A few days before the release of ‘Inquisition’, the sixth album by Burning Witches, which we already reviewed, we interviewed the band’s vocalist. The last time I met her was at Rock & Metal Day’z 2024, where Burning Witches headlined the festival and the band were present throughout. We talk about babies, the album, music, tours and much more. So, without further ado, let’s hear what Laura Guldemond has to say.
Hi Laura! First of all, I want to say how happy I am that you’re going to headline Rock & Metal Day’z 2026. It’s great to see you there again after only two years.
Thank you! It’s a pleasure for us to be there again.
Human and musical babies
As most of you will know, guitarist Romana Kalkuhl is pregnant and will give birth soon, so my first question is about her.
So, before we talk about the album, how is Romana doing?
She’s fine. I mean, she’s about to explode! Laura laughs. She’s doing well. She’s still doing a lot of behind-the-scenes work. That’s because we had to reschedule some dates.
She’s busier than I thought she would be.
But everything’s fine, you know — she’s doing well.
There was someone else in the band, who has already become a mother.
Do you still have contact with Larissa in this case? How is she doing?
Yeah, she’s fine. She actually has two kids now, two boys. We’re still in contact and sometimes meet up with her.
Oh, cool! That’s great. But anyway, let’s not talk about human babies any more. Let’s talk about the other baby, your new album. How long did it take you to write the songs for ‘Inquisition’?
Well, you know, it’s always a bit different for every song. Some songs are just easier than others. Romana usually has lots of ideas, but not all of them are ready for me to start writing lyrics. Most of them are probably just riffs and things like that. But she sent me some very early on, and those were good ideas ready for the singles. To be honest, though, I have a very bad sense of time. It was so long ago that I can’t remember how long it actually took.
Okay, so that means it’s very long?
That means very long. About three songs were written a bit earlier than the rest — actually in about two months. It’s really common because there’s enough pressure to make sure it’s finished properly.
Filming for ‘Inquisition’
I remember when I saw you in Kaiserslautern early last year. Afterwards, you went to Nuremberg and the Kaiserburg to take some photos and shoot a video. Was that for the new album?
Well, we’ve filmed several album videos around Nuremberg before. There was this old building that looked a bit like a church, but it wasn’t. That was in Nuremberg. You might know it because we work with a company very close to Nuremberg. We’ve been there a few times. We went there for ‘The Dark Tower’ and also for the new album. When did you see us perform?
I think it was in January or February last year.
Yeah, it was one of The Dark Tower tours. I think it was probably for the new album, but… I mean, I often can’t remember when things happened. But it must have been in 2024 because I know The Dark Tower was released in 2023. So, in 2024, it must have been for the next album.
I ask because when the first videos of Inquisition were released, I was surprised to see Romana on guitar because she wasn’t pregnant then.
So I think it must have been very early the year.
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Sophisticated and dark
You said that songwriting took more or less time, with some songs taking two or three months and others taking quite a long time. How long did you need for the recordings when you did them?
I should write these things down, because I really started doing that a while ago. We’ve already recorded three songs, and I’d say I recorded about two and a half songs per day later on. Yeah, because it was pretty picky and you had to do a lot of takes. You know, we have a lot of choruses that are always doubled, as well as a lot of harmonies and choirs. So, maybe two and a half songs, or three if I’m lucky.
I guess it was more difficult because it was more technically sophisticated than the previous albums. Meanwhile, your singing style is very sophisticated.
Yeah, I think we actually decided to try and avoid too many harmonies for the whole cast. But in the end, there were maybe just a little bit fewer.
The whole album seems much darker than the previous ones. It’s not only the lyrics, but also the tone and tuning of the guitars. Of course, it’s also your voice.
It’s a bit different to Dark Tower in my opinion. Maybe it became easier for me to be even more raw, I’m not sure. Everyone is saying that the album is darker again now, and I’m just like, phew, I have no idea. I mean, we’ve had heavy songs in the past, so I’ll leave it to you to decide.
There’s still a ballad.
We still have a ballad. Yeah, but it’s a really wonderful song.
Your vocals are extremely demanding in it. I really love the song.
Thanks.
How much time?
When you said you recorded two to three albums’ worth of songs per day, were you all in the studio together or did you record them separately? Or did you record them at home?
Yes, not everyone was always there, so people would sometimes come and visit. I think V. A. Pulver was always there. Romana came in sometimes and Damir helped out a bit. Pulver and Damir are the two pruducers of the album] Damir was there for some of the songs, but not all of them this time, so it was a case of people coming and going. But Romana and Damir were always listening, and Pulver was always in the room anyway.
It’s not like 20 years ago when the band would meet and record everything together in two weeks. You came in when you had time.
Yes, exactly. We have a lot to do in the band, so it’s difficult to be there all the time. I mean, I’m sure we would have done it if it had been possible, but it was difficult.
How long did the production of the album take, including mixing? Do you have any idea?
Yes, it depends on Pulver’s planning, but I think I remember something. Oh man, me and time…, you know? But once it was recorded, it went pretty fast. There was a gap in everyone’s schedules of maybe a week, and then it was pretty much finished.
Okay, so when was the whole album finished before you released it? You’re releasing it next week [22nd September 2025], so how long has it been ready?
It’s been ready for a while because it needs to go to the people who press the vinyls and so on — it just takes a lot of time. I really must start writing things like this down, but it wasn’t that long ago.
Precision
But I also noticed that the double lead guitars were more accurate and precise than with the other lead guitarists you had, except for Romana.
Courtney is indeed capable of doing all the solos and playing very tightly. Romana did a great job, as she did on the previous album. Some guitarists are sloppier than others, but if Courtney is prepared, you can hear it.
Talking of your vocal techniques, do you remember how many layers were used for the recordings and the choirs and choruses? Sometimes it sounds like 10 or 20 people, and at other times it sounds like just the five of you.
Yes, I’ll have to ask Pulver again for the exact numbers. He put all the choirs underneath each other. There were ‘shout choirs’, like ‘Inquisition’ – Laura sings it on the spot – and some with a little less shouting. Let me check the track listing! We usually record the choirs on a loop with a group of people standing around the microphone. We do the shouts maybe 20 times, and Pulver picks the best ones. That’s why you can hear so many voices sometimes. But that’s just for the shouts. For the choirs, we actually had a real choir. On ‘Inquisition’, you can hear a few guys doing ‘Ah-ha-ha-haa’ – real classical singers! Romana’s dad was involved and brought in some people. He’s actually a classical singer himself. He sings at the Zurich Opera House. Romana’s family is very musical!
Musical background
That’s great! Are you the only musician in your family, or do you have a similar background?
It’s funny, because my parents weren’t into music, but my grandparents were musicians — they played the double bass and the violin. They travelled around playing music, and I guess the next generation was fed up with that, so it had to continue with me! My mum’s half-sister still plays the flute, too.
Did you study music, or are your skills purely down to talent?
I could sing a little bit and was comfortable with some notes, but I really had to learn the high notes. I took singing lessons, and at one point I really wanted to become a professional singer. I went to a conservatory in Eindhoven called The Metal Factory – do you know it?
Yes, I’ve heard of it — it’s quite well known.
I was there in their first year, when they first opened, and I was one of their first students on that course!
Courtney’s influence
Oh, that’s cool. Going back to the album, when did you decide to make it so much darker and heavier than the previous ones? It’s almost like Black Sabbath, but faster.
I know what you mean. I don’t know if that was a coincidence or not, to be honest. I wrote the lyrics and some of the melodies, but you should really ask Romana about that. On the other hand, I was wondering if it could be that Courtney’s sound is a bit different to that of the previous guitarists, so that could be an influence. It is indeed very old school — more old school than we usually have. You know, it has a slightly older sound.
Ah, I see. That’s why I thought of it as a fast Black Sabbath sound. But please take that as a compliment! You’ve already answered my next question about the change in style!
Yes, you can hear a slight change. If you listen carefully, you can hear that everyone has their own playing style.
How did you find Courtney? Did you know her already, did you like her style? Thus decided to contact her?
Romana has known her for a long time — they’re basically friends. We got to know each other better when we toured with The Iron Maidens. Courtney really wanted to try something new, and things in life change. She could also move, and now she lives in Germany.
Yeah, in Bochum, not too far from the Netherlands. I met her and her boyfriend again at Rockharz — they suddenly appeared next to me and we had a big hello!
Incidentally, Rockharz Festival 2019 was the first time I saw the Burning Witches perform. It was Laura’s first tour as the new vocalist, and they impressed me with their skills right from the start.
Favourites
Is there a particular Inquisition song you like the most?
At first, I wasn’t sure what to think because it’s a very high song for me to sing, but it’s ‘High Priestess of the Night’. I’m starting to feel more confident with it, and we’ll put it on the setlist.
Oh, that’s lovely — I like it too!
You know, I’m getting used to it. Recording a song is one thing, but singing it at the same level every night is a different matter. When we wrote this song, I told Romana, ‘Romana, I’m not sure if this is actually too high!’ Laura laughs, but I know it isn’t. Then we sorted it out, and now I really enjoy singing it. But you know, some days it can feel different because sometimes I really love ‘Soul Eater’ because it’s so intense. When I’m in the mood for that, it’s the perfect song. It’s still hard to choose, but at the moment, my favourite is ‘High Priestess of the Night’.
I really hope you play it when I’m watching your shows! Due to the high notes, I think it’s really demanding and you might not want to sing it every night.
Yeah, sure. To be honest, you sometimes have bad days or a cold, and I’m not sure if I could really sing it with a cold because it’s so high. So let’s see how it goes.
Apart from ‘High Priestess’, do you have a favourite song in general? Not just from the Burning Witches, but from all your songs, which one do you like the most?
Yes, I think so. With the exception of the bass lines though, because I didn’t pay much attention to those.I love ‘Painkiller’ by Judas Priest because the drums start playing and you immediately feel the energy.
Yeah, it’s pure. It’s pure, raw energy.
And you have really cool guitar lines and harmonies, and the vocals are great too. So, yeah, I love that one.
Cool. It’s one of the best Judas Priest songs, for sure. Have you seen them live recently?
I saw them a few years ago.
You should have seen them on the tour they’re currently on. They’re really top-notch. For their age, they’re absolutely fantastic. Absolutely. If you can, try to go and see them.
I did see Iron Maiden. I saw them in Arnhem this year.
What was the sound like? I just have one question. What was the sound like in Arnhem?
Really good, actually. I’ve seen them a few times at festivals before, but the sound was a bit hard then. Now it was really nice — Bruce said it was really powerful. He’s perfect. As a vocalist, he’s just perfect.
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The influences
I saw them in Frankfurt at the big football stadium, where the sound was awful because it had rained all day and they had to close the roof. I think they did the soundcheck with the roof open and then there were a lot of echoes. Talking about Bruce Dickinson and Judas Priest, is there a role model for you?
Yes, definitely Rob Halford. I think he’s one of the people who’ve inspired me the most in terms of how I sing with Burning Witches now. What I love is that he has so many songs with a lot of vocal dynamics. So I would say both he and Bruce Dickinson inspired me. I’ve heard Bruce a few times when people are listening from a bit further away and it sounds hyper-laden. I think it’s because I have a bit of memorisation there too.
When you played this Dio cover, I thought you were one of the few singers who could really sing like Dio.
I tried to do that, but the thing is, he really knew how to maintain a lot of low frequencies in his voice, even when he went high or low. He also pushed it a bit to make it sound more energetic. So, yeah, I tried to do that a bit — it sounds a bit like that, so that might be right. I think it’s great how he did that. If you don’t do that, the song misses all the energy it needs, you know?
But in this case, I’m really excited by how high and low you can go. I mean, you were already a very good singer a few years ago, but to me it was like you were singing at a safe level. Now, you’re taking more risks with the high and low notes, but you just manage it. That’s what I love about it; it’s really great.
Time was flying and it felt like we had only just started talking to Laura.
Are we nearly at the end? How many minutes do we have?
Well, one minute, but it’s OK — five minutes is OK.
[These ‘five’ minutes ended up being a bit longer, though…]
The Lost Tour
OK, I really must say that I’m very sorry you had to cancel or better postpone your tour of the States.
It’s awful to say, but it’s true.
Did you suffer any financial losses? Or was it covered by insurance?
Actually, you’re reminding me now that only a few of us had bought flights. I should write that down. I bought the flight ticket, so I can still change it. Moving it around is definitely possible, so I have to check whether I should change it or if I can get credit instead. So the flight part is OK. We didn’t lose anything on flights, but I wonder how many people are still coming. You never know if some people bought flights and can’t afford to come again. One thing is that some of us expected this tour to happen, and now we’ll get the money for it a bit later. Usually we have something else, but there’s nothing else around at the moment. For us personally, this means there’s a bit of a gap. It’s more that it can be a bit difficult for us personally, but I never get bored. I have a lot to keep me busy, and everything will be fine.
But I know you’ll miss out on some expected income.
I know some of us have this problem, but I think it’ll be OK.
What about the merchandise you produced for this tour?
Yes, I’m not sure, but a lot of people had problems with their visas. I think we didn’t have the merchandise ready yet because we were waiting for confirmation that the visas were OK. At one point, there were lots of people waiting in a long queue for their visas, and there were lots of sounds coming from other bands. I think there shouldn’t be a problem with the merch.
Food ‘n’ Beverages
That’s good to hear. I’ve got two quick questions. What’s your favourite food?
Oh, I think one of my favourites is potatoes with creamy spinach and eggs.
I ate that a lot as a kid.
I still eat it a lot. Yes, it’s a bit traditional, but it’s one of my favourites. And I like a bit of meat juice, or gravy.
It’s funny to hear that. What’s your favourite drink?
It really depends on the situation. I just love drinking beer, maybe a wheat beer. I really like wheat beer. I really like it, especially when I can share it with other people. I like cocktails too because they’re a bit of a surprise, you know what I mean?
Courtney told me that you always go for the same whisky as she recommends because she likes peated whisky. I was surprised to hear what else you like to drink. We’ll have some surprises for you at Rock & Metal Day’s in June, then! We’ll have to invite you for some special drinks, of course. I think we’ve gone over the time limit. Do you have the next interview now?
To be honest, I have to practise the new songs for the next shows.
Practising for next shows
You can practise in front of me if you want.
Haha, in front of you? I’m a bit shy in this case, to be honest. Singing in front of a crowd is different to singing for one person!
I understand that. I’m happy to sing with others around a campfire during re-enactments, but when we once ended up in a karaoke bar by accident, I was too shy to sing alone. So I won’t stop you from practising. We’re going to meet early next year during the tour and at Rock & Metal Day’z anyway. I hope you’ll be able to come a bit earlier again.
Last time, I arrived earlier because I had a workshop, and some friends picked me up. So let’s see!
Thank you for taking the time to talk to me.
Thank you as well. Which shows will you be coming to?
I’m not sure yet. It’ll probably be Kaiserslautern or Aschaffenburg, or maybe both. I haven’t decided yet because I like both venues, and I’m definitely there at Rock & Metal Day’z.
OK, see you soon and have a nice evening!
That was a lovely interview – I really enjoyed it! I hope you found it interesting, dear readers, and that I didn’t bore you for too long! 😉
Check the dates for the European tour in January and February 2026
Online:
Burning Witches at Napalm Records
Please buy merch and physical music or downloads from the bands official sources and don’t stream it for free because it steals your artists’ income.
Interview by Friend.X aka Mr. Deep
Live Pics taken at Rock & Metal Day’z 2024, Kammgarn Kaiserslautern 2024, Rockharz Festival 2023, Nachtleben Frankfurt 2022