Alissa White-Gluz returns with new band, Blue Medusa

After announcing her departure from Arch Enemy last November, Alissa White-Gluz has revealed the first details of her new band, Blue Medusa.

Breaking the news on International Women's Day, the singer called the new band, “the next evolution of everything I’ve been building toward for years.

“It's my creative melting pot. Everything fans enjoy about the energy, intensity, and performance they’ve always experienced on stage with me over the past two decades is still here, even stronger. That is me, that is who I am and who I’ve always been. And now it’s amplified and unleashed in a fully sovereign artistic vision. Our music has blazing guitar solos, crushing riffs, brutal vocals, fast and aggressive drums, thoughtful melodies and most importantly (to me), really cogitative lyrics.”

Introducing her new bandmates, guitarists Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia, drummer Delaney Jaster and bassist Alicia Vigil, Alissa says that this new outfit has reignited her spark again,

“The musical chemistry I feel with these women is really bringing me back to life. It is so refreshing and exciting,” she says. “I specifically chose to share this news on International Women’s Day because building stronger platforms for women in heavy music is something I care deeply about.”

Immediately after departing Arch Enemy, with whom she'd sung for 12 years, Alissa released the single The Room Where She Died. It's unclear whether that will be part of this new band, but they're working on new material, and heading to Kentucky's Louder Than Life and California's Aftershock festivals later this year.

“I am brewing up a lot of ideas right now, my brain is in full creative flow. I’ve been carving my own path in this genre for a long time, and I want to help pave the way for the next generation of women who love metal as much as I do. Medusa turned people to stone… I want to pave the road in sapphire.”

Read this next:

• Alissa White-Gluz: “We’re shattering the idea that gender has any correlation with intelligence, talent or abilities”
• Alissa White-Gluz: "Human trafficking is a global issue and I feel it deserves global attention"
• Why every metal and hardcore fan should consider going vegan