the Lights, offering a demonic wall of sounds led by the massive beats and fills by Nicolas, perfect for some wild headbanging in pitch black darkness.

After such a demolishing sonority, the trio offers the nocturnal, doom-ish interlude Smells Like Dead Autumn Fire, setting the tone for Black Flame Reviver, a seven-minute journey through the realms of Melodic Black and Death Metal presenting multiple layers and nuances, spearheaded by Romain’s devilish vociferations. De Feu et de Cendre, which translates to “of fire and ash” (a French phrase describing destruction, rebirth, or remnants left behind by fire) is another bold and detailed aria of extreme music by Apolaustic, with Merlin stealing the spotlight with a flawless guitar performance; before we face Peregrination Towards Childhood Memories, showcasing one final breath of demonic sounds by the band, closing the album on a venomous and climatic mode.

Described as a mix of profound, emotional melodies and “blackened extremity,” Apolaustic’s aesthetic and music aim for a balance of intensity and depth, often featuring intricate, melodic, and atmospheric passages alongside faster, more aggressive Black Metal sections, being therefore perfect for admirers of the classy music blasted by renowned acts the likes of Dissection, Naglfar, Sacramentum, Unanimated, Thulcandra, Stortregn, and Dyssebeia. You can get in touch with Romain and his fantastic new project via Facebook and Instagram, staying up to date with their news, plans for the future and so on, stream their phenomenal creations on Spotify, and put your putrid hands on No Plenitude Without Suffering from their own BandCamp, from Big Cartel (including some superb merch items), or from the Transcending Obscurity Records’ BandCamp, main store, US store or EU store. In the end, it’s safe to say that No Plenitude Without Suffering will feature among the best underground albums of 2026, and I can’t wait for more of the blackened magic crafted by Romain in a not-so-distant future.

Best moments of the album: Fragments from a Misty Journey, Shining Amidst the Lights, Black Flame Reviver and De Feu et de Cendre.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2026 Transcending Obscurity Records

Track listing
1. Devouring the Past 5:42
2. Fragments from a Misty Journey 5:14
3. Testimony of an Obsolescent World 5:03
4. Shining Amidst the Lights 5:50
5. Smells Like Dead Autumn Fire 0:57
6. Black Flame Reviver 7:02
7. De Feu et de Cendre 6:29
8. Peregrination Towards Childhood Memories 4:35

Band members
Romain Negro – vocals

Guest musicians
Merlin Bogado – guitars, bass (session)
Nicolas Muller – drums (session)

Metal Chick of the Month – Jamie Lee Cussigh

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Beware the blade, all Hail the Sacrifice!

As the days get shorter and the nights grow darker and colder, our metal lady of the month of November at The Headbanging Moose definitely had to represent all the heaviness that fills the air in preparation for the coming winter. She’s the epitome of underground heavy music, lending her raw and intuitive bass sound to amazing bands like Sacrifizer and Triumph of Death, always with a badass attitude, while at the same time also venturing through non-extreme lands like with her Coldwave project named Letten 94. Her name is Jamie Lee Cussigh, also known as SlaughterWytch or Dolorès, depending on which band she’s working on at a specific point in time, and she will kick your ass mercilessly with her more than thunderous bass lines.

Half Bulgarian and half Italian, but born in Switzerland (where she currently resides), Jamie nurtures a deep passion for all things heavy music from a very young age. “I started to listen to metal very young, around 11 or 12 years old and the first album I discovered and bought was the Kill Em All by Metallica. I started to play bass at 13.” Also a private music teacher, either online or in person, Jamie went to Conservatoire de Musique de Neuchâtel, in Switzerland, where she perfect her skills as a musician, which is probably one of the reasons why she can fluctuate between styles without any effort, always sounding sharp and in sync with the rest of the band she’s working with.

Her main band or project since 2019 has been undoubtedly Zurich, Switzerland-based Speed/Thrash/Black Metal entity Triumph of Death, Tom Gabriel Fischer aka Tom G Warrior’s personal tribute to his iconic band Hellhammer, with the name of the band being inspired by the infamous title-track of Hellhammer’s 1983 cult demo. The vast body of Hellhammer’s work remained unperformed for years, with Tom’s other bands Triptykon and Celtic Frost only playing a couple of songs here and there, until the inception of Triumph Of Death. Currently formed of the aforementioned Tom Gabriel Warrior on vocals and guitar, our diva Jamie Lee Cussigh on bass, André Mathieu also on the guitar, and Tim Iso Wey on drums, the band has already has played a number of highly acclaimed concerts, such as Hellfest (France), Wacken Open Air (Germany), Party.San (Germany), Brutal Assault (Czech Republic), Psycho Las Vegas (USA), Merry Christless (Poland), Inferno Festival (Norway), Maryland Deathfest (USA), UK Deathfest, and Mexico Metal Fest, among others.

“I was lucky to be contacted by Tom Gabriel Fischer and he gave me this big chance and opportunity. I also take this opportunity to express my gratitude to him. He’s a beautiful person and I’m very thankful to him,” commented Jamie, who also mentioned the release of new material when she joined the project. “It’s a long-term and permanent project. We will release live material (Hellhammer music) and likely eventually even a studio album with our own material in the style of Hellhammer.” Well, after that interview the promise of releasing live material has already become a reality with the release of the amazing live album Resurrection of the Flesh by the end of 2023, recorded during three festival performances in 2023 in Houston (United States), Munich (Germany) and Barroselas (Portugal). Some of the songs became official videos on their official YouTube channel, including the excellent Decapitator and Massacra, but the band also offers live footage from other festivals in their channel like the songs Massacra, Visions of Mortality, Aggressor and The Third of The Storms (Evoked Damnation), from their 2022 concert at Maryland Deathfest, and you can also click HERE to grab your favorite version of their live album.

Apart form Triumph of Death, Jamie can be found as the bassist for a fantastic French Blackened Speed/Thrash Metal band named Sacrifizer, in this case under the moniker SlaughterWytch, having joined the band a little after their inception back in 2017, and having already recorded with them the 2019 EP La Mort Triomphante, and more recently the full-length album Le Diamant de Lucifer, back in 2022, and both can be appreciated in full on Spotify. According to the band, they were “created after a midnight ritual”, and our dauntless SlaughterWytch alongside Sexumer on vocals, NightReaper and H.K.A. on the guitars, and Lethal on drums continues to pave a path of destruction with their only goal being “to spread the mighty words of our lord Lucifer.” I highly recommend a detailed listen at both their 2019 EP and their 2022 album, as both are ass-kicking beasts of blackened thrash, as you can easily see in this incendiary live version of Le Diamant de Lucifer.

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However, don’t think that Jamie is simply blasting the heaviest of sounds all the time with her bass, or that she only loves heavy music, as she has also been part of a very interesting Coldwave project called Letten 94 since 2019, going by the name of Dolorès in this case. “Letten 94 is a project we created with a friend, Freddy Van Ballast. I’m on vocals, bass and soon guitar and he plays synthesizers, samplers, drum machines etc.,” commented Jamie. This Swiss Coldwave duo takes a mental image of Letten (as the disused Letten station in Zurich was the largest open drugs scene in Europe in 1994), and more widely of Europe in the aftermath of the fall of the Berlin Wall, as a starting point to try to create electronic music which is sometimes aggressive and syncopated, sometimes dark and mysterious.

Letten 94 is a band that plays music for its own sake, carrying no political message, therefore having a zero-tolerance policy for racism and discrimination, such as discrimination based on gender, ability, or age. This includes all political ideologies that are extremist, totalitarian and/or oppose fundamental human rights, democracy, and the rule of law. Hence, you can enjoy Letten 94’s music in their official video for Empty Landscapes, listen to their other songs on Spotify, or click HERE for all things Letten 94. She was also involved with a French Black Metal horde named Myrkvid, playing bass with the band between 2019 and 2020, although she didn’t record anything with them. “The vocalist and guitarist, Myrk, is a friend of mine since a long time ago and he needed a new bass player. I played with them for a year but I decided to leave the band,” she commented, and you can also find her as the bassist for a band named Trauma, again with very few information about her involvement with the band available online, including zero details on when she started playing with them, or if she’s still with them.

As you might have noticed, Jamie has a lot of different influences in music. “At the very beginning of my teenage years I started with Thrash and Speed, and then I discovered Extreme Metal around 14 years old. I’m mostly on Black/Thrash, Black, some old school Death Metal sometimes and some Heavy/Speed but besides Metal I’m a fan of coldwave and post-punk music and it’s also a part of my inspirations. Jazz music too.” Moreover, when asked to list her top five albums of all time, she said that it’s tough to mention only five albums because she loves a lot more than that, but she would try to list some that struck her. Those albums are Blood Fire Death, by Bathory, Envoy of Lucifer, bu Nifelheim; Sister, by In Solitude; Black Metal, by Venom; and Dawnrazor, by Fields of the Nephilim.

In addition, she mentioned a very interesting list of newer bands she enjoys, including Division Speed, Hällas, Flagellant, Whoredom Rife, Blaze of Perdition, Denouncement Pyre, Drab Majesty, Lebanon Hanover, Condor, Hellripper, Antichrist, In Solitude, Saqra’s Cult, Tryptikon, Tragediens Trone, Riot City, Ultra Silvam, Beastmilk, Heresi, Tribulation, Matterhorn, Satan Satyrs, Vulture, Quintessenz, Whiskey Ritual, Warmoon Lord, Midnight and Nocturnal Graves, also saying that live she really enjoys to see Aura Noir, Satan Satyrs, Venom and Midnight. When asked about new or mainstream metal, she said she doesn’t like those labels, as she believes what really matters is to play with (and for) passion before anything else. “When this is the case, everyone who plays with his guts and works hard deserves his success.” And guess what’s the definition of true metal music for Jamie? “You feel it or not!”

Jamie Lee Cussigh’s Official Facebook page
Jamie Lee Cussigh’s Official Instagram
Triumph of Death’s Official Facebook page
Triumph of Death’s Official Instagram
Triumph of Death’s Official YouTube channel
Sacrifizer’s Official Facebook page
Sacrifizer’s Official Instagram
Sacrifizer’s Official YouTube channel

Album Review – Bad Marilyn / Eye of the Snake (2024)

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The debut album by this talented Swiss Heavy Metal outfit will take you on a journey to a magical world to the sound of its eleven incendiary tracks.

Founded in the summer of 2023 in Wangen an der Aare, Bern, a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, Heavy/Power Metal warriors Bad Marilyn have just unleashed upon us their debut album, titled Eye of the Snake, an album that will transport the listener into a magical metal world. Recorded at Kangaroo Studios, The TrakShak Studio and The Hämst Studio, produced, mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward, co-Produced by Sammy Lasagni and Andri Leonardo, and displaying a classic artwork by Stan-W Decker, Eye of the Snake offers eleven powerful songs thoroughly crafted by the Helvetic formation of Andrea Raffaela on vocals, Sammy Lasagni on guitars, David Craffonara on bass, Andri Leonardo on keyboards, and Armin Schöpfer on drums.

An epic intro quickly evolves into the Power Metal feast I Die Inside, where the whimsical keys by Andri walk hand in hand with the she-wolf roars and soaring vocals by Andrea, whereas Middle-Eastern sounds ignite the also very melodic and headbanging Eye Of The Snake, where Armin pounds his drums nonstop supported by the solid bass lines by David; and leaning towards Melodic Rock and AOR we have Perfect Moment, but of course without forgetting their classic Heavy Metal essence, with the guitars by Sammy sounding striking and harmonious. Retribution is not as exciting as the previous songs and quite confusing at times, albeit the vocals by Andrea are spot-on as usual, but fortunately back to a more direct sonority the band offers our ears the upbeat, melodic Heavy Metal tune Children Of Tomorrow, with Armin dictating the pace with his classic beats and fills. Sammy then takes the lead with his Iron Maiden-inspired riffs in When She’s Gone, a song that blends melody and heaviness in a well-balanced manner.

Their Rock N’ Roll party continues with an overdose of metallic riffs and blast beats titled Revolution, where Andrea delivers a striking vocal performance supported by the fast and thrilling music by her bandmates; and it’s time for a charming power ballad titled Legend Of Salvation, where the power of Armin’s drums is boosted by Andri’s stylish keys. Queen Of Thunder carries an old school name for a song with a strong 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vibe, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album while also showcasing more of Andrea’s beautiful vocals, with Andri also kicking some ass with a nice keyboard solo; and they take their heaviness to new heights in Eternal Pain, led by the pounding drums by Armin and the slashing riffage by Sammy, resulting in a thrilling Heavy Metal attack tailored for fans of 80’s heavy music. Last but not least, we’re treated to one final strike of soaring vocals and classic riffs in We Will Rise, putting an incendiary ending to the album.

Eye of the Snake can be appreciated in full on Spotify, but of course you can show your utmost support to Andrea and the boys by purchasing the album from their BandCamp page or webstore, or by cliking HERE, and don’t forget to also give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. This Swiss band definitely knows how to craft fun and vibrant Heavy Metal, taking you as mentioned to a magical world to the sound of their flammable music, and just like a snake I’m sure they’ll strike again soon with another album just as good as their debut offering.

Best moments of the album: I Die Inside, Revolution and Eternal Pain.

Worst moments of the album: Retribution.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. I Die Inside 4:42
2. Eye Of The Snake 4:18
3. Perfect Moment 4:55
4. Retribution 4:22
5. Children Of Tomorrow 3:45
6. When She’s Gone 4:15
7. Revolution 4:00
8. Legend Of Salvation 4:30
9. Queen Of Thunder 4:34
10. Eternal Pain 4:16
11. We Will Rise 5:15

Spotify bonus track
12. Stay Awake 4:34

Band members
Andrea Raffaela – vocals
Sammy Lasagni – guitars
David Craffonara – bass
Andri Leonardo – keyboards, backing vocals
Armin Schöpfer – drums

Concert Review – Korpiklaani (The Phoenix Concert Theatre, Toronto, ON, 04/13/2024)

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A night full of melody, pirates, sauna, beer, vodka, dancing and circle pits to warm up the hearts of all fans of good heavy music in Toronto.

OPENING ACTS: Illumishade and Visions Of Atlantis

Round 2 of a very metal weekend in Toronto started with “round 2 of very bad traffic”, taking me over an hour to reach once again The Phoenix Concert Theatre when it should have taken me only about 35 or 40 minutes in total this Saturday night. Well, at least this time I was able to see all bands, those being ILLUMISHADE, VISIONS OF ATLANTIS and KORPIKLAANI, during their party-like Rankarumpu North American Tour 2024, one more unforgettable event organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. My friend Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were a bit tired from the previosu night of brutality by Thy Art Is Murder, but as soon as the first band hit the stage the adrenaline started to flow and our batteries charged up quickly.

That first band was Switzerland’s Symphonic/Progressive Metal/Rock outfit ILLUMISHADE, and let’s say they won the hearts of every single person at the venue instantly with their talent, charisma, and passion for what they do. Of course all band members were great, but it was their frontwoman Fabienne Erni who stole the show with a hypnotizing performance, with her soaring vocals and beautiful moves captivating the eyes and ears of everyone at the venue. The band has recently released the album Another Side of You, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, with their setlist being almost entirely based on that album, and with songs like Here We Are and Cloudreader sounding awesome live. I really hope they return to the city sooner than later for another great show, because they’re an amazing new band from the Swiss scene and they’re definitely going places based on the quality of their music.

Setlist
Elegy
Enemy
Here We Are
Riptide
In the Darkness
Cloudreader
Tales of Time
World’s End

Band members
Fabienne Erni – vocals, piano
Jonas Wolf – guitars
Mirjam Skal – synths, orchestration
Yannick Urbanczik – bass
Marc Friedrich – drums

After a quick break, the venue was taken by storm by the most beloved pirates to ever arise from Austria. Yes, you read that correctly, as I’m talking about Melodic/Symphonic Power Metal privateers VISIONS OF ATLANTIS, who put on a fantastic show for our total delight. Spearheaded by one of the most charismatic, talented and charming duos of the entire Power Metal scene, the stunning Clémentine Delauney (what a voice, my friends… what a voice!) and the electrifying Michele Guaitoli, the band brought a storm of heavy music to all fans at the venue, blending songs form their most recent album Pirates, like Master the Hurricane and the extremely catchy Clocks, with new tunes like the cheesy but awesomely fun Armada, from their upcoming album Pirates II – Armada, to be released on July 5. Their show was so full of energy to the point there were several mosh pits going on during some of their faster songs, all of course led by Michele who had all fans on the palm of his pirate hand the whole time. You can enjoy their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, as usual, and board their pirate ship when they invade your city for a sweet live concert. HAIL JOLLY ROGER!

Setlist
Master the Hurricane
Clocks
Mercy
Tonight I’m Alive
Heroes of the Dawn
Monsters
Armada
Melancholy Angel
Pirates Will Return
Legion of the Seas

Band members
Clémentine Delauney – female vocals
Michele Guaitoli – male vocals
Christian Douscha – guitars
Herbert Glos – bass
Thomas Caser – drums

KORPIKLAANI

If you have never seen the incendiary Finnish Folk Metal crew KORPIKLAANI live in your life, you have no idea what you’re missing. Let’s say that from the very first notes of the song Kotomaa, from their brand new opus Rankarumpu (to be reviewed here at The Headbanging Moose soon), it was a wild party with lots of dancing, beer, vodka, the heat of a real sauna, and so on, driving all fans crazy inside the venue. The last time I saw the band live was way back in 2014 during Paganfest America Part V (yes, that festival existed one day in Toronto), but I must say this Saturday the band was a lot tighter, more professional, more vibrant and heavier than ever, with of course frontman Jonne Järvelä stealing the spotlight with his inebriate vocals and classy dance moves.

Their setlist was a thing of beauty, blending old school songs like Wooden Pints and Happy Little Boozer with several new ones including Aita, the title-track Rankarumpu, and the breathtaking Saunaan, proving the band is in great shape and form in their new album. Also, it’s always fun to witness Sami Perttula on the accordion and Olli Vänskä on violin live, as their instruments bring an amazing vibe to all of the band’s songs, and of course that translates into endless dancing and jumping inside the circle pit (which was VERY intense, by the way). Well, let’s say things got even faster and rowdier inside the pit during the encore when they played the classics Beer Beer and Vodka, proving booze will always be the best fuel for any heavy music party, leaving all fans eager for more Korpiklaani the second their wild show was over. You can keep up to date with all things Korpiklaani by clicking HERE, and DO NOT miss their live concerts in your city or wherever you are, alright? VITTU, PERKELE, SAATANA!

Setlist
Kotomaa
Wooden Pints
A Man With a Plan
Happy Little Boozer
Journey Man
Ievan polkka
Gotta Go Home (Boney M. cover)
Aita
Tuli kokko
Pidot
Leväluhta
Sanaton maa
Rankarumpu
Pixies Dance
Juokse sinä humma
Tapa sen kun kerkeet

Encore:
Viima
Metsämies
Saunaan
Beer Beer
Vodka
Outro (Mother Earth)

Band members
Jonne Järvelä – vocals, acoustic guitar
Kalle “Cane” Savijärvi – guitar
Jarkko Aaltonen – bass
Sami Perttula – accordion
Olli Vänskä – violin
Samuli Mikkonen – drums, percussion

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Metal Chick of the Month – Joey Roxx

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Strike back… The metal attack!

New year, same old savagery! That’s what you’ll get here at The Headbanging Moose during this promising year of 2024, and in order to start it with a bang let’s continue our annual tradition and kick off our metal lady of the month segment with a superb bassist that will surely put you to raise your horns and bang your heads in the name of heavy music. She’s such a badass woman that even her name rocks, and I’m more than sure you’ll love to listen to her rumbling bass guitar embellishing the airwaves wherever you go. I’m talking about Austria and Switzerland’s own Joey Roxx, a veteran metalhead who has been kicking some ass as the bass player for German Heavy Metal powerhouse Mystic Prophecy for almost a decade, delivering the goods and taking no prisoners in her quest for heavy music.

Born somewhere in time in the stunning country of Austria, but raised and currently living in Switzerland, our unstoppable Joey Roxx, whose real name is also a mystery to most of us, had her first memories related to music in general already at a very young age, mentioning the big, out-of-tune grand piano in her family’s living room as her earliest one, which was also the very first instrument she tried to play when she was still a little child. She also mentioned in one of her interviews that she remembers the music her parents used to play in their home during her childhood, citing a record by Reinhard Mey, a German Liedermacher (or “songmaker”, a German-style singer-songwriter) as one of the rare good moments of her parents’ albums, and also that her father used to “torment” her with the music by world renowned German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor Richard Wagner (due to the fact he was Hitler’s favorite composer, that became one of the worst memories of her early musical contact, symbolizing her punk soul already growing inside of her). In the end, she had to dig deep to find something that she was somehow allowed to listen to, saying that her parents have absolutely no influence on how she got into music, and that she had to listen to “her” music secretly. Furthermore, when she was around 11 or 12 years old, she had her very first contact with rock and metal music by becoming the drummer for a Gotthard/punk cover band at the girls’ boarding school that she attended.

Even though Mystic Prophecy was formed back in 2000 in Bad Grönenbach, Germany by frontman R. D. Liapakis (Valley’s Eve) together with together with Martin Albrecht (Valley’s Eve, Stormwitch, Rough), her career with the band began only in the year of 2015, having already released with the band the albums War Brigade (2016), Monuments Uncovered (2018), Metal Division (2020), and Hellriot (2023), plus the EP Hail to the King, in 2021, all available for a full and detailed listen on Spotify and on YouTube. Currently formed of frontman R.D. Liapakis and our metal diva Joey Roxx alongside Evan K and Markus Pohl on the guitars, and Hanno Kerstan on drums, the band plays a well-balanced and thrilling fusion of American Power Metal with classic Heavy and Thrash Metal, and all those elements can be easily recognized in their music as for example in the songs Hellriot, Azrael, Metal Attack, Demons of the Night, Unholy Hell, Dracula, Metal Division, Eye To Eye, Metal Brigade, and many more, as well as in this amazing live performance in Greece alongside Nightrage, Firewind and Rage back in 2017, all with Joey kicking some serious ass armed with her rumbling bass guitar.

Apart from her sensational metallic journey with Mystic Prophecy, she was also the founder and bassist for the band Hangmän’s Nooze (between 2008 and 2010); played bass for Kissin’ Black (between 2015 and 2016), Swiss Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act Paganini (between 2013 and 2019) and Swiss Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act Shezoo (between 2010 and 2014); and played bass live with German Melodic Heavy/Groove Metal act Souldrinker in 2014. In addition, she was also the rhythm guitarist for a band named Dezert Eaglez from 2005 until 2007, but again, there’s isn’t much available online about the band and their music (all it’s known is that it was just a teenage garage band, and that right now she’s also playing in a Black Sabbath tribute band called Lady Evyl, along some more.

As a teenager, Joey had posters of Sebastian Bach, Mike Tramp (of White Lion) and The Kelly Family (an Irish rock, pop and folk music music group consisting of a multi-generational family) hanging in her room, and she used to listen to a lot of Gotthard as well, with their song In The Name still having a special place in her heart. And speaking about The Kelly Family, it looks like Joey was a huge fan of their music, as she mentioned in an interview that they were the first concert she’s ever been to, and that she also has several of their albums in her private collection. She was not a fan of their music, though, it’s just that she was growing up in a small village in the Swissmountains, and didn’t have much options to consume music. In the early nineties there were only groups like Backstreet Boys or Spice Girls or the likes of these known to children, plus the Kelly Family, which was the only one who played live with real instruments, and as she was playing music since she was four she never got into what she herself likes to call “plastic dance performance/playback show” stuff, so The Kelly Family was the only logic thing to be into as a 10 year old kid. However, Joey turned into a Rush fangirl with time, considering them their favorite band, and Bravado her favorite song ever. As a matter of fact, when asked about three songs that should not be missing on a perfect mix tape, Joey obviously added Bravado to the list, complementing it with Battleship Chain, by The Georgia Satellites, and Get The Funk Out, by Extreme.

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Furthermore, our dauntless bassist said that her first self-bought album was Down To Earth, by Rainbow, saying that “I thought the cover was beautiful. The music on it is even better.” She also considers Extreme the most underrated band of all time, and she’s very proud of having the album The Ship, by Swiss Progressive Heavy Rock band Tea, in her collection, signed by the band’s vocalist Marc Storace with the comment “But you’re far too young for that!” At her funeral, she said she wants the song I Hope They Serve Jack Daniels In Hell, by Bourbon Crow, to be played, and that a romantic evening must include the music by Belphegor (and no one knows if she was joking or not when she said that). She also said that she doesn’t like to listen to digital music, but only to CD’s and vinyl, enjoying CD’s while she’s driving and leaving all vinyl for when she’s at home; and by the way, when asked about which albums she would take to a deserted island, she said that she would never go to any island without her record collection. Her taste for good music goes on, as besides rock and metal music she’s also a fan of Blues and Southern Rock, Horror and Death Punk, Russian classical music, and honest pop music (“not the radio nonsense,” as per Joey herself), also saying that she doesn’t like all that “more show, less music” nonsense that happens with bands like Sabaton, Battle Beast and Powerwolf.

Joey is also an avid concert goer, of course whenever she’s not touring with Mystic Prophecy, mentioning Rush on the Snakes & Arrows Tour in 2007, Rush at Sweden Rock Festival in 2013, and (guess what!?) Rush on the Time Machine Tour in 2011 as her top three concerts of all time. I guess I don’t need to repeat that she’s indeed fanatic for the most important Canadian rock band of all time, right? As a matter of fact, she considers Canada  the country with the most “best of all time” bands, including not only Rush and Triumph, but also Honeymoon Suite, Aldo Nova, Loverboy, Devin Townsend and so on. On the other hand, she mentioned Mötley Crüe as one of the bands she doesn’t want to see live again, as the last time she saw them it was quite embarrassing for the band and their fans (despite Joey loving their music very much). She also mentioned that she can’t stand still at a concert by American Southern Rock band Dan Baird & Homemade Sin, or at a concert by any of Dan Baird’s bands. And if you also love the thrill of live concerts like Joey, click HERE and go catch Mystic Prophecy live, as I’m sure you’ll love to have your ass kicked by Joey and her ruthless bass together with her talented bandmates.

Not only an accomplished musician, Joey has also ventured through other industries and markets, all connected to rock and metal, and all related to the visual aspects of the business. For instance, she’s the creative designer at JR with the Scissorhands, crafting handmade, authentic Rock N’ Roll clothing; she’s the manager (or at least used to be the manager) at Roxx Off Concerts; and she’s also a former “mad hatter” (yes, like the character from Alice in Wonderland, designing cowboy hats and custom shirts) and custom cutter at Souls of Rock Clothing, showing all her versatility in our rock and metal universe. Although she lives and breathes music one hundred percent of her time, she mentioned in an interview that that she’s probably one of the few people who has never sung in the shower, and that there’s no such amount of alcohol in the world (by the way, she’s a a beer and single malt whiskey girl) that would make her sing along to a hit song (unless maybe Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder, a song by Die Toten Hosen). And last but not least, she said that if one day she ever gets married, she hopes there’s an Elvis there, because she will probably be drunk in Las Vegas with him as her best man. I thought Elvis is always supposed to be the priest at those famous Vegas weddings, but if Joey wants him to be her best man, who are we to go against one of the most versatile and badass bass players hailing from the current European heavy music scene, right? Jokes aside, this is just her way of saying that she will never ever get married and have a family, because the chances of her being drunk in Vegas again are pretty low to zero, and those marriages are not official in Europe and can be annulated within 24 hours, which FOR SURE would be the case if ever that might happen to her for some sort of strange reasons.

Joey Roxx’s Official Facebook page
Joey Roxx’s Official Instagram
Mystic Prophecy’s Official Facebook page
Mystic Prophecy’s Official Instagram
Mystic Prophecy’s Official YouTube channel

“I’m quite open to anything that’s played with a lot of passion and real instruments. I can even find hip-hop to be of good quality and enjoy it live with a band, even if I’ll never really like it.” – Joey Roxx

Album Review – Lasskahl / Seasons EP (2023)

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Enjoy the Progressive Metalcore blasted by a promising Swiss band in their second EP, blending different styles in a hypnotic atmosphere with a desire to present a scenic performance of sound and light.

Hailing from Yverdon Les Bains, a municipality in the district of Jura-Nord vaudois of the canton of Vaud in French-speaking Switzerland, Progressive Metalcore (or “Prog-core”, if you prefer) act Lasskahl tries to blend different styles in a hypnotic atmosphere with a desire to present a scenic performance of sound and light, all while looking for the perfect mix between breakdown and delicacy as well as a complex part in syncopated rhythms. Now in 2023 the band formed of Stefano Montemari on vocals, Ludovic Coker and Philip Calvet on the guitars, Kilian Rustichelli on bass and Yves Bidaux on drums is releasing their sophomore EP titled Seasons, highly recommended for lovers of the music by Monuments, Vola and Meshuggah, among others. Mixed and mastered by Simone Pietroforte at Divergent Studio and by Vladimir Cochet at Conatus Studio, Seasons is the follow-up to their 2015 self-titled debut EP, with each one of its four songs being released as individual singles between 2022 and 2023.

The thunderous bass by Kilian bring the groove to the opening tune Labyrinth Gates, accompanied by the pounding drums by Yves before Stefano attacks with his melodic vocals in a modern-day Metalcore feast full of progressive nuances. Then we have Clouds Above Chains, sounding harsher and more progressive, where Ludovic and Philip are absolutely on fire with their riffs from start to finish while Kilian continues to hit us hard in the head armed with his bass in a great display of Progressive Metalcore; whereas an ominous start quickly evolves into a rumbling Mathcore extravaganza in Faces From The Past, presenting ethereal background elements while Yves keeps hammering his drums, all of course spiced up by a demonic vocal performance by Stefano and, therefore, turning it into the strongest of all four songs. Lastly, the band enhances their darkness considerably in Grudge, Gift Of Suffering, with the guitar duo Ludovic and Philip kicking some ass with their metallic riffage while Stefano continues to declaim the song’s acid words in great fashion.

While the band is gearing up for the release of a full-length album closer to the end of the year, you can enjoy Seasons in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of it from their own BandCamp page if you enjoy the more progressive and groovy side of European Metalcore. Hence, don’t forget to also follow Lasskahl on Facebook and on Instagram for more details about the band, their music and their live concerts, showing all your support to the Swiss metal scene. If their upcoming album is just half as good as Seasons, all admirers of the genre will have a very good reason for banging their heads nonstop as soon as it’s released, because the 16 minutes of music found in the EP are already amazing enough to entertain us in the name of contemporary Metalcore.

Best moments of the album: Faces From The Past.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2023 Independent

Track listing
1. Labyrinth Gates 3:55
2. Clouds Above Chains 3:25
3. Faces From The Past 5:17
4. Grudge, Gift Of Suffering 3:37

Band members
Stefano Montemari – vocals
Ludovic Coker – guitar
Philip Calvet – guitar
Kilian Rustichelli – bass
Yves Bidaux – drums

Metal Chick of the Month – Jeanine Grob

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Heavy metal is our way! Loud and fast is what we want!

Happy 2023, my dear metalheads! Are you ready for another year of underground awesomeness here at The Heabanging Moose? I’m sure you are, and in order to properly kick off such promising year for heavy music let’s continue our tradition of honoring a badass bass player as our metal lady of the month of January, just like what we did in all previous years, sounds good? And you better get ready as our ruthless bassist will crush your skull with her rumbling bass and rebellious attitude, helping to put her homeland Switzerland in the map of Heavy and Power Metal together with her also extremely talented bandmates. I’m talking about Jeanine Grob, the red-haired bassist for Switzerland-based all-female Heavy/Power Metal coven Burning Witches. Having said that, it’s time to bang our heads and raise our horns to the sound of the thunderous bass by Jeanine Grob, and let the witches burn in the name of heavy music.

Born on June 4, 1990 in Brugg, a Swiss municipality and a town in the canton of Aargau, the talented Jeanine, or simply Jay as her friends like to call her, considers herself some sort of “novice” in music, as she explained that after meeting Romana Kalkuhl (rhythm guitarist with Atlas & Axis who had been looking for a cast for an all-female metal band for a long time) at a party she actually went to her music school for guitar lessons just for fun, but after a while Romana asked if she could handle the bass guitar. Needless to say, she fell in love with that instrument, and of course Romana asked her if she wanted to be part of her all-female band, leading to the creation of Burning Witches. “Romana is something of the fun factor. She didn’t start the band to be famous or anything like that. She just wants to have fun and see how an all-female band works. For me that was great. I could stand on stage with my best friend and bang my head. Never thought it would develop this far with the band,” commented Jeanine in one of her interviews.

It was during the spring of 2015 when Swiss Heavy/Power Metal act Burning Witches was officially formed by Romana, with Jeanine becoming the band’s first official member, later being joined by vocalist Seraina Telli, drummer Lala Frischknecht and guitarist Alea Wyss. Although there have been a few changes to the band’s lineup since their inception, Romana, Jeanine and Lala have remained as its core, with vocalist Laura Guldemond and guitarist Larissa Ernst being the other two current members of the band. As you all know, Laura is from the Netherlands, which means her mother tongue is Dutch and not German like the rest of the band, but that’s not an issue at all for the band according to Jeanine. “Our band language is now English. Of course, situations can arise from time to time in which you have to ask exactly what that was meant to prevent misunderstandings. But before we quarrel about it, let’s talk about it. But it’s definitely not a problem – and then there’s Google.”

Together with the Burning Witches, Jeanine recorded their self-titled debut album in 2017, the 2018 album Hexenhammer, the 2020 album Dance with the Devil, and their 2021 opus The Witch of the North, as well as the EP’s Wings of Steel, in 2019, and Acoustic Sessions, in 2020, the live album Burning Alive, in 2018, and of course their self-titled debut demo in 2016. In addition, Jeanine has also been featured in several compilations alongside the Burning Witches, including Maximum Metal Vol. 243 (Metal Hammer, 2018), Lauschangriff Vol. 67 (Rock Hard, 2018) and Metal Hammer 1/2019 (Metal Hammer, 2019) with the song Executed; Maximum Metal Vol. 254 (Metal Hammer, 2020) and Lauschangriff Vol. 79 (Rock Hard, 2020) with the song Sea of Lies; and Maximum Metal Vol. 264 (Metal Hammer, 2021) and Lauschangriff Vol. 86 (Rock Hard, 2021) with the song Flight of the Valkyries. You can find those and plenty of other amazing songs and videos from the Burning Witches on YouTube, such as The Witch Of The North, Hexenhammer, We Stand As One, Black Widow, and Dance With The Devil, and countless live footage where you can enjoy Jeanine kicking ass armed with her bass, like the band’s performances live at Salzhaus Brugg in Swtizerland in 2018, at Hell Diest in Belgium in 2022, and at New Wave of Heavy Metal Festival in  Germany in 2018.

When asked about how the band managed the transition from Seraina to Laura on vocals, and if there was a lot of pressure to find the right replacement for a much-vaunted frontwoman like Seraina as quickly as possible, Jeanine said that because Romana writes the music to sound like Burning Witches no matter what, there were no issues nor pressure during that period of change, complementing by saying she thinks Laura sounds even more metal than Seraina (although she considers both great vocalists). “And what makes us very happy, of course, is that Laura is very well received by the fans, and that is ultimately what counts. In terms of character, Laura fits perfectly into the band, she’s just as crazy as we are,” said Jeanine, who doesn’t know exactly where the band could go, while also saying the band would never change their style just to be more successful, and that it was never their declared goal to become such popular metal band. “Hey, we were allowed to perform in Wacken – the dream of every musician who is at home in the metal scene. But we kept our feet on the ground and didn’t take off. And I’m not planning where I want to be in five years, for example to tour with Iron Maiden. We take it as it comes and enjoy every single step!”

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In terms of her idols and influences, Jeanine and the rest of the band are of course inspired by bands the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Manowar, Amon Amarth, and Switzerland’s biggest metal band of all time, Celtic Frost, always listening to a variety of music ranging from Jazz to Extreme Metal. Our dauntless bassist is also a huge fan of Exodus, but of course she said the biggest dream tour for her would be with Iron Maiden or Judas Priest, saying she would probably faint if she could go on tour with Iron Maiden. Furthermore, as their musical roots are definitely in the 80’s, Jeanine said there are many parents who attend their concerts and take their kids with them, which certainly has a positive impact on the future of heavy music. Speaking about touring and the life on the road, Jeanine mentioned that playing at Bang Your Head, one of the biggest festivals in Germany, was a fantastic experience to the band and a moment that will be remembered by them. And when asked about the band’s cover version for Manowar’s classic Battle Hymn, Jeanine said that “we’re all Manowar fans and Romana had the brilliant idea of ​​asking Ross The Boss to play on our cover version. And to our delight, he absolutely loved the idea. His bassist Michael Lepond (Symphony X) also found the suggestion exciting, and that’s how the whole thing got rolling.”

Jeanine also has an interesting view on the use of Spotify, YouTube and other streaming services today, and how they impact her music. “Everything is more fast-moving today, especially with all the media platforms that are now available. But I think the real fans who are interested in our music will listen to everything online as well. What was certainly better for us musicians in the past, when everything was still released on disk or CD, is that there were no platforms from which you could simply download music for free. A lot of people are not even aware that we musicians are not doing us any favors because we don’t get anything for our work. On the other hand, these new technologies also offer completely new possibilities. Nowadays it’s much easier to reach people and make them aware of us and our music. If you used to walk into a record store and see a CD from a band you’ve never heard of in your life, you probably hesitated rather than grabbing it spontaneously. Today you’re online, just listen to one or the other song, and if you like it, then you buy it. Everything has its pros and cons.”

In one of her interviews, Jeanine said she likes the fact that the Burning Witches are known as an all-girls group, complementing by pointing out to the importance of having more women in a male-dominated scene. “As a woman, it takes a lot of courage to stand up and fight to be taken seriously. When it all started for us back then, we had to fight against the prejudice that we didn’t set it all up ourselves. It was rumored that we first got a record deal and only then gave concerts, which of course is nonsense. And you really have to want success, because the music business isn’t always a bed of roses. What I can also imagine is that female bands quickly get in each other’s hair and then the whole thing falls apart quite quickly. Luckily, that’s not a risk for us, because we’re all very direct and open when dealing with each other and discuss differences of opinion straight away,” also saying that being called “witches” makes total sense for them, as in metal music no woman wants to be a “princess”. By the way, although Jeanine said the band doesn’t have any male groupies, there’s a fun video on YouTube from when the band played in St. Louis, a major city in Missouri along the Mississippi River in the United States, where one of the guys told Jeanine he loves her, and of course the band played along to make the experience even more fun.

As it happens to many, many bands and musicians out there, the girls from the Burning Witches have what can be called regular jobs, including of course Jeanine, but she said that luckily they all have great bosses who support them, saying that if they’re absent for several weeks then they take unpaid leave. “I work in sales, where it wasn’t always easy for the last three years – a lot was promised, but when it came down to it, they suddenly said I was here to work and you couldn’t make money with music anyway. But I was lucky enough to find a new job where I am now really supported. The whole thing is always based on reciprocity. I’m willing to give a lot, but I expect something in return. But this flexibility is not a matter of course, especially in sales, so I was really lucky.” Moreover, on the music side of business, Jeanine is very happy with all the support the band gets behind the scenes from VO Pulver (Poltergeist, Gurd), Marcel “Schmier” Schirmer (Destruction) and Damir Eskic (Destruction). “It’s definitely not the case that Schmier dictates anything to us, like getting involved in the songwriting or something like that, we really enjoy total freedom there. But of course we are also extremely happy about his input, after all he has been in the scene for over 30 years and brings a lot of experience with him. In the end we design the songs the way we want them to, but we also have an open ear for tips and ideas.”

There are several interviews with Jeanine and her bandmates online, such as this one in 2019 with Metal Underground when the Burning Witches performed in the UK for the first time supporting Brujeria and Cryptopsy, talking about the origin of their name, the role of women in modern metal and much more; this one to Bloodstream TV in 2022; this one right before their show at Hell Diest in Belgium in 2022; these five question by Rockers Den Magazine in 2022; or this simple but fun backstage footage from Dortmund, Germany when they were touring with Destruction in 2020. There’s no escape from Jeanine and her rumbling bass, as you can see, because you know, our red-haired diva is a witch of heavy music, and that’s all that she needs to hypnotize us all and drag us to their metal coven for all eternity.

Jeanine Grob’s Official Facebook page
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Burning Witches’ Official Facebook page
Burning Witches’ Official Instagram
Burning Witches’ Official YouTube channel
Burning Witches’ Official Twitter

Album Review – Chaoseum / The Third Eye (2022)

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This Lausanne, Switzerland-based Nu Metal/Metalcore outfit welcomes us all back to their museum of chaos to the sound of their fourth full-length album.

The talented vocalist CK Smile, guitarists Loïc Duruz and Valery Veings, and drummer Greg Turini, collectively known as the unstoppable Lausanne, Switzerland-based Nu Metal/Metalcore outfit Chaoseum, are welcoming us all back to their “museum of chaos” with the release of their fourth full-length album, entitled The Third Eye, following up on their critically acclaimed 2020 album Second Life. Recorded by Chaoseum at Chaos Studio and Conatus Studios, mixed and mastered by Gwen Kerjan at Slab Sound Studio, and again displaying a grim artwork by Brazilian artist Gustavo Sazes, The Third Eye showcases a more mature and dynamic Chaoseum, who are never afraid of experimenting with new sounds while staying true to their roots throughout the entire album.

I, Sexy Zombie already provides us all with a classy fusion of Alternative Metal and Metalcore where CK’s vocals are at the same time enraged and wicked, while Loïc and Valery extract sheer groove from their stringed weapons; and drinking form the same fountain as renowned acts the likes of Korn and Marilyn Manson the band offers us Unreal, perfect for raising your horns at a sick Halloween party while also showcasing an amazing guitar job done by the band’s talented axe duo. Dance on My Grave is modern and electrifying form the very first second, with Loïc, Valery and Greg making the earth tremble, offering CK exactly what he needs to declaim the song’s dark lyrics (and all spiced up by the song’s incendiary backing screams), whereas the interlude The Third Eye brings to our avid ears somber and atmospheric passages before exploding into Fly Away, inviting us all to jump up and down and bang our heads nonstop to the furious beats by Greg, also displaying the band’s trademark melody and modernized sounds.

Rumbling bass lines and chaotic riffs and beats ignite the dense tune My Wonderland, where once again CK is on fire on vocals in another great sample of how the band’s musicality has evolved in an exciting way through the years. Then it’s time to hit the dance floor together with Chaoseum and succumb to pitch black darkness to the sound of Welcome Home, a fantastic modern-day Metalcore and Alternative Metal extravaganza led by CK’s anguished vocals, followed by the dark ballad Until The End, with Greg dictating the pace with his sluggish beats while also presenting another amazing guitar work done by Loïc and Valery. Their second to last blast of modern and groovy sounds, entitled Sanctum Cinerem, will hammer your head mercilessly from the very first second, with CK sounding possessed on vocals as usual; and What If is perhaps the most experimental of all songs while still bringing the band’s core Alternative Metal, offering our ears solid instrumental pieces by all band members and, therefore, turning it into a great option for their live performances.

If you want to savor The Third Eye in its entirety you can stream the album on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course the guys from Chaoseum would love to see their new album added to your personal collection by purchasing it from their own webstore, from their BandCamp page, from Le Lapin Blanc (as a CD or an LP), from Apple Music, or from Amazon. Furthermore, don’t forget to give them a shout on Facebook and on Instagram, and to subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their unique creations. I don’t know what’s next for Chaoseum, but if they keep working so hard and so focused, delivering great music like what they did in The Third Eye, we can rest assured their “museum of chaos” will remain open and expanding in the most exciting way imaginable.

Best moments of the album: Unreal, Dance on My Grave and Welcome Home.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Independent

Track listing
1. I, Sexy Zombie 4:05
2. Unreal 5:09
3. Dance on My Grave 3:53
4. The Third Eye 1:33
5. Fly Away 4:24
6. My Wonderland 5:00
7. Welcome Home 6:33
8. Until The End 4:00
9. Sanctum Cinerem 5:38
10. What If 5:56

Band members
CK Smile – vocals
Loïc Duruz – guitars, bass
Valery Veings – guitars
Greg Turini – drums

Album Review – E-L-R / Vexier (2022)

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This Swiss Post-Metal/Doomgaze outfit is inviting us all on an adventurous journey through their multi-dimensional musical cosmos to the sound of their sophomore album.

Formed in Bern, Switzerland in 2016 by bassist I.R. and guitarist S.M., and joined by drummer M.K. soon after, Post-Metal/Doomgaze outfit E-L-R lures and seduces the listener with glimpses of deeper meaning and the constant discovery of new layers that reveal further ones once peeled away, which is exactly what will happen to you after listening to their new opus entitled Vexier. Produced by E-L-R and Remo Häberli, recorded, mixed and mastered by Remo Häberli at Hidden Stash Tonstudio, and featuring a charming cover photography by Laura Petresc and portraits by Ramon Lehmann (with layout and design by the band’s own S.M.), Vexier, which title derives from the Latin word “vexare” meaning “to plague” or “to irritate” and in German a “vexierbild” means a flip-flop image while in some dialects a “vexier” is a puzzle game, presents massive, sweeping doomscapes that swallow you whole with epic riffs, allowing the band to take another decisive step forward and invite the listener on an adventurous journey through their fascinating and multi-dimensional musical cosmos.

If you enjoy melancholic, atmospheric passages you’re in for a treat to the opening track Opiate the Sun, growing in intensity to the sluggish, doomed beats by M.K. until the guitars and bass by S.M. and I.R., respectively, add an extra touch of insanity to the overall result (not to mention how mesmerizing the vocalizations by S.M. and I.R. sound and feel), with its soothing ending exploding into the venomous Three Winds, showcasing a fusion of Post-Metal with Atmospheric Black Metal where M.K. shows no mercy for his drums while S.M. slashes her axe in great fashion. Put differently, it’s the perfect alternative for metalheads who want to experiment what “doomgazing” is for the first time. Then we have Seeds, where the vocals by S.M. and I.R. walk hand in hand with their own stringed weapons, therefore resulting in a headbanging, obscure wall of sounds with the trio jamming like there’s no tomorrow until the song’s sharp ending; and their strident riffage keeps permeating the air in the visceral Fleurs of Decay, a stunning Post-Metal feast tailored for admirers of the genre where E-L-R will drag you to their atmospheric lair with their slow, dense and captivating sounds. Lastly, tribal beats ignite the closing tune entitled Forêt, where the trio once again carefully and slowly builds a somber ambience before the sound of the guitars and bass offer guest vocalist BAZE all he needs to shine on vocals, putting a beyond hypnotizing, epic and gentle ending to the album.

As aforementioned, E-L-R want to lure and seduce you to their darkened lair to the sound of their new album Vexier, which is not only the ideal follow-up to their 2019 debut album Mænad, but a lecture in Doomgaze that will certainly open the ears and minds of the unbelievers. Hence, in order to show the girls and guy from E-L-R all your support and admiration, you can start following them on Facebook and on Instagram, stream all of their creations on Spotify, and above all that, purchase a copy of Vexier by clicking HERE. The world of Post-Metal, Doomgaze and other sinister, underground subgenres of heavy music has just been graced with one of the finest albums of the year thanks to the talent, creativity and hard work by S.M., I.R. and M.K., placing them among the most interesting bands of the current scene and, consequently, bringing to us all the undisputed soundtrack to gaze at the stars on a pitch black night.

Best moments of the album: Three Winds and Fleurs of Decay.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2022 Prophecy Productions

Track listing
1. Opiate the Sun 12:07
2. Three Winds 8:08
3. Seeds 6:37
4. Fleurs of Decay 7:15
5. Forêt 12:11

Band members
S.M. – guitar, vocals
I.R. – bass, vocals
M.K. – drums

Guest musicians
Remo Häberli – additional guitars
BAZE – vocals on “Forêt”