Alissa White-Gluz

Early life and musical foundations

Alissa White-Gluz was born on 31 July 1985 in Montreal, Quebec, as the second of three children. Her family history includes her Jewish grandparents, who were prisoners in concentration camps during the Second World War and managed to escape. Their experiences would later inspire the Arch Enemy song "First Day in Hell". Her older sister, Jasamine White-Gluz, is the frontwoman of the Montreal-based band No Joy. Raised in a vegetarian household, White-Gluz adopted a vegan lifestyle in 1998 and also follows a straight-edge philosophy, which involves abstaining from alcohol, recreational drugs, and tobacco. She identifies as Jewish but is an atheist, expressing opposition to organized religion while noting she does not oppose religious people. Her early musical tastes were eclectic, encompassing classical music, 1990s grunge bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, and Soundgarden, and punk rock, which she connected to her social values. In a 2017 interview with Metal Hammer, she praised the stripped-down honesty and perceived mistakes in Nirvana's live recordings, stating she loved hearing out-of-tune guitars and cracks in the voice.

Career with The Agonist and ascent with Arch Enemy

White-Gluz's professional music career began in 2004 when she co-founded the Montreal metalcore band The Agonist, initially named Tempest, with guitarist Danny Marino and bassist Chris Kells. She served as the band's lead vocalist for a decade, releasing three studio albums and one EP that established her reputation for combining harsh and clean vocals. The band's discography with White-Gluz includes Once Only Imagined (2007), Lullabies for the Dormant Mind (2009), the EP The Escape (2011), and Prisoners (2012). In March 2014, she was offered the role of vocalist for the renowned Swedish melodic death metal band Arch Enemy, replacing Angela Gossow. After proposing to work in both bands simultaneously, she was subsequently dismissed from The Agonist in the spring of 2014.

Her tenure with Arch Enemy lasted over a decade and made her a globally recognized figure in extreme metal. The band's releases during her time as frontwoman were War Eternal (2014), Will to Power (2017), Deceivers (2022), and Blood Dynasty (2025). She also featured on the live albums As the Stages Burn! (2017) and Tokyo Sacrifice, as well as the covers compilation Covered in Blood (2019). On 23 November 2025, Arch Enemy announced White-Gluz's departure from the band, marking the end of a major chapter in her career. That same day, she released the first single from her upcoming solo album, signaling a shift towards independent and new collaborative projects.

New projects: Blue Medusa and DragonForce

The year 2026 marked a period of significant transition and new beginnings for White-Gluz, with the launch of two major bands. On 8 March 2026, she announced the formation of her new heavy metal band, Blue Medusa, describing it as the next evolution of her creative journey and a creative melting pot. The all-female project features guitarists Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia. Blue Medusa made its live debut at a surprise show shortly after the announcement and performed at the Wacken Open Air festival in 2026 as part of the MagentaMusik presentation. The band released its first singles, "Flying Monkey" on 19 August 2026 and "Crocodile" on 12 September 2026, with a third single titled "Checkmate" also released in 2026, and a debut album anticipated in the future.

Just two months later, on 6 May 2026, the British power metal band DragonForce announced that White-Gluz had joined as a second lead vocalist alongside longtime frontman Marc Hudson. Her live debut with DragonForce occurred on 9 May 2026 at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, where she fronted the entire set as Hudson was unable to perform due to ongoing hearing issues, with guitarist Billy Wilkins providing supporting vocals. The set included fan favourites like "Operation Ground And Pound" and "Through The Fire And Flames". In a statement, White-Gluz expressed her long-time fandom for the band, having seen them in concert multiple times over the previous 20 years, and noted it felt great to present all the colours of her voice in their technically challenging songs.

DragonForce subsequently announced a major North American tour for late 2026 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of their album Inhuman Rampage. The tour includes over twenty dates across the United States and two Canadian concerts. The Canadian stops are scheduled at MTELUS in Montreal on 1 December 2026 and History in Toronto on 2 December 2026. The tour will be joined by supporting acts Ensiferum and Rhapsody of Fire, with presale tickets beginning in May 2026 and general public sales starting on 29 May 2026.

Solo career and collaborative guest work

Parallel to her band commitments, White-Gluz has pursued a solo career and is one of the most sought-after guest vocalists in metal, with over fifty collaborations cited. She signed a deal with Napalm Records in 2016 for a solo album under the moniker "Alissa", intending it to be a collaborative project featuring many of the artists she has worked with over the years. In a 2017 interview with Duke TV, she said the album's sound would be pretty different from Arch Enemy and would feature collaborations with Kamelot members. On 23 November 2025, the same day her departure from Arch Enemy was announced, she released the first single from this album, titled "The Room Where She Died", for which she wrote, recorded, and performed all vocals. She has stated the solo material will explore diverse styles, from black metal to influences like Muse and Queen, aiming to give back to her many collaborators by having them appear on her album.

Alissa White-Gluz has recorded guest vocals for many artists across different metal genres. She worked with Kamelot on their 2015 album Haven and performed live with them in 2012. She contributed to Delain's albums The Human Contradiction in 2014 and Moonbathers in 2016. She also recorded guest vocals for Carnifex on their 2019 song "No Light Shall Save Us" and for Powerwolf. Her other guest appearances include work with Blackguard, Slaves on Dope, DOYLE, Angra, Dee Snider, Kane Roberts, Alice Cooper, and Soilwork.

• Blackguard on their 2008 EP Another Round and Slaves on Dope on their 2012 album Over the Influence.
• Kamelot on their 2015 album Haven and as a live guest on their 2012 North American tour supporting Nightwish.
• Delain on tracks from The Human Contradiction (2014) and "Hands of Gold" from Moonbathers (2016).
• Carnifex on the song "No Light Shall Save Us" from World War X (2019).
• Angra on the song "Black Widow's Web" from Omni (2018) and Soilwork on "Stålfågel" from Verkligheten (2019).
• Dee Snider on "Dead Hearts Love Thy Enemy" from For The Love of Metal (2018) and Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein on "Kiss Me As We Die" from DOYLE II (2017).
• Providing emergency live vocals for Nightwish alongside Elize Ryd in Denver on 28 September 2012 and joining them again on stage in Orlando on 14 October 2012 for the song "Last Ride of the Day".

Activism and ventures in other media

Beyond music, White-Gluz is a dedicated animal rights activist and public advocate for veganism. She has been vegan since 1998 and has engaged in activism since childhood, as she stated in a 2018 Metal Hammer interview. Her efforts were recognized with a Libby award from PETA for her work in an international campaign against the commercial hunting of Canadian seals. In 2023, she participated in a PETA anti-fishing campaign posing as a mermaid and appeared in Moby's documentary Punk Rock Vegan Movie, released in February 2023. She also served as an executive producer for the 2024 British documentary I Could Never Go Vegan, further amplifying her advocacy through film.

White-Gluz has also expanded her artistic output into other media, demonstrating her range. She provided voice acting for the video game Gears 5, voicing the Swarm Hunters. She performed on the soundtrack for the rhythm game Metal: Hellsinger in 2022, contributing the track "Stygia". She portrayed the character Pretty Lavinia in visual companion content for American Murder Song. Earlier in her career, she also voiced the character The Muse in the video game Karmaflow in 2015 and 2016. These projects translate her powerful stage presence and vocal talents into different narrative and interactive formats, adding another dimension to her career beyond the concert stage.

Personal life and relationship

Alissa White-Gluz has been in a relationship with Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, the guitarist of the American horror punk band Misfits and the band DOYLE, since 2014. She recorded guest vocals for his band's 2017 album DOYLE II. She maintains a straight-edge lifestyle, abstaining from alcohol and drugs, which aligns with the straight-edge hardcore punk subculture. Her personal interests remain closely tied to music and her ethical beliefs, with punk rock and hardcore punk holding a specific connection to her social values as she stated in a Patreon interview. She continues to reside an active life between Montreal and touring commitments, balancing her creative projects with her activism and her relationship.

Discography of primary studio releases

Alissa White-Gluz has a substantial recorded output as a lead vocalist across several bands. With The Agonist, she released the albums Once Only Imagined in 2007, Lullabies for the Dormant Mind in 2009, and Prisoners in 2012. With Arch Enemy, she released the studio albums War Eternal in 2014, Will to Power in 2017, Deceivers in 2022, and Blood Dynasty in 2025. With her band Blue Medusa, formed in 2026, she released the singles "Flying Monkey" and "Crocodile" in 2026.

This work shows her evolution from metalcore with The Agonist to melodic death metal with Arch Enemy and then to heavy metal with Blue Medusa. Her many guest appearances on recordings by artists like Kamelot, Delain, and Carnifex greatly expand her discography. She also released the solo single "The Room Where She Died" in November 2025 ahead of her upcoming solo album. This album will be released under the moniker "Alissa" and will feature collaborations with artists she has worked with previously.

Questions about Alissa White-Gluz

Why did Alissa White-Gluz leave Arch Enemy?

Alissa White-Gluz left Arch Enemy in November 2025 after more than a decade as their lead vocalist. The announcement was made on 23 November 2025, coinciding with the release of her first solo single. While the band's statement did not specify detailed reasons, her departure allowed her to focus on launching her solo career and pursuing new projects, including the formation of Blue Medusa and joining DragonForce in 2026. She had been with Arch Enemy since March 2014, replacing former vocalist Angela Gossow.

What bands is Alissa White-Gluz in now?

As of 2026, Alissa White-Gluz is actively involved in two bands. She is a lead vocalist for the British power metal band DragonForce, having joined in May 2026 and making her live debut that same month. She is also the founder and vocalist of her own heavy metal band, Blue Medusa, which she formed in March 2026 with guitarists Alyssa Day and Dani Sophia. She continues to work on her long-awaited solo album under the moniker "Alissa", which she has been developing since signing with Napalm Records in 2016.

Is Alissa White-Gluz vegan?

Yes, Alissa White-Gluz has been a committed vegan since 1998. She was raised in a vegetarian family and has been involved in animal rights activism since childhood. Her advocacy includes receiving a Libby award from PETA for campaigning against Canadian seal hunting, featuring in a 2023 PETA anti-fishing ad where she posed as a mermaid, and appearing in the documentary Punk Rock Vegan Movie. She also executive produced the 2024 documentary I Could Never Go Vegan to promote the lifestyle.

Has Alissa White-Gluz done any voice acting?

Yes, Alissa White-Gluz has done voice acting work. Her most notable role was providing the voice for the Swarm Hunters in the 2019 video game Gears 5. She has also contributed her voice to other media projects, including performing as the character Pretty Lavinia in visual companion content for American Murder Song and recording the track "Stygia" for the rhythm game Metal: Hellsinger in 2022. Earlier, she voiced The Muse in the video game Karmaflow in 2015 and 2016.

When is DragonForce touring Canada with Alissa White-Gluz?

DragonForce, with Alissa White-Gluz as co-lead vocalist, has scheduled two Canadian concerts as part of their late 2026 North American tour. The band will perform at MTELUS in Montreal, Quebec on 1 December 2026, followed by a show at History in Toronto, Ontario on 2 December 2026. This tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of their album Inhuman Rampage and will also feature support from the bands Ensiferum and Rhapsody of Fire. A full list of over twenty US dates precedes these Canadian shows.

What is Alissa White-Gluz's vocal style?

Alissa White-Gluz's vocal style includes both growling and clean singing. She is best known for employing this dual approach across multiple metal subgenres. Her growling is prominent in her work with melodic death metal band Arch Enemy and metalcore band The Agonist, while her clean singing is featured in power metal with DragonForce and in various guest appearances. This versatility has allowed her to contribute to symphonic metal, deathcore, and other styles. Her technical skill enables her to perform technically challenging and energetic material, as noted in her statement about joining DragonForce.

Sources and further reading

• Alissa White-Gluz (Wikipedia)
• Watch former Arch Enemy singer Alissa White-Gluz make ... (loudersound.com)
• DragonForce Detail Fall Tour with Alissa White-Gluz (exclaim.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-25.