IZTHMI

Izthmi biography
Formed in 2016, Izthmi are a USA-based progressive black metal quintet from Seattle, Washington. Drawing from the templates established by Agalloch, Fen and Panopticon, Izthmi began as the duo of Nolan Head (drums/vocals; formerly of Orator and Necrosomnium) and Autumn Schibret (guitars/piano).

The band became a trio by their debut one-track 2018 demo, To Traipse Alone..., with the addition of vocalist and keyboardist Jakob Keizer. Brett Tomsett joined Izthmi sometime thereafter, trading guitar and bass duties with Schibret, with the quartet sharing their vision of melodic atmospheric black metal via 2020's The Arrows of Our Ways. Released on Within the Mind Records, the LP is a concept album "focused on the journey of the self and finding solace through love in a time of extreme oppression and ecological detriment."

Leaving This World, Leaving It All Behind, Izthmi's 2022 sophomore, was jointly issued by Within the Mind and Satanik Royalty Records, and was the first and last record to feature Gabe Kangas (bass/piano), who was replaced by Tylo Gardner (vocals/bass) the following year. This time, the album's concept "is both a literal and metaphorical statement about leaving, a life and system that was never made for us, behind. Through the acts of self preservation, resistance, and ultimately even giving up entirely. The biggest message on the album is about empowering the self to take control over our own reality and the things that we have control over."