Their new album Hexenhammer will be released on November 9th and in this week’s Overdrive Discover, we talk to guitarist Sonia “Anubis” Nusselder about the band’s history and the new album.
Burning Witches
OD – Give us a brief background on the band and the particular sub-genre that best describes who you are?
SONIA – It has always been Romana’s dream to have an all-female metal band. In the beginning, she met Jay and Seraina, and we started to jam some metal riffs plus the song ’Holy Diver’. After that, it was clear that the music for Burning Witches would always be HEAVY METAL!
OD – With reference to a discography, what exists already, and do you have anything coming out in the near future?
SONIA – We’re working right now on new songs for our upcoming album! The album will be released on November 9th via Nuclear Blast. Pre-order ‘Hexenhammer‘ via this link.
OD – Was there any one particular band/musician that inspired you to get involved with music and if so, who?
SONIA – We all listen to different styles of music such as; heavy metal, thrash, death metal, black metal, hard rock, progressive rock and sometimes a little bit of pop and soul music too. But the most influential bands for us are groups such as; Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Manowar, Saxon, Accept, Dio and many other bands from the NWOBHM genre.
OD – How supportive has the local underground scene been for you and has it helped the band in any way?
SONIA – We have a small but dedicated metal scene here in Switzerland which we are a part of. There are lots of good people and friends around us and they are very supportive of the band! We’re a metal family and we support each other as much we can 😉
OD – With the dramatic change in the way the music industry has evolved, how are you experiencing the current climate with being a band starting out and what would you like to see a change in the future?
SONIA – The most important thing for us is to be authentic and to have fun on stage, at the studio, rehearsing etc. It’s also necessary for us to hold onto the good feeling we have within the band, as we always have strived to.
OD – With regards to the process of writing material, is there a particular method that works, and if so, please let us know?
SONIA – We don’t really have a particular method. Romana and Seraina write all of the songs together and there is always an idea that we start working with at the beginning… a catchy riff or a cool melody, something like that.
OD – If there was one band that you could tour with, who would it be and why?
SONIA – Judas Priest!!!
OD – Tell us your favourite album and why it’s so important to you?
Seraina – ‘Angel of Retribution‘ – Judas Priest and ‘Watershed‘- Opeth
Jay – ‘Bonded By Blood‘- Exodus
Lala – ‘Crossover‘– D.R.I
Sonia – ‘Consuming Impulse‘ by Pestilence and ‘Obscura‘– Gorguts
Romana – ‘Seventh Son of a Seventh Son‘ – Iron Maiden, ‘Painkiller‘ – Judas Priest and Slayer’s ‘South of Heaven‘.
OD – What are the plans for the remainder of this year?
SONIA – We plan to tour a lot, so, keep an eye out for us. You won’t be disappointed with a Burning Witches live show!
Up and coming live dates are listed below;
The Tour Of The Living Dead
w/ GRAVE DIGGER – presented by Rock Hard (D)
11.01. D Hanover – MusikZentrum
12.01. D Andernach – JUZ Live Club
13.01. CH Pratteln – Z7
14.01. D Munich – Backstage
15.01. D Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
16.01. D Saarbrücken – Garage
17.01. D Bochum – Zeche
18.01. D Glauchau – Alte Spinnerei
19.01. D Neuruppin – Kulturhaus
20.01. NL Rotterdam – Baroeg
22.01. D Hamburg – Martkhalle
23.01. D Berlin – Lido
24.01. D Bamberg – Live-Club
25.01. D Regensburg-Obertraubling – Airport-Eventhall
26.01. D Memmingen – Kaminwerk
27.01. D Ludwigsburg – Rockfabrik
28.01. F Paris – Petit Bain
29.01. UK London – Camden Underworld
30.01. B Vosselaar – Biebob
31.01. F TBA
01.02. E Bilbao – Santana 27
02.02. E Madrid – Sala Mon Live
03.02. E Barcelona – Razzmatazz 2
For more information on Burning Witches, please check out the links below;
BURNING WITCHES are:
Seraina | vocals
Romana | guitars
Sonia | guitars
Jay | bass
Lala | drums
