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HEAVY Magazine / DIGI-MAG Issue #81 / SPECIAL EDITION: The Ladies Of Rock

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This week we have a very special edition of the HEAVY Digi-Magazine. A week before the next print edition hits the streets we’ve put together a list of 40 bands of which involves ladies rocking their arses off!

We’ve also interviewed a few of these ladies (actually, we’ve probably interviewed them all, but in the last week or so we’ve sat down and chatted with the likes of: Lzzy of Halestorm, Erica of RED SEA, Fiona of DEF FX, Alex of Drown This City, super-guitarist Simone of Voyager, and Skynd of well, SKYND.

To view the interivews with the ladies, and get some of the latest news, album reviews and more… visit:

HEAVY DIGI-MAG Issue #81

Enjoy, share, love and ROCK. \m/

The evolutionary journey of rock to metal and back has seen not just the beauty and grace of a lady but the power and strength of a woman.

From Janis Joplin and Joan Jett, Doro and Lita Ford, L7 and Babed In Toyland, Evanescence and Garbage; Epica and Arch Enemy; now we have Jinjer, Babymetal and War On Women – each so diverse but yet each a combined force.

Welcome, “The Ladies of Rock”.

This beautiful half of Humankind has been flying the flag of rock, metal and everything between since the late ’60s. Whether it is clean or brutal vocals, here’s a mixed list of women vocalists hailing from Europe, The United States, The United Kingdon, Canada, Australia and New Zealand who have risen to the top of the World Charts plus a few that have just started that journey.

While this concise list is no particular order, we must first turn our attention to a few founding members of rock and heavy music. Then we’ll introduce you to modern bands, some more classic outfits, and a few you may not have yet discovered before.

But, before we start with the list here’s an epic song, “Close My Eyes Forever”, renditioned by Lita Ford and Lzzy Hale (Halestorm)! If you aren’t familiar with either of them, you’ll be once you go through this beautiful list of beautiful ladies.

 

Doro / Warlock

Origin: Germany
Genre: Heavy Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoroPeschOfficial

Doro Pesch or Doro as fondly known, is a German heavy metal singer-songwriter, formerly front-woman of the heavy metal band Warlock. Dubbed the “Queen of Heavy Metal“, Doro’s contributions to music and culture along with her publicized personal life made her a global figure in metal culture for over three decades.
Warlock were a German heavy metal band, founded in 1982.

Lita Ford

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Heavy Metal, Soft Metal, Hard Rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/litaofficial

Lita Rossana Ford was born in the UK born on 19 September 1958 the United Kingdom and moved to Long Beach, California when she was a child. Ford became the lead guitarist for The Runaways in the late 1970s (1975–1979) before embarking on a solo career in the 1980s. Lita Ford is an icon in the heavy metal world and will forever be.

“Kiss Me Deadly”, Lita Ford 1998

Coven

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Hard rock, Psychedelic rock, Progressive rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheOfficialCoven

Although probably one of the softest bands we have listed, Coven are extreamly important to the world of Heavy Metal. Formed in the late 1960s they had a top 40 hit in 1971 with the song “One Tin Soldier”, the theme song of the movie Billy Jack.
The vocalist is Esther “Jinx” Dawson, who is still touring with the band to this day.
Not only was Coven one of the first bands to have hab a linier between Rock ‘n Roll and Heavy Metal they were the first band (on record anyways) that used the Sign of the Horns which Legend, Ronnie James Dio ( bless him \m/ ) popularised. You can see Coven using the Sing of the Horns on their 1969 debut album release Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls

Although Coven came before Black Sabbath entered the scene by some strange, possibly occult, coincidence their bassist was named Greg “Oz” Osborne and they released a song in 1969 title “Black Sabath”.

So there you go, a female fronted rockband were the first to rock the horns!

Girlschool

Origin: United Kingdom
Genre: Rock, Hard rock, Heavy metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GirlschoolOfficial

Girlschool are a British rock band which rose during the new wave of British heavy metal scene in 1978. Girlschool are the longest-running all-female rock band and are still touring!

Vixen

Origin: The United Stats of America
Genre: Glam rock, soft metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vixen

There’s only one all-female hard rock band from the 80’s who’s sold over a million albums, had six #1 Videos on MTV and had four songs in Billboard’s Top 100. Vixen achieved commercial success during the late 1980s and early 1990s as part of the Los Angeles, California glam metal scene. And metled hearts across the world.

“The Edge Of A Broken Heart”, Vixen (1998)

It would be an absolute crime to leave the famous Janet Gardner off this list. Gardner was originally trained as a choir singer but burst onto the hard rock scene as the front woman for Vixen in 1983. Vixen were a game changer in the hard rock genre and ended up touring alongside the likes of Ozzy Osbourne and Scorpions. Today Gardner concentrates on her solo work with husband Justin James. Her self-titled 2017 album was an absolute killer and she returns this year with Your Place In The Sun.

The Runaways

Origin: The United States of America
Genre: Rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therunaways

The Runaways formed in 1975 by drummer Sandy West and guitarist Joan Jett. Their best-known song is “Cherry Bomb” and a cover version of the Velvet Underground’s “Rock & Roll”. The Runaways also featured Cherie Currie and Lita Ford as memebers.

 

“Cherry Bomb”, The Runaways (1976)

 

Of course, there are so many other women that rocked in the early days but may not quite fit the “heavy” bill; but we thought we should mention some that were definite influences:

Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin, Grace Slick, Patti Smith, Tina Turner, Suzi Quatro, Mama Cass Ellio (Mama & the Pappas), Pat Benatar, Chrissie Hynde (The Pretenders), Chrissy Amphlett (Divinyls)  and of course Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac).

—/—

Jinjer

Origin: Ukraine
Genre: Prog, death metal, progressive rock and nu metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JinjerOfficial

Forming in 2009 Ukraine progressive metal band Jinjer originally consisted of frontman Maksym Fatullaiev (Max). After migrating to America he was replaced by Tatiana Shmailyuk who became the permanent vocalist.

“Teacher, Teacher!”, Jinjer – taken from the EP, MICRO (2019)

New Years Day

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Alternative metal, Gothic metal, Hard rock, Post-hardcore Pop punk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nydrock
New Years Day formed in California in 2005. They were one of the first bands to build a fanbase through the social media platform MySpace back in they day. Earlier this year they released the Unbreakable album which means the must be due for a tour soon!

Devilskin

Origin: New Zealand
Genre: Hard Rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DevilskinNZ

Devilskin proved to be crowd pleasures at the recent Download Festival in Australia. Formed in 2010 in Hamilton after former band Slipping Tongue split. The outfit has released “We Rise” (2016) which went platinum in NZ and “Be Like the River” (2016) which won best rock album at the 2017 New Zealand Music Awards, going gold. Two years later a single was released for “Endo”, with “All Fall Down”, the most recent.

“Endo”, Devilskin (2018)

Arch Enemy

Origin: Sweden
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archenemyofficial

One well known international outfit, Swedish melodic death giants, Arch Enemy, who like Jinjer, started with a male vocalist, Johan Liiva from 1995 to 2000, was replaced by German vocalist Angela Gossow with current Canadian born, Alissa White-Gluz, taking over in 2014. Gossow proved to do an incredible job with some of the most brutal female vocals. The most recent record shows that Gluz also has a beautiful voice outside of the guttural vocals Arch Enemy is known for.

“Reason to Believe”, Arch Enemy taken from, Will to Power (2017)

The Last Martyr

Origin: Australia
Genre: Melodic Post-Hardcore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pg/thelastmartyr

Melbourne based melodic metal sensation, The Last Martyr, feature vocals by Monica Strut, not only a longtime part of the Heavy team but an inspiring front to the band. After releasing a video for “Into the Black”, the following single can be seen below in all its glory.

“Fear”, The Last Martyr – taken from the EP, Creatrix (2019)

Halestorm

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Hard rock, alternative metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halestormrocks

Formed in Red Lion, Pennsylvania, U.S. in 1997 by vocalist, guitarist Lzzy Hale, the group didn’t release their self-titled debut, Halestorm (2009) till they were signed to Atlantic Records. Since then three more records were released with their most recent single seen below. “Love Bites…(So Do I)” won a Grammy in the Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance Category on February 10, 2013, becoming the first female-fronted band to both be nominated and win in that category.

“Vicious”, Halestorm – taken from, Vicious (2018)

Lacuna Coil

Origin: Italy
Genre: Gothic metal, alternative metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lacunacoil

Originally a gothic metal band from Milan, Italy, Lacuna Coil formed in 1994, by vocalist Andrea Ferro who later enlisted Cristina Scabbia in 1996. A self-titled EP was released in 1998 with their first full length In a Reverie (1999) a year later. Eight LPs later the band prove to be one of the most recognised metal artists with a female vocalist.

“Nothing Stands In Our Way”, Lacuna Coil – taken from, The 119 Show – Live in London (2018)

Redhook

Origin: Australia
Genre: Screaming rap rock electro pop
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/weareredhook

Redhook, formed by vocalist Emmy Mack, let loose their alternative rock on the masses in 2017, releasing singles the next year for “Minute on Fire” and “Turn up the Stereotype” with their most recent, “Paralysed” (2019). They recently played at Download Festivals in UK and Australia.

“Turn Up The Stereotype”, Redhook (2018)

War On Women

Origin: The United Stats of America
Genre: Punk, rock, metal, thrash
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WarOnWomen

Ending with another act who pleasing festival crowds are Baltimore melodic hardcore group, War On Women. Vocalist Shawna Potter leads the co-ed feminist punk band with a strong stage presence and view. She also joined as a guest on stage when Rise Against took the main stage.

“Anarcha”, War On Women – taken from, Capture the Flag (2018)

Within Temptation

Origin: Netherlands
Genre: Gothic metal, symphonic metal,
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wtofficial

Originally given the gothic metal term, Within Temptation, prefer symphonic rock. Formed in the Netherlands by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. Since the debut Enter (1997), seven LPs have been released with the most recent this year, proving Within Temptation is one consistent act to reckon with.

“Supernova”, Within Temptation – taken from, Resist (2019)

Evanescence

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Alternative metal, Alternative rock, Gothic rock, Nu metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Evanescence

Evanescence is fronted by singer and pianist Amy Lee. The band released their first full-length album, Fallen, which has sold more than 17 million copies worldwide with two Grammy Awards out of seven nominations. The Open Door sold more than five million copies. 2017’s Synthesis debuted #8 on the Billboard 200, reached # 5 in Germany, #6 in Australia and #23 in the UK. Bassically, they are massive.

“Bring Me To Life”, Evanescence (2003)

Red Sea

Origin: Australia
Genre: Progressive Metal, Prog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/redseaprog

Red Sea, fronted by Erica Bowron, show a different more melodic side of progressive metal. After releasing their debut EP, Battlescar (2016) the band regrouped in 2018 releasing two singles, “Hurricane” and “The Art of Transcending” and have just dropped a new song titled “The One” from their upcoming EP, Red Sea.

“The Art of Transcending”, Red Sea (2018)

Trope

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Progressive metal, progressive rock, alternitive rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kittiepage

Think tool with amazing girl vocals. TROPE is an alternative rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The band formed in 2016.
After filming a short teaser video of Lambs, they garnered the attention of the music industry including Mike Fraser (AC/DC, Metallica) who agreed to engineer the album with Thompson producing, and David Bottrill (Tool, Peter Gabriel), who agreed to creatively consult and mix the album. Pre-production on the debut Trope record began in April 2017, and tracking has occurred at both Armoury Studios and Hipposonic. The album titled Eleutheromania will be released later in 2019.

The Beautiful Monument

Origin: Australia
Genre: Alternative rock, Pop rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeautifulMonument

A band known for their alternitive/pop rock The Beautiful Monument features the catchy vocals of Lizi and have released two albums with I’m the Sin (2017) and I’m the Reaper (2019).

“Stay”, The Beautiful Monument – taken from, I’m The Reaper (2019)

Drown This City

Origin: Australia
Genre: Post-Hardcore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drownthiscityband

Post-hardcore group Drown This City have supported the likes of Lacuna Coil and Capture the Crown as well as joining the lineup for the 2017 UNIFY GATHERING Festival. Alexandra Reade’s vocals deliver on all cylinders, nailing both clean and brutal with ease.

“Third Law”, Drown This City – taken from the EP, False Idols (2018)

Cellar Darling

Origin: Switzerland
Genre: Folk Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cellardarlingofficial

Cellar Darling is a three-piece folk metal band from Winterthur and Lucerne, Switzerland founded in 2016. The group was formed by Anna Murphy (Ex-Eluveitie), Merlin Sutter and Ivo Henzi. Cellar Darling incorporates heavy metal, folk, classical, and progressive influences.

“Death”, Cellar Darling (2019)

KiTTiE

Origin: Canada
Genre: Groove metal, Death metal, Alternative metal, Nu metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kittiepage

Formed in 1996 in Ontario, Canada Kittie are certainly a force to be reckoned with. Fuelled by the stong vocals of Morgan Lander the band are still active today. Their album from 2000, Spit, is still one of the greatest debut albums we have ever heard.

BABYMETAL

Origin: Japan
Genre: Mix of J-pop, Alternative Metal, Speed Metal and Industrial Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BABYMETAL.jp

BABYMETAL are a Japanese kawaii metal (also known as idol metal, cute metal, or kawaiicore – a blend of heavy metal and J-pop) band with a fusion of the heavy metal and Japanese idol genres. You either love or hate a group like this.

Lillye

Origin: Australia
Genre: Rock
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillyeband

Lillye is a powerful, female-fronted rock band based in Sydney, Australia. The band features Virginia Lillye on lead vocals and together the sound like a mix between The Baby Animals, Sukun Anansie, Halestorm and Sevendust.

Crystal Ignite

Origin: Australia
Genre: Hard rock, Upbeat rock “with dance feels”
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrystalIgnite

Former Bellusira front woman, Crystal Ignite, is a hard working independent artist who has a very lively stage presence. He’s informed HEAVY that she has a single coming out around October (2019) and then every two to three months after that.

 – video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

The Pretty Reckless

Origin: United States Of America
Genre: Alternative rock, Hard rock, Post-grunge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theprettyreckless/

The Pretty Reckless are from New York City and formed in 2009. The lead lady (lead vocals, rhythm guitar)is Taylor Momsen who started in the TV Series Gossip Girls.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Horizons Edge

Origin: Australia
Genre: Power Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/horizonsedgeofficial/

If you’re a fan of melodic power metal, with that 80’s sound of big choruses, high screams duel guitars and shredding solos then Horizons Edge maybe for you! This six piece are fast and very melodic, you’d think they were from Germany!

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

My Ruin

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Alternative metal, Nu metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MyRuinOfficial

Not many musicians can boast a career as varied as American Tairrie B. She started out in dance music before finding success as a rapper. From there she went on to form alternative metal outfit Manhole in 1993. Due to a legal reasons the band then changed their name to Tura Santana and gave us the brilliant Relief Through Release album in 1997… an album that is still very much under-rated even today. In 1999 Tairrie then joined forces with Mick Murphy, who would later become her husband, to form My Ruin. To date the band have released eight albums and had tracks featured in movies including Nicholas Cage’s 8mm. My Ruin is currently on hiatus.

Pagan

Origin: Australia
Genre: Hardcore
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pagancult666

If your’re a fan of hardcore then you have to see these guys live. Lead vocalise, Nikki, has the charisma of Chrissy Amphlett (Dyvinals) and the cuteness of a poodle.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Amyl and The Sniffers

Origin: Australia
Genre: Rock ‘n Roll, Pub punk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amylandthesniffers/

Amyl and the Sniffers are a pub, punk rock fronted by vocalist Amy Taylor. You’d would be wrong thinking were watching an 80s British punk band in London with a girl with a mic when you see them live.

https://www.facebook.com/burningwitches666

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Burning Witches

Origin: Switzerland
Genre: Power metal, Heavy Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/burningwitches666

Burning Witches was founded in 2015 in Brugg, Switzerland, by guitar player Romana Kalkuhl. They are a five piece all girl powerhouse.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Def FX

Origin: Australia
Genre: Industrial rock, Techno, Punk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DEFFXOFFICIAL

Def FX fronted by none other than Fiona Horne. Albums such as Ritual Eternal and Majick introduced a new wave of rock that seemed to mix elements of electronica but was much heavier than most of the electronic-rock that had come before it. Horne is also a noted white witch who has also recorded solo albums and two albums with her first band, The Mothers. Def FX are about to embark on a reunion tour in Australia.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

L7

Origin: United States of America
Genre: Grunge, Hard rock, Alternative metal

L7 is an American punk rock band from Los Angeles, California whom were born 198. Due to their sound and image, they are often associated with the grunge movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Epica

Origin: Netherlands
Genre: Symphonic Metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/epica/

Lead by Simone Simons, Epica base many song lyrics on philosophical, spiritual, scientific form both a personal social point of view. Epica is known for their wide use of opera chiros and orchestration.

 – video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

Nightwish

Origin: Finnish
Genre: Symphonic metal, Power metal, Folk metal, Gothic metal
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nightwish/
Fin power/symphonic metal band are one of Europes export bands and are continually touring the world and top billing festivals. Traidtionally Nightwish were purely a symphonic metal band but after vovalist Tarja Turnen left the band and Floor Jensen [who is Dutch] took over they adopted more of a heavy metal and power metal approach along with the symphonic metal.

Tarja Turunen (Ex-Nightwish) – For many metal lovers Tarja Turunen will forever go down in history as the woman who redefined the symphonic metal genre. With Tarja at the front of Nightwish the genre almost became main-stream and as a result attracted a legion of new fans… many of which would never have previously listened to heavy metal music. Before leaving Nightwish Turunen would record five perfect albums with the band. Since her departure she has also released twelve solo albums… and still has one of the finest voices in the heavy music world.

– video coming soon – Check back in a couple of hours –

 

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