illuminatus

Wenn vier Mann aus Spanien, Grossbritannien und Deutschland gemeinsam Musik machen sollen, entstehen schon aufgrund der europaeischen Dimensionen kleinere Schwierigkeiten in der Produktivitaet. ILLUMINATUS haben seid 2002 drei EP’s und ein Album veroeffentlicht; “The Rising Tide” markiert die dritte EP und ihre neuesten 22 Minuten. Apostrophiert als Heavy Metal, tun die vier Musiker alles um das Klischee vom gut gefoenten und kajalbemalten Spandextraeger zu verwischen; gleichzeitig aber auch das vom Progressive Metal, der zur Zeit so im Schwange ist, dass ILLUMINATUS wohl nur eine Band unter vielen waeren.

Stattdessen gibt es vier Mal sehr rifforientierte, in Midtempo gehaltene, balladeske Song-Strukturen, deren Leadgitarren-Laeufe seah an arrivierte Bands wie Agaloch erinnern, deren Vocals aber gleichzeitig durchgaengig clean sind, auf klassische Strophen- und Refrain-Abfolgen aufbauen, allesamt bis zur absoluten Ohrwurmigkeit auf Catchiness getrimmt sind und “The Rising Tide” eine sehr massentaugliche Note verpassen.

Von der Glaubwuerdigkeit ILLUMINATUS’ nehem diese Hooklines trotzdem nichts. Und nich zufaellig erwaehnt das Promoblatt die Beteiligung des Therapy?-Produzenten Adam Sinclair an den Aufnahmen; wer das “Infernal Love”-Album daheim stehen hat und verehrt, wird ILLUMINATUS lieben. [14 Punkte] - Legacy Magazine, Germany

Ich liebe diese Momente: Man bekommt seit Monaten nette Durchschnittsware oder auch Schrott. Nur ganz selten finden sich positive Überraschungen in der MR Post, so wie jetzt. Da flattert mir ohne jegliche Vorwarnung eine bescheiden aufgemachte CD-R ins Haus, die zudem noch von einer Band namens Illuminatus stammt (Nerdalarm!) und überzeugt mich mal gerade im Handumdrehen.

Dummerweise habe ich den Promozettel verschlampt und muss mich jetzt mit den Infos der Homepage zufrieden geben. Ein Spanier, ein Deutscher, ein Engländer und ein Italiener zelebrieren auf "The Rising Tide" ganz großes, melodisches Kino. Illuminatus wollen in keine Schublade (wer schon?!) und das schaffen sie auf dieser EP recht eindrucksvoll. So vielfältig die Herkunft der Bandmitglieder ist, so mannigfaltig ist auch ihr Sound. Basis ist zwar eindeutig moderner Postrock, doch die Zutaten die das Quartett zusätzlich in ihre Soundsuppe schmeißt lassen die Jungs aus der breiten Masse hervor stechen.

Da wäre zum einen die Stimme von Sänger / Gitarrist Julio Taylor, die eben nicht typisch anklagend, verzweifelt oder extrem angepisst klingt sondern neben aller durchaus vorhandenen Härte auch massig Gefühl mitbringt. Dass er dabei auch schon mal ein wenig schräg klingt macht die Musik nur sympathischer. Die Riffs wummern wuchtig und dennoch zerbrechlich und nicht selten klingt man fast schon alternativ poppig. Jeder Song ist ein kleiner Volltreffer und ich bin sehr auf das nächste vollständige Album gespannt.

Mein Geheimtipp des Monats! [12/15] - My Revelations, Germany

If such a thing is even possible, illuminatus just made their already shadowy, brooding sound even darker. Their progressive and socially conscious menace gets another airing on this follow-up to 2008’s debut impressive debut, The Wrath Of The Lambs.

It may be an EP between albums – and in fact one of the tracks here is an acoustic version of an old song – but there’s still enough here to intrigue and perplex in equal measure. All of the new tracks are ambitious in scope; heavy on guitars and full on cynical vocal gnashing and angry political polemic.

Clearly, illuminatus are always going to be a band that will never progress further into the mainstream than its fringes. But their poetic and melancholic oddity proudly rejoices in being different. [KKK]
- Kerrang! Magazine, UK

There's a lot to be said for the hard work ethic. Gone are the days when record labels could invest in countless bands, and in these times of economic downturn, bands are having to fight tooth and nail for everything they can get. This is where illuminatus' story of endless touring, festival appearances and US television appearances should be making everyone sit up and take notice.

'The Rising Tide', produced by Therapy? producer Adam Sinclair, isn't just a fine release. It's a statement to the rock & metal fraternity that here is a band unafraid to work hard or write music with real, genuine substance.

The opening verse to 'Cave In' has a haunting, ambient quality that gets right under your skin before the chorus detonates into a cascade of anguish as vocalist Julio Taylor bellows "Another happy ending lost, you feel your heart cave in", while 'Red' is a soaring journey of colossal, expansive hooks and laid-bare emotion, rightly drawing comparisons to 'White Pony'-era Deftones. It's powerful, dynamic and downright excellent - testament to hard work paying off. [4/5] - Black Velvet Magazine, UK

18 November 2009 - 'La Colere Du Peuple' show / Radio Campus, Besancon 102.4FM, France

1 November 2009 - Darkwave Radio, France

29 October 2009 - Radio Quarz, Belgium
27 October 2009 - Aardschok Radio / Kink FM, The Netherlands
22 October 2009 - Radio Quarz, Belgium
18 October 2009 - Darkwave Radio, France

September & October 2009 (playlists # 326, 327 & 329) - Starship Overlow, UK

26 September 2009 - Rock Show / XFM, UK
25 September 2009 - T.N.T. / Radio Hoeksche Waard, The Netherlands
8 September 2009 - Aardschok Radio / Kink FM, The Netherlands
4 September 2009 - Bruce Dickinson / 6 Music BBC Radio, UK
4 September 2009 - Chapel Of Ghouls / SOL FM 100.7, France

August to October 2009 - The Rising Tide EP A-listed on Total Rock Radio, UK

28 August 2009 - The KILR Show / Preston FM, UK
26 August 2009 - BD's Rock Show & Thrashmans Mosh / Express FM 93.7, UK
25 August 2009 - The Metal Factory / Radio Air Libre 87.7, Belgium
22 August 2009 - In-studio interview with DJ Greenz / Total Rock Radio, UK
18 August 2009 - The Metal Factory / Radio Air Libre 87.7, Belgium
4 August 2009 - Chapel Of Ghouls / SOL FM 100.7, France

- Worldwide

Darkly Ambitious Post-Rock Debut From Deep Underground

This one should have a 'not for children' sticker on it. Not because it's full of bad language - quite the opposite. This is serious music for serious people. It's progressive rock but comparable more to the likes of Anathema or even, at a stretch, Oceansize.

Illuminatus have built these ominous and grand movements slowly, developing their art on the road over many years. The result is seething alt rock with a creative soul. Nothing about it is immediate, however. White Lies and the fierce Black offer no quick fixes, just lots of interesting questions.

Proudly underground, this novel Midlands collective have done their music justice here. [KKK] - Kerrang! Magazine, UK

The first full-length effort from this multi-national Nottingham-based quartet is an absolute necessity for anyone looking for a new band who invoke the same kind of soul-shaking dynamics that the likes of Paradise Lost and Anathema produced for British rock and metal in the mid-90s.

From the expansive beauty of opener Captive State and the beautiful piano-led Fear/Control to the menacing instrumental title track, every note of The Wrath Of The Lambs is delivered with such conviction that you can't help but be caught up in the thrall.

Some of the vocals do - on occasion - grate against the soaring choruses, but this a minor quibble on what is essentially as fine a debut album as you're likely to hear from a bunch of metallic upstarts all year. - Metal Hammer, UK

Creating emotional soundscapes of slashing cymbals, fat skins, massive slabs of rolling heavy riffery woven with uplifting and weeping guitar work Illuminatus fully deserve their illustrious name and to top it off they have a geezer who's vocals can change from silken cream to hard grizzly emotion.

Playing a heavy as fuck sound punctuated with idealisms and intellectual observations Illuminatus have recorded and mastered nine outstanding songs for their debut album 'The Wrath Of The Lambs'.

Written with street wise experience and the sharp perspective's of a street poet the band have produced some stunning lines that articulate the truths of the corporate society we live in. Where politicians threaten to dismantle the human rights of the people and the food industry grow fat on the obesity of the poor, while the education of our children are hyped by marketing men. [5/5] - Rock3Music.com

illuminatus: alternative metal aka post-metal aka bloody brilliant metal

The band illuminatus consists of one Spaniard, one German, one Italian and one English gentleman, which is an almost magical feat on its own. But what makes this band truly stand out is the almost out worldly emotional & bombastic sound & the razor-sharp lyrics in which society is dissected under a microscope to reveal its truly gory warts and all reality.

Do yourself a favour and give this combo the ear test, you will for sure not be disappointed. - Rock Report, Belgium

Illuminatus were the highlight of the weekend for me, no mean feat given the calibre of the other British acts I'd seen already.

With no-one opting to review the young Nottingham outfit just prior to their allotted time, I jumped in at the deep end, subsequently immersing myself in some of the most beautiful, moving music I've heard since last witnessing Anathema live.

With a slight air of politics drifting into their stage banter, Illuminatus also offered the perfect antidote to the heavy metal excesses of the main stage. [9/10] - Powerplay Magazine, UK