BURNING WITCHES

Celebrating a decade on the road, Burning Witches, a Swiss band that blends traditional heavy metal with power metal, will take the stage at Bangers Open Air 2025. The group features Laura Guldemond (vocals), Romana Kalkuhl and Courtney “CC Shred” Cox (guitars), Jeanine Grob (bass), and Lala Frischknecht (drums). Currently promoting their latest album, The Dark Tower (2023), the band was founded in Brugg in 2015.

Romana Kalkuhl had always dreamed of performing in a female-fronted heavy metal band. While studying at a music university, she formed her first band with Kevin Schaffer, recording two albums and playing several shows. In 2015, Romana set out to find women to form a new band. Her longtime friend Jeanine Grob (bass) became the first member. At a party, Romana met vocalist Seraina Telli, and their connection was instant, both musically and personally. Seraina brought her own ideas and experience from her studies at the Music Academy and her time in the band Surrilium. Romana then reached out to Schmier (Destruction), who joined the project as a producer/consultant. After an exhaustive search and multiple auditions, drummer Lala Frischknecht was added to the lineup.

After their debut self-titled album in 2017, the band followed up with Hexenhammer (2018), Dance with the Devil (2020), and The Witch of the North (2021). Their lyrics tackle themes of witchcraft, Norse mythology, battles, and female empowerment, which not only shape their visual aesthetic but also reflect their musical influences. Furthermore, current vocalist Laura Guldemond reveals that when writing “We Stand as One,” she couldn’t resist the urge to compose an old-school heavy metal anthem with a “fists in the air” vibe.

With a legacy rooted in Swiss hard rock and metal traditions, drawing inspiration from bands like Krokus, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Gotthard, Coroner, Samael, and Eluveitie, Burning Witches stands as another powerful representative of the scene, ready to bring their energy to Bangers Open Air 2025.