Ilium (band)

History

Ilium began in Newcastle when Jason Hodges and Mark Snedden, school friends who had started Oracle in 1990, formed the group Iliad in 1998 with other former Oracle members. The original lineup included guitarist Kris Arendse, bassist Michael Noonan, and session drummer David Pearson. A six-track demo was recorded, but the band later described it as doomed from the start due to an unsuitable producer, their own inexperience in the studio, and ongoing health issues. Hodges named Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Rage, Blind Guardian, Gamma Ray, Rush, Megadeth, Coroner, Scorpions, Rainbow, Ozzy Osbourne, and Dio as influences.

Later in 1998, after adding guitarist Adam Smith, also from Oracle, the group changed its name to Ilium. In 2002 they recorded a self-titled four-track EP with Lord Tim of Dungeon producing and providing backing vocals. Noonan left during the sessions, so Smith handled the bass parts. The EP included a cover of Fleetwood Mac's "The Green Manalishi (With the Two Prong Crown)" in the style of Judas Priest's 1979 version, plus original songs "Half-Life," "Semblance," and "Antigone." Another ex-Oracle member, Matthew Woodland, joined just before the EP came out. The EP caught the attention of several labels, and the Italian company Adrenaline's metal imprint Steelheart signed the band.

On 18 December 2003, Ilium released their debut album, Sirens of the Styx, again produced by Lord Tim, with Steve Moore on drums. The album featured three tracks from the EP as well as "Incipience: Beowulf Defeats Grendel," the first part of a trilogy based on the Beowulf and Grendel legends. Another track, "The Celestial Sphere," became the band's first music video. After the album was recorded, Peter Gilchrist joined on bass, and drummer David Walmsley came on board soon after.