ALISSA WHITE-GLUZ talks about split with ARCH ENEMY
“It was definitely difficult but change is always a wild mix of fear and excitement”
18-02-2026
In a new interview with Germany’s Metal Hammer magazine, Alissa White-Gluz was asked how difficult it was for her to announce her departure from ARCH ENEMY last November after an 11-year tenure with the extreme metal titans. She responded: “It was definitely difficult but change is always a wild mix of fear and excitement. When you spend that many years with something, it becomes a huge part of your life and identity. So making that announcement wasn’t something I took lightly. I had devoted an enormous amount of my creative energy to the project for more than half of my career.”
She continued: “I really love music and art, I can’t bear to treat it like just another day at the office. That’s why I put so much extra care and intention into every lyric, performance, recording, and visual that I do. I felt a real responsibility to handle the announcement with respect for the fans, for the music, and for myself. Just getting straight to the point felt like the only way to honor my past while also stepping confidently into what comes next.”
Regarding the reaction to her exit from ARCH ENEMY, Alissa said: “The fans’ and industry peers’ responses honestly blew me away. There was so much love, encouragement, and genuine support, more than ever before, and it felt incredibly energizing. What really stood out to me was how strongly people connected to the idea of my growth and evolution. It made me feel deeply grateful and also very motivated. It reinforced that the connection we’ve built is strong, and that it naturally carries forward. That is something I have always been focused on in my career: stepping outside of my comfort zone and outside of the box so that I can have artistic freedom without being typecast. That support gave me a lot of confidence and excitement about the future, because I really do believe that art and artists are meant to evolve.”
Alissa also touched upon “The Room Where She Died”, the recently released first single from her upcoming debut solo album. The music for “The Room Where She Died” was written by KAMELOT keyboardist Oliver Palotai, while Alissa performed, recorded and wrote all the vocals for the track. White-Gluz also came up with the script for “The Room Where She Died”‘s accompanying music video, which was created by Serbian video production company iCODE Team. Asked why now is the right time for her to release her debut solo album after first signing with Napalm Records as a solo artist back in 2016, Alissa said: “The intention was always there, but I never wanted to rush something that personal or force it into the wrong moment. I knew this project needed the right headspace, focus, and creative freedom to really come alive. Now feels right because there’s real momentum. I have clarity, excitement, and the space to fully commit to it, and everything is aligning creatively. I know what I want to express, I know how I want it to sound and feel, and I’m genuinely energized by the process. This album feels like a natural evolution, something I’ve been building toward for a long time, and that makes this moment feel both exciting and right.”
White-Gluz also revealed that she is working with “two amazingly talented guitarists, Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia” on new material. “So far the music we are making together is exactly what I have always wanted,” she explained. “I feel like they both have such unique playing styles that complement each other to make our collaborative work super heavy, energetic, catchy and evocative at the same time. I really couldn’t be happier and more honored to be working alongside such talented and inspiring musicians. Fans will not have to wait long at all to hear and see what we have been up to.”
In November 2025 Alissa White-Gluz released “The Room Where She Died”, the first single from her upcoming debut solo album. The music for “The Room Where She Died” was written by KAMELOT keyboardist Oliver Palotai, while Alissa performed, recorded and wrote all the vocals for the track. White-Gluz also came up with the script for “The Room Where She Died”‘s accompanying music video, which was created by Serbian video production company iCODE Team. In the video, Alissa sports a Dean Tyrant, which is one of ARCH ENEMY guitarist Michael Amott‘s signature models.
Watch “The Room Where She Died” below.
Alissa comments: “I hope you love this first offering from my upcoming solo album.
“‘The Room Where She Died’ is a song that feels truly satisfying to me; like I get to express myself in so many ways that have been dormant for years.
“This upcoming album is diverse; and I love the idea of opening up this new chapter with this song and video, which I wrote the script for.
“Can’t wait to share more with you!”
The announcement came hours after ARCH ENEMY announced it had parted ways with White-Gluz, writing on social media: “ARCH ENEMY have parted ways with singer Alissa White-Gluz. We’re thankful for the time and music we’ve shared and wish her all the best.
“Wherever there is an ending, there is also a beginning.
“See you in 2026.”
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