Swiss rockers Rebel Rose fuse powerful vocals and delicious classic hard rock meets heavy metal goodness in a thrilling sound they describe as “passionate, classic and modern.”
Technically speaking, Rebel Rose is a solo project started by Swiss singer Sara Runco, but has been heavily influenced by the musicians and songwriters who’ve been part of her journey. Sara sang in various bands in the past, but eventually decided she wanted to go it alone.
“I wanted to evolve and follow my own vision – without compromise,” Sara told us. “In my previous bands, goals and levels of commitment often differed. So when the opportunity came to walk my own path, I took it. That’s how Rebel Rose was born – honest, straightforward, and true to what defines me musically.”
Sara worked with Swiss musician and producer Reto Burrell to write her debut album, and during that process, she met and instantly clicked with guitarist Dario Michielini and drummer Stefan Häberli. They soon became permanent band members, before adding bassist Fabian Volkers – and they’re still on the lookout for a second lead guitarist. But, in the studio, that role was played by Dario’s cousin Jéremy Gras. As Sara puts it: “Yes, Rebel Rose is a solo project, but it’s also a band made up of people who are very important to me both musically and personally.”
And on the sound they’ve crafted since, Sara said: “Rebel Rose stands for powerful, emotional, classic heavy metal with modern influences – catchy melodic riffs, driving drums, and a strong female voice. You might say it’s somewhere between Iron Maiden, Doro, and our own unique flavor – traditional yet fresh.”
Our latest taste of this is Rebel Rose’s third single Under Fire, which was released earlier this month. It opens up with a cool darting riff that drops into Sara’s engaging vocals “Life is do or die, Learn to swim or you’ll drown.” A piercing guitar jumps in and tees up a powerful chorus led by Sara’s impressive vocals, ending with a cheeky little guitar solo dropping into another high-octane verse and chorus. An extended guitar solo takes centre stage, before the pace eventually drops with repeats of “under fire” teeing up a huge final blast of the chorus.
On the track, Sara told us: “Under Fire is only our third single so far. Since the first release, the response has been absolutely overwhelming. For us, that’s a clear sign that we’re on the right path and motivated to keep working hard. Listeners can expect a powerful track that blends modern and classic rock/metal vibes. It’s perfect for anyone who loves strong guitars and melodic, classic metal – topped off with dynamic vocals full of power and emotion.”
Under Fire follows on from the equally excellent debut single Where the Forgotten Wait, which was released in February and you can check out in the video below, and the big singalong Inner Animal, which followed in April.
The Rebel Rose sound has been heavily influenced, both vocally and musically, by Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickinson and Savatage’s Zak Stevens. Sara also draws influence from Doro, telling us: “The first ‘Queen of Metal,’ who shook up the male-dominated scene back in the 80s and helped shape metal as we know it, is a true icon to me. She’s always shown her thorns without fear – and that deeply inspires me.”
And on what influences them to write music, Sara explains: “We write about things that move us. We’re inspired by emotions and the many facets of being human – courage, doubt, loss, change, conflict. Many of our songs tell symbolic stories or touch on timeless themes like freedom, inner strength, or the fight against external forces. For us, music is a fusion of emotion, imagination, and truth.”
We’ve not featured too many artists from Switzerland, this being only the third since January 2023. So we asked Sara for her insight into her country’s music. “The Swiss rock and metal scene is more diverse, vibrant, and bigger than many might think,” she told us. “Despite being a small country, we’ve produced quite a few internationally known bands – like Krokus, Gotthard, Shakra, Eluveitie, Coroner, China, Celtic Frost, and more.
“In my experience, the sense of community in the scene is strong. Many bands – especially the lesser-known underground ones – support each other and help one another grow. One of the best things about being in a small country is that you often cross paths. Many concerts and events feel like big family gatherings to me – with great music and familiar faces. There are now more concert organizers, festivals, radio stations, and funding programs that support new swiss artists. Still, it’s very challenging to establish yourself nationally or internationally. It takes passion and persistence. Overall, we’re proud of our scene and excited about every new band that starts its journey. Rebel Rose is just at the beginning, and we’re curious to see where this road will take us.”
The three Rebel Rose songs released thus far will come from their debut album, which they’ve just finished recording but haven’t yet set a firm release date. You can see Rebel Rose performing live from this Autumn, and we’ll certainly make sure to feature the debut album when it’s released.
And Sara added: “Rebel Rose is dedicated to classic metal and hard rock. Based on the feedback we’ve received, our music also resonates with people who don’t normally listen to metal. So you don’t have to be a metalhead to enjoy our songs. Just give it a listen!”
You can follow Rebel Rose on Facebook and Instagram, and check out their music on Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube.
Listen to Rebel Rose and more new music on our Spotify playlists GigRadar Metal and GigRadar Rock
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