Ithaca

Ithaca formed in the UK around 2015, with Djamila Boden Azzouz on vocals, Sam Chesters on guitar, Robert Johnson on bass, and Jamie Ward on drums. They released their first EP, The Language of Injury, in 2018, followed by another EP called They Fear Us in 2019. Their debut album, The Future Says Thank You, came out in 2020, and they put out a second album, Pain Is Power, in 2022.

Their music falls into progressive metal territory, with intricate guitar work and complex rhythms. Songs like 'The Future Says Thank You' and 'Better Abuse' show their blend of technical playing and melodic vocals. In 2020, that title track sparked some plagiarism accusations from another band, which Ithaca denied, saying any similarities were coincidental.

Lyrically, they touch on identity and social themes. Their sound has drawn both dedicated fans and some criticism for being too dense or inaccessible at times, but they've kept working in their own lane. They're still putting out music that challenges what metal can do, without much concern for fitting neatly into expectations.