Vulvodynia Part Ways With Vocalist Zion Bittenbender Following Past Allegations

South African deathcore outfit Vulvodynia have officially parted ways with vocalist Zion Bittenbender following months of uncertainty surrounding his status in the band.

Bittenbender joined the group in fall 2025, but shortly after his introduction was announced, past allegations of sexual assault and misconduct resurfaced online. He denied those allegations at the time and stepped away from the band in November to address the situation.

Following a period of relative silence, speculation surrounding the lineup intensified last month when the band withdrew from Defeated Sanity’s planned spring North American tour. The group has now confirmed the split in an official statement issued March 3rd:

“We would like to apologize for the delay in addressing this situation. We took time to step back and carefully consider the appropriate course of action. After serious internal discussion, we have decided to part ways with Zion. We will also no longer be participating in the upcoming US tour with Defeated Sanity.

We take allegations of sexual misconduct extremely seriously. Our priority is maintaining an environment that reflects our values and respects our fans, peers, and the wider community. After careful consideration of the circumstances, we believe this decision is in the best interest of the band moving forward.

We also acknowledge that aspects of how this was initially handled were not managed in the way they should have been, and we sincerely apologize. We will now begin the process of finding a new vocalist. Details regarding auditions will be shared soon. In the meantime, Lwandile will be handling vocal duties for our remaining shows this year.

We appreciate the patience of our fans and remain committed to moving forward with focus and integrity.”

Bittenbender had originally been brought in as a permanent replacement after guitarist Lwandile Prusent temporarily assumed vocal duties following the departure of former frontman Duncan Bentley. Bentley was dismissed from the band in 2023 after a violent altercation involving another member.

Vulvodynia have confirmed they will now begin searching for a new vocalist, with audition details expected to be announced in the near future.

If you’re rocking with The Mosh Network, hit the link and add us as a Preferred Source on Google. That’s the easiest way to keep our latest metal, hardcore, and alternative news, tours, and releases showing up directly in your feed.