INTERVIEW: BURNING WITCHES IN CONVERSATION WITH JAY GROB
Interview by Cecilia Pattison-Levi
No Barriers caught up with bassist Jay Grob from the iconic metal band Burning Witches, who made the callout on Instagram to Australian fans: “Are we ready to fight?” when they announced they were heading to the land down under for their first-ever Australian tour.
It will be sharp and fast, as Burning Witches fire up the East Coast with stops in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Switzerland’s all-female, classic heavy metal quintet Burning Witches are a fiery force, made up of talented musicians: bassist Jay Grob, known for her thunderous basslines; fantastic drummer Lala Frischknecht; amazing Dutch vocalist Laura Guldemond; and skilled guitarists Courtney Cox and Romana Kalkuhl, who is also their primary songwriter.
I was lucky enough to chat to Jay Grob about their tour, their album, and what fans can expect at a Burning Witches gig.
“We are five crazy ladies that mix fun with heavy metal and it's full of heart. You know what I mean?” said Jay Grob.
No Barriers fans certainly do know what she means.
Irrefutably proving the fact that women can do metal just as well as men, Burning Witches have been extremely prolific since their 2015 formation and have five albums to their credit. Their latest release is a fantastic collection of murder-tinged songs that incorporates the memory of serial killer Countess Elizabeth Báthory of Ecsed in The Dark Tower, along with their new singles Mirror Mirror and The Spell of the Skull, released in late December 2024.
“The last album has been really well received by fans. The new singles are us getting ready to release a new album later this year,” said Jay Grob. “The setlist for the tour will have a few key songs from each album that will hopefully introduce fans to songs and tracks they have never heard before. It’s a good overview.”
Today, Burning Witches are in Colombia.
“Honestly, we’re living in the moment. That Australian flight of 28 hours does look long! But we are having fun. And we are off next to El Salvador before heading to Melbourne.
Being in Burning Witches is a privilege. We get to travel the world and see different cultures and experience different foods – the food in South America is great – especially the meat!” relayed Jay Grob.
“We can’t wait to visit Australia. See kangaroos and maybe a koala. We really want to meet our fans.
And, later this year, with a new album coming, a tour of the USA coming, and the summer festivals in Europe – we will see about what’s happening next. We started this band because we all like each other and wanted to have fun with the music we love.”
Burning Witches’ heavy metal sound references their influences: from the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, and Savatage. And if you love that classic heavy metal sound, then you’ll love the powerful sonic force of Burning Witches—pounding drums, screaming guitars, and powerful vocals.
Jay Grob laments that the band were not taken as seriously in the past as they are now.
“That happened to us in the beginning. People thought we were not playing on our own, but now they see that we play and have fun,” stated Jay Grob. “It’s just fun for us now. As long as we have fun playing together, as a band, we won’t burn out because it doesn’t feel like a job.
Outside the band, we also do a lot of stuff together like shopping, going to the cinema, just going out or having BBQs. We’re not just together for music but it’s also friendship and love. We are more like a family.”
The instrumentation and love of heavy metal binds Burning Witches together into a tight unit. What makes them fascinating is their lyricism. Burning Witches have the ability to stretch metaphors like ribbons throughout their songwriting—about the feminine perspective and images around burning and witches.
“Romana is our main songwriter. She brings her ideas – so many ideas – to the rehearsal room. Then, she and Lala figure out the drums – then Courtney’s guitar solos and my bassline,” stated Jay Grob. “But what we love best is playing live for our fans.
You’re the reason why we’re doing this! Thanks for the support and keep coming out to our shows! We cannot wait to meet you after the show.”
I don’t know what it is with these all-female heavy metal bands, but they are always so inspiring. It was an extraordinary pleasure to interview Burning Witches’ fantastic bassist Jay Grob, and I cannot wait to see them in Brisbane—armed with their fifth studio album from 2023 The Dark Tower, and a hit fest of songs from throughout their decade-long career.
Catch them where you can!
TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Sydney – Thursday – 22 May 2025 – Manning Bar
Melbourne – Friday – 23 May 2025 – Croxton Bandroom
Brisbane – Saturday – 24 May 2025 – The Crowbar
Special thanks to Hardline Media for Making this interview possible.
