Amy Bowles
Lights down, space suits on, an overwhelming sense of dread. As the smoke machine starts to bellow out, the ambience is set and Wallowing smash into their first track of the night, delivering an impeccable blend of blackened sludge, doom, noise and… sci-fi. Not only is their music highly captivating, the outfits, the hypnotic repetitive movements timed to dense atmospheric riffs and piercing screams is quite honestly, bewitching.
Their sound may be sinistrous and harrowing, full of heavy reverberating bass that consumes your whole body and the ring of depressive sludgy riffs but you can feel the intense awe of the crowd as they become enamoured and fascinated by what they are witnessing. The enchantment nor the energy lets up throughout their set, as one frontman is ensuring The Dome is laden with thick smoke, the other is jumping down from the stage, colliding with the crowd and ramping up the liveliness.
The night couldn’t have started with a more impactful and immersive performance, perfectly opening an enthralling evening. For those in the crowd that didn’t know about Wallowing, their curiosity is sure to be peaked.
Tonight’s performance from Ithaca is special. Released in 2022, They Fear Us is a truly seminal album and it is no wonder fans have travelled from all over the UK and Europe to experience the celebration and performance of this phenomenal record.
Met with the most ferocious roar from the crowd as they grace the floral embellished stage, there isn’t a soul in the venue that doesn’t have a beaming smile. The heaviness of ‘The Future Says Thank You’ and ‘They Fear Us’ erupts and the energy of the band and audience is nothing short of electrifying, welcoming a sea of headbangers and explosive pits.
The intensely passionate melodic ending to ‘Camera Eats First’ really illuminates just how exceptional this band is. As Djamila reaches into the crowd and the audience screams the lyrics, this track somehow feels even more powerful. Likewise, as the poignant messages of living through oppression, overcoming trauma and the need for progression within the hardcore and metal scenes linger, the band bursting into ‘Fluorescent’ makes for an incredibly cathartic experience.
This special performance is more akin to a full event; An exclusive beer in collaboration with Queer Brewing, Djamila’s exquisite outfit change and a heartwarming marriage proposal. There is so much elation as the final track from They Fear Us, ‘Hold, Be Held’, kicks in. The stage lights dance and twinkle off Djamila’s orange sequins as guest vocalist Yansè Cooper belts “how much more can I take?”, perfectly bringing this performance together – WOW.
Concluding with ‘Impulse Crush’ during the encore, as the band and guest musicians take their final bow, a cold November night has never felt so warm. Ithaca’s performance tonight was not only unforgettable but they created a safe space, overfilling with love, unity and togetherness.
