Windhand – Ilsa Live At Once Ballroom


 

My back was to the wall, and I felt a little wavy headed from booze and music. Sweaty under my hoodie from pregamming at the house, but the club was drafty. My eyes were rolled back under my sleepy lids, as waves of sound punched my eardrums inside out. My head nodded to the beat of every riff. Sometimes those glorious razors of sound came faster, but most of them were steady as breathing to me. Over the din, one solitary voice in pain, disgust, and sometimes joy filled entire room with so much heart, if left the crowed positively entranced.

I spent some time this fall back in my old stomping grounds of Massachusetts for a friendsgiving. At The tail end of the trip I got to hang with my pal and Ghost Cult photographer Lisa Schuchmann and check out the mini-tour from Windhand and Ilsa. They were playing at one of my favorite places, Once Ballroom in Somerville MA, and it was nice to reconnect with friends in the scene there, and other Ghost Cult staff who were also in for the show. I got to hang with my pals in Z28, a relatively new entry to the deep Boston heavy rock scene. They opened the show and the room was already full to cheer them on when they started. Check out their recent EP if you dig some good grooves and vibes,

Ilsa, by Lisa Schuchmann

Ilsa, by Lisa Schuchmann

After making the rounds, checking out merch and talking to a few more folks, I got a good spot for Ilsa. If you don’t have their recent split EP with Coffins, go get it from the Relpase Records store. Musically, Ilsa knows where they live best…. grinding your innards to dust with noise.Some uptempo marching beats get tossed in for good measure. There seemed to be quite a few heads in the room screaming along, which was cool since the band doesn’t tour all that extensively, rather in bursts. Waiting on that next full-length you guys!

Ilsa, by Lisa Schuchmann

Ilsa, by Lisa Schuchmann

The place was absolutely packed to the gills when Windhand started setting up their gear. I was right up front, earplugs packed in tight in my dome. As the members came out and set their gear up, you could feel the energy in the room. Dorthia Cottrell unassumingly stepped to the mic, we waited anxiously for her to start. The drum fill signals the first of endless riffage to come from ‘Amaranth’, she immediately feels the music from her face to her elbow, to her feet. When she opens her mouth, I think about the heaven some of my friends talk about and wonder if doom metal is my version of a perfect, safe peaceful place for all eternity.

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

After a few songs I retreated to the back of the club a bit and stood on a chair near the bar to survey the crowd. The entire room seemed to vibrate in tune with the band, leading to the weirdness I mentioned at the top. Cottrell just owns and is one of the finest singers to grace any stage in music today. Tracks like ‘Forrest Clouds’ and ‘Kingfisher’ off of Grief’s Infernal Flower (Relapse), and their epic closer ‘Cassock’ just signify how special this band really is. Their fans were definitely feeling it too.

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

Windhand, by Lisa Schuchmann

WORDS BY KEITH CHACHKES

PHOTOS BY LISA SCHUCHMANN