Burning Witches and singer Laura Guldemond have split after seven years. The Swiss heavy metal band announced on Friday, Oct. 23 that Guldemond “has decided to leave,” and said all announced shows will go ahead. Jennifer Gruber of Fireborn will sing at the band’s end-of-year shows while it auditions a permanent frontwoman.
What Burning Witches Said
The band’s statement, posted on social media and carried by Blabbermouth, said the members “talked things through and tried our very best to find a way forward together, but ultimately, we have to respect and accept her decision.”
The band thanked Guldemond “for all the fantastic shows, the amazing albums, and the unforgettable memories we have created together.” It then turned to what comes next: “We want to reassure all our fans that all announced shows will go ahead as planned!” It called Gruber “our dear friend and fantastic vocalist” and said, “we are already auditioning for a new permanent frontwoman who will help us take Burning Witches to the next level!”
Guldemond: “Visions No Longer Fully Align”
Guldemond put out her own statement, quoted by Metal Addicts. “After seven incredible years, I’ve made the heartfelt decision to step down as the band’s singer,” she wrote. She said she is “immensely proud of everything we accomplished, of the four heavy records we made together.”
She described the split as friendly. “There are no hard feelings – sometimes it’s simply time for a change when visions no longer fully align,” she wrote, and asked fans “to respect this decision for everyone involved.” She also said what she plans next: “I’m excited to focus fully on my own music and embrace whatever exciting creative adventures come my way next. This isn’t a goodbye to music – just the start of a new chapter!”
Neither statement goes into what the creative differences were. Neither names any specific upcoming dates, and neither says whether Gruber will record with the band.
Four Albums With the Coven
Guldemond joined in June 2019, taking over from founding singer Seraina Telli, who had left earlier that month. Before that, she sang in the Dutch symphonic metal band Shadowrise. According to Goddess Metal, her albums with the band were:
- Dance With the Devil (2020)
- The Witch of the North (2021)
- The Dark Tower (2023)
- Inquisition (released Aug. 22, 2025, on Napalm Records)
The lineup change comes about 14 months after Inquisition.
Who Is Jennifer Gruber?
The band’s statement identifies Gruber only as the vocalist of Fireborn and a friend of the band. It doesn’t say how many shows she will cover. It also doesn’t say whether she is a candidate for the permanent job. The band’s wording is that it is “already auditioning” while Gruber fills in.
What It Means for Fans
The band hasn’t announced any Southern California dates, and the statement doesn’t mention North American plans. For now, the news is about who sings the band’s songs on stage next. The band’s message closes: “A new chapter begins – the coven stands united!” SDMETAL will update this story when the band names a permanent singer.
SDMETAL
