Ithaca (band)

Background

Ithaca were formed in London in late 2012 by guitarists Sam Chetan-Welsh and Will Sweet and drummer James Lewis, who had known each other since school. Vocalist Djamila Boden Azzouz joined after responding to an advertisement on Join My Band; at their first rehearsal, she impressed the band by improvising Limp Bizkit's 'Break Stuff' over a song they had written. The band released their debut EP Narrow the Way in 2014 and a second EP Trespassers in 2015, playing shows with grindcore, death metal, black metal, and hardcore bands. During this period, they faced bigotry and negativity from promoters and audiences, which Azzouz said made her feel the need to be 'hyper-aggressive' on stage.

Their debut album The Language of Injury was recorded in 2017 amidst personal turmoil—Azzouz wrote lyrics during a toxic relationship's collapse, and Chetan-Welsh was grieving his mother's death. The album was not released until February 2019 through Holy Roar Records, due to 'various reasons'.

After the label's founder was accused of sexual misconduct in 2020, Ithaca severed ties and signed to Hassle Records in 2021. Their second album They Fear Us (2022) received critical acclaim, earning nominations for Best Production and Best Single at the Heavy Music Awards 2023. The band announced their disbandment in October 2024 and played their final show at the O2 Academy Islington in February 2025.