ILIUM — Quantum Evolution Event (review)

ILIUM — Quantum Evolution Event album cover EP · 2022 · Power Metal Buy this album from MMA partners
3.5/5 ·
siLLy puPPy
One of those contenders for longest running indie power metal bands, Australia’s ILIUM has been in existence since 1998 and has thus far released eight fully lengthened albums plus another four EPs, the latest being this 2022 fast burner QUANTUM EVOLUTION EVENT. Still the baby of founder, guitarist and songwriter Jason Hodges along with bassist / keyboardist Adam Smith, the duo are joined by former member Lord Tim (vocalist) and guest drummer Tim Yatras who together unleash a fast and furious display of five power metal tracks that only add up to about 23 minutes of playing time.

Pretty much keeping in step with the previous “Cacinogeist” and following EP “Enviro-Metal,” ILIUM has retained its rough around the edges power metal style with speed metal guitar outbursts, melodic hooks and the usual power metal expectations such as the operatic clean lyrical deliveries which in this case tackles the usual power metal scenarios set in the world of science fiction, fantasy and epic battles of good and evil. Also included are nice symphonic touches although they tend to be drowned out by the wailing guitar riffing that has a grittier than usual distortion for the power metal universe.

More than 20 years into their independent releases, ILIUM is going strong and will surely please any power metal stalwart out there however this subsection of the metal universe seems to have stagnated in recent years and many of these newer releases sound a bit too similar for my liking. The subgenre just doesn’t seem to have the adaptive hybridization qualities that the more extreme black and death metal camps seem to however bands like ILIUM keep the melody hungry fans satisfied with an excellent if not mind-blowing collection of five new tracks that provide as a teaser for the next album down the pike.

As far as musical style is concerned ILIUM has developed its sound to avoid the cheesy affects of power metal. Lord Tim’s vocal style has some grit to it and not too airy fairy and Hodges keeps his guitarists set to filthy distortion mode but showcases his neoclassical shredding skills especially on the closing “Mothcaste.” This is no nonsense melodic power metal that is fast and furious and keeps the five tracks on a high octane frenzy for its entire run thus delivering an entire album’s worth of energetic release in a mere 23 minutes. Perhaps not the most original specimen around in these most experimental times in the 21st century but ILIUM is very consistent and its quality and delivery of their now established classic sound.
Share this review
more

Review Comments

Post a public comment below | Send private message to the reviewer
Please login to post a shout
No shouts posted yet. Be the first member to do so above!

Review Index

Member Zone

Username:
Password:
Stay signed in

Metal Subgenres

Artists Alpha-index

MMA TOP 5 Metal ALBUMS

Rating by members, ranked by custom algorithm
Albums with 30 ratings and more
Master of Puppets Thrash Metal
METALLICA
Buy this album from our partners
Paranoid Heavy Metal
BLACK SABBATH
Buy this album from our partners
Moving Pictures Hard Rock
RUSH
Buy this album from our partners
Powerslave NWoBHM
IRON MAIDEN
Buy this album from our partners
Rising Heavy Metal
RAINBOW
Buy this album from our partners

New Metal Artists

New Metal Releases

Antibeauty Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Mana Earth Hardcore Punk
SNOWING IN PERU
Buy this album from MMA partners
Intimate Isolation Hardcore Punk
GOOD FALL
Buy this album from MMA partners
Dark Future Sludge Metal
PAIN CHEMISTRY
Buy this album from MMA partners
Violent Delights Hardcore Punk
GALLEONS
Buy this album from MMA partners
More new releases

New Metal Online Videos

Galleons - Electric Emotions
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 19 hours ago
Galleons - Elsewhere (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 19 hours ago
Galleons - Neon Dreams (Official Lyric Video)
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 19 hours ago
Galleons - I Travel East As Fievel Goes West Pt. 1 - Official Lyric Video
GALLEONS
Bosh66· 19 hours ago
FREEHOWLING - SCARS FT. AARON MATTS (TEN56.) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]
FREEHOWLING
Bosh66· 19 hours ago
More videos

New MMA Metal Forum Topics

More in the forums

New Site interactions

More...

Latest Metal News

members-submitted

More in the forums

Social Media

Follow us
Follow us on Twitter Become a Facebook fan RSS Feed