Biography
Witch Will Die is a Russian deathrock, gothic rock and post-punk band from Chelyabinsk in the South Ural region. Formed in 2012, the group combines classic gothic rock with the raw energy of punk and deathrock, dark post-punk atmosphere and noisy shoegaze textures. Over time, its music has expanded to incorporate alternative rock, new wave and increasingly heavy elements ranging from doom-laden passages to extreme vocals.
After several early lineup and name changes, including a period working as I'm Jim Morrison, I'm Dead, Witch Will Die established its characteristic sound with the debut album Violet of Twilight, released January 30, 2016. Written and performed primarily by Alexander K. and Wentzel Rollmann, the album was rooted in old-school goth punk, deathrock and post-punk and subsequently received a physical release through Polish gothic label Bat-Cave Productions.
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The band's second album, Man Who Never Cares, followed on October 6, 2017 and considerably broadened its sound. While remaining fundamentally gothic rock, the record moved between melancholic post-punk, fast punk-driven deathrock, shoegaze textures, drum-machine rhythms, new wave and darker atmospheric passages. The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Rollmann, with Alexander handling bass and sharing vocal duties. Releases including the archival Lost Ones EP in 2020 and Lost, Wounded & Agonised in 2024 continued the band's development.
Witch Will Die returned with its third full-length album, Francesca, on November 1, 2024. Primarily written, performed, recorded, mixed and mastered by Rollmann, the album continued the group's stylistic expansion, moving between driving gothic punk and deathrock, melodic and romantic passages, heavier doom-influenced sections and extreme vocals. Alexander K. again contributed writing and lead vocals, while Daria Shrr of Cracky Tights and Nick Haley of Beyond the Hollow appeared as guest vocalists. The band's lineup during this era has included Alexander K. on lead vocals, Wentzel Rollmann on guitars, vocals and programming, and Timur Rzhevskii on bass.
In 2025 the band released The Witch Uncovered, an EP consisting of interpretations of songs by Dead Boys, The Stooges, Minor Threat, Nine Inch Nails and Misfits. Conceived as a collection of songs that influenced the punk side of Witch Will Die, the release highlighted the importance of punk and deathrock to the group's identity alongside its gothic influences. The band remained active into 2026, releasing further material including the Russian-language single “Ничей.”
Across its catalog, Witch Will Die has resisted settling into a single branch of gothic music. Traditional goth-rock guitar work and dark post-punk rhythms coexist with punk aggression, shoegaze noise, electronic programming and increasingly metallic textures. The band's evolution from the old-school gothic sound of Violet of Twilight through the experimentation of Man Who Never Cares and the heavier extremes of Francesca has produced a distinctive interpretation of contemporary Russian deathrock and gothic rock.
Biography text from Last.fm, available under CC BY-SA.