Metal
Laura Guldemond has left Burning Witches. The band announced it on 23 October in a statement saying they had talked things through and tried their best to find a way forward together, “but ultimately, we have to respect and accept her decision”.
All announced shows go ahead. The end-of-year dates, starting on 7 November at the Metal at Lust festival in Malta, will feature Jennifer Gruber of Fireborn, whom the band call “our dear friend and fantastic vocalist”. Meanwhile they are already auditioning for a permanent frontwoman.
Guldemond posted her own statement the same day. She says she’s “immensely proud” of the four records she made with the band and that “there are no hard feelings — sometimes it’s simply time for a change when visions no longer fully align.” From now on she’ll focus on her own music: “This isn’t a goodbye to music.”
Guldemond came over from the Dutch band Shadowrise and in June 2019 joined the band guitarist Romana Kalkuhl had founded, the same month Seraina Telli left. Her first show with them was at Sweden Rock. The last album she recorded with them is “Inquisition”, the band’s sixth, released by Napalm Records on 22 August 2025.
Text by Roger Estivill