REVIEW # 1 from THE METAL OBSERVER
You can rely on ILIUM, because since their first full-length “Sirens Of The Styx” I am a die-hard fan of the Australians. Back then, they already announced that they would hire a new singer on their next disc, as they were not completely satisfied with Jason’s vocal effort. Lord Tim of DUNGEON handles these duties on the latest album, and I have to say that I was very sceptical, eventually he completely blew me away. His killer vocals alongside the insane song writing by ILIUM are a direct hit (with me, anyway).
Still, some tunes on "Permian Dusk“ are a bit too common. Because especially the two opening tracks, as well-done as they are, hardly differ from typical Power Metal tracks, without any nursery rhyme choruses, however. With the predecessor, I rather liked the epic stuff with an oriental touch. In return, a song like “Chloroform Divinity” is perfectly arranged and sticks to your brain. The title track gallops you down and could have been done by ICED EARTH when they were still good. With “Jaundiced With Fear” you get really epic, thick riffing, and great leads make any traditional head banger cheer with joy. IRON MAIDEN meet ICED EARTH here, and can there be anything nicer? A godly song! “Dark Breed” is in a similar vein and once again appeals to you because of the varied vocals by Lord Tim. Another dream-like hammer!
Up next is "Subconscious Reality“, which cannot quite compete with the two predecessors, but which is anything but weak. ILIUM probably cannot do anything bad, eh? The strange title “Zeroid – Mechanical Pestilence” was given to a driving song that sounds a tad more aggressive but fits with ILIUM nevertheless. The song writing is 100% alright here and I just don’t understand why there is no deal for this godly band in Germany!!! “All Control Lost” is the most thrashy song on “Permian Dusk” and heaviness-wise it provides for variation. You also get amazing vocals by Lord Tim again here. To close this fantastic disc you get the longest track, the 9-minute “Zygo-Maze”, an epic masterpiece. The album’s absolute climax, with formidable guitar leads and a canon-like killer choruses sung by multiple voices.
I am stunned, what an album!!! After a somewhat average beginning, the level of quality starts rising. “Permian Dusk” is more mature than “Sirens Of The Styx” was, and due to the fact that the vocals sound somewhat more mass-compatible now than they did before, I will recommend “Permian Dusk” to all fans of traditional Metal in between IRON MAIDEN, KAMELOT and ICED EARTH! (Online February 5,
2006)
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REVIEW #2 - SEA OF TRANQUILITY
Permian Dusk is the second album of Australian power metal band Ilium, featuring former Dungeon vocalist Lord Tim who had also produced their debut release in 2003. It is kind of interesting cause Lord Tim joined the band only a week before the recording of Permian Dusk was due, so considering his performance on this album, he should be given credit for his great vocal job.
I haven't heard Ilium's first release, but Permian Dusk is basically an album of ten songs, some of which were written when guitarist Jason Hodges and original vocalist Mark Snedden were in another band called Oracle. The drum solo that opens the album on the classic heavy metal piece "Vacuous" sets the tone and demonstrates Ilium's staggering guitar riffs that deliver both cutting riffs and huge hooks. Lord Tim's vocals are powerful and the cold and raw drum sound complements the overall feel of the track. "An Odyssey Through Time" is a faster, more melodic piece written with references to Iron Maiden's "Caught Somewhere in Time" from Somewhere in Time. After two relatively fast-paced tracks, one of the catchiest and most gripping songs kicks in with a slowly building acoustic intro, some keyboards, and guitars using subtle exotic scales. Both guitarist Adam Smith and Jason Hodges produce thick melodic lines that surround the vivid bass and drum rhythms as well as Priest-like screams and define the song. However, the centrepieces of the album have got to be the two Oracle songs that were left out for various reasons. "Jaundiced With Fear" and "Dark Breed" are quite long, pushing the 8-minute mark. The former song has a very epic tone to it, marked by a vague folk feel that is somewhat Celtic sounding, and therefore similar to Skyclad, but as it proceeds, the riffs take on more Maiden-style gallop choruses, utilising a lot of different vocal stylings from Lord Tim and impressive twin guitar harmonies. "Subconscious Reality" also features a brief acoustic interlude before breaking into a full-on melodic metal number. On "Zeroid- Mechanical Pestilence", the band shows their theatrical sides with some narration thrown in for good measure, while "All Control Lost" is the album's grooviest song with a lot of multi-vocal parts.
All in all, Permian Dusk is a good melodic metal release with both power metal and traditional metal influences. This band has gone through a big tragedy before they entered the studio to record this disc, as one of their members had a very serious accident where he lost one foot. I respect them for their continued hard work and look forward to their third album.
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ILIUM BIOGRAPHY FROM WIKIPEDIA
power metal band from Newcastle, Australia who have formulated a unique musical style whilst still retaining familiar elements from pioneering heavy metal and Euro-styled power metal bands. Guitarist Jason Hodges and original vocalist Mark Snedden formed the band as Iliad in 1998 having previously played together in Oracle in the early 1990s. With the introduction of Adam Smith on guitar (also formerly or Oracle), the band changed their name to Ilium.
Recording their debut eponymous EP in 2002, the group received critical appraisal and, together with producer Lord Tim of Dungeon set about recording their debut album "Sirens Of The Styx".
The album, which also featured guest drummer Steve 'Stevo' Moore from Dungeon on drums, was released December 18, 2003 to widespread acclaim and contained such instant classics as "Antigone", "Semblance" and "Incipience: Beowulf Defeats Grendel", part one of a trilogy centred around the Beowulf legend, as well as the title track. The album also featured "The Celestial Sphere", which later became the subject of Ilium's first video clip.
Prior to recording their second album, founding vocalist Mark Snedden left due to family and financial restraints and was replaced with Lord Tim, whilst David Walmsley was recruited as the band's new drummer. With another fantastic album cover, this time featuring some of the extinct creatures from the Permian Period (namely Dimetrodon, Edaphosaurus and Erythrostega), the band released their second album 'Permian Dusk' in November 2005. Immediately the album garnered critical praise, with Wolfram Kueper, in Europe's premier heavy metal magazine Rock Hard!, proclaiming it to be the best power metal album of the year. Such melodic metal classics as 'Vacuous', 'An Odyssey Through Time', 'Dark Breed' and the title track helped gain the band further exposure. The song 'Chloroform Divinity', with it's accompanying clip gained numerous accolades on the band's myspace page (www.myspace.com/iliummetal) to quickly become one of Australia's most potent and loved metal anthems.
The group are currently in the final stages of completing a deal for their third album 'Vespertilion', featuring Dungeon and Lord drummer Tim Yatras alongside the nucleus of Smith, Hodges and Lord Tim.
In November 2006, it was announced that Swedish keyboardist Kaspar Dahlqvist Dionysus/Stormwind/Treasureland/Circle II Circle has joined the band.
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