Burning Witches in Phoenix

About Burning Witches

Burning Witches is a Swiss heavy metal band that formed in 2014, built on the kind of straightforward metal philosophy that doesn't require much explanation: fast riffs, loud and clear production, and a vocalist who can actually hit her notes. They've carved out a solid lane in modern heavy metal without pretending to be something they're not. Their earlier work established them as competent practitioners of classic heavy metal aesthetics—think late-80s production clarity applied to genuine songwriting. Songs like "Hexenhammer" and "Arson" showcase the band's ability to write hooks that stick around after the song ends, which is rarer in heavy metal than it should be. They're the kind of band that appeals to people who actually like metal rather than the idea of metal, with a focused approach that respects the listener's time.

Their shows are straightforward metal gigs—tight, competent, and heavy. Crowds stay engaged because the band isn't phoning it in. No surprise flourishes or stage production theater, just solid execution that makes the material land harder in a room full of people.

Known for Hexenhammer, Arson, The Crucible, Conjuration, Torched

Burning Witches + Phoenix

Burning Witches brought their Swiss heavy metal to The 44 Sports Grill & Nightlife in November 2024, running through a setlist that leaned heavy on their darker material. They opened with "Unleash the Beast" and spent the evening toggling between straightforward crushers and weirder cuts—"Necronomicon" and "Hexenhammer" felt particularly heavy in the room, the kind of songs that justify the drive to catch them live. They closed out with "Holy Diver," which is either a curveball cover or a statement of intent, depending on how you read it. The band's Phoenix history is modest but solid, and this November show felt like the kind of headlining slot that builds a real local following.

Burning Witches in Phoenix News

• Mother Vulture embark on the "Cartoon Violence" tour LiveWire Music · Jan 27, 2026
• KNAC.COM Staff Top Ten Lists For 2025 Album Releases KNAC.com · Dec 31, 2025
• Former BURNING WITCHES Vocalist SERAINA TELLI Touring North America For The First Time Supporting VISIONS OF ATLANTIS BraveWords · Apr 8, 2025
• Seraina Telli Kicks Off Her First North American Tour with Visions of Atlantis Ghost Cult Magazine · Apr 8, 2025
• KK’s Priest and Accept live at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto, Ontario, Canada Concert Review Sleaze Roxx · Sep 16, 2024

Live Music in Phoenix

Phoenix's metal scene has gotten louder and more diverse over the past decade, with venues like The 44 hosting everything from death metal to traditional heavy styles. Burning Witches fit comfortably into the city's appetite for European metal that doesn't apologize—straightforward, technically proficient, and heavy enough to rattle the room. The desert market tends to draw bands that want to play without much fuss, and that's exactly what this crowd showed up for.

Phoenix road trip to see Burning Witches?

Stay in Arcadia, where tree-lined streets and restored Craftsman homes give you actual neighborhood texture instead of generic sprawl. Eat at Otro, where the cooking is precise without being pretentious. Hit the Heard Museum if you want to understand what Arizona actually is beneath the tourism layer. Hike Camelback Mountain early morning before the heat makes it punishing. Spend an afternoon at Taliesin West, Frank Lloyd Wright's winter home, which feels oddly fitting for a band that cares about emotional architecture. The whole city slows down at sunset in a way that makes Dashboard's introspection feel less like melancholy and more like clarity.