ILIUM — Genetic Memory (review)

ILIUM — Genetic Memory album cover Album · 2011 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3/5 ·
Stephen
Ilium isn't new news to the power metal scene. With 'Genetic Memory', they already have at least five albums to date since their first debut in the early 2000. Power metal, especially with the European sound, didn't evolve much in the past few years, and basically what you heard today isn't very much different back in the 80s, some of them probably implemented a darker riffs and progressive approach, abut Ilium decided to go the conservative path.

The typical Axel Rudi Pell-meets-Iron Maiden style with a hint of Stratovarius and a slight neoclassical feel is clearly shown on some songs like 'Littoria', 'Grey Stains The Rainbow', or 'Hostile Sky', but what shines the most here are four tracks : 'Kinaesthesia', 'The Immortality Gene' with a splendid and spectacular scream, embalmed with a fantastic riffs; 'Ghosts In Flesh', with pounding drums and nice solos; and 'Genetic Memory', illuminating intro, dynamic tempo, enough duration to experiment with instruments, and definitely the best track here.

On the other side, there are at least four passable tracks. 'Ephemeral' is too average, 'Fevered Tongue' is the worst of em all, 'Irrinja' is ridiculous at 11 minutes, the intro is too long and the whole song is pretty weak, and 'Neanderthal Within' is actually started off with some great riffs but then veer to a very low composition. Production is acceptable, and if only they put out some inventive and interesting songs, this might take off a level or two to the sky, but for now, 'Genetic Memory' should be valued enough at 70%.
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