Elize Ryd, the powerhouse vocalist of Swedish-Danish metal band Amaranthe, has spoken candidly about her ongoing battle with sexism in the music industry. In a recent interview with The AU Review, Ryd revealed the emotional toll of enduring disrespectful comments aimed at her gender, not her artistry—but also shared how a wave of positivity from fans has kept her grounded and resilient.
“Within the band, it’s fine, because they see me as their sister,” Ryd said. “But sometimes we are very different because I like to do different things than the guys, so sometimes I feel very alone.”
While the camaraderie within Amaranthe remains strong, Ryd admits that the difference in interests and perspectives can make her feel isolated. More difficult still are the online attacks she receives—not for her performance or professionalism, but simply for being a woman in metal.
“I also read very, very disrespectful comments focused towards me because I’m a woman, not because I’m an artist like the other guys,” she explained. “You should not take it personally, but it’s very hard, sometimes, not to.”
Despite the negativity, Ryd has emerged as a symbol of strength for many—especially after she publicly shamed a Facebook troll who had posted degrading comments about her. Her response, written in a heartfelt blog post, resonated with fans across the globe and sparked a wave of support, particularly from women who had experienced similar treatment.
“I actually got a lot of e-mails about that from women who had been treated very bad and had lived with this kind of hate, and they really appreciated it,” she said. “They feel better when they hear that it also happens to me.”
Rather than let the hate define her, Ryd chooses to focus on the outpouring of encouragement and love she receives from Amaranthe’s global fanbase.
“I stay positive thanks to all the positive critique I get and the love I get from so many fans,” she shared. “It’s thanks to them I get more and more strong. It’s definitely the good responses that I’m sucking in.”
As one of the few prominent female voices in modern metal, Ryd’s courage to speak out is inspiring countless fans and challenging outdated norms. Her message is clear: the battle against sexism in music is far from over, but positivity, solidarity, and authenticity can be powerful tools in the fight.
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