ILIUM: New Album To Feature MASTERPLAN/Ex-RIOT Singer MIKE DIMEO

Australian power metal band ILIUM has issued the following update:

"The new [ILIUM] album to be released who knows when (hopefully not too far away) will be called 'Ageless Decay'. It will contain 12 songs, which means thirteen paintings by Dimitar Nikolov (the artist who did the front cover for 'Vespertilion'; trust me, the ones that are done so far are incredible!). The songs in no particular order (because we don't have a running order yet) are:

01. Mothcaste
02. Nubia Awakes
03. Hibernal Thaw
04. Ageless Decay
05. Eocene Dawning
06. Idolatry
07. Omnipaedia
08. Tar Pit
09. Fragmented Glory
10. The Neo-Mortician
11. Xerophyte
12. The Little Witch Of Madagascar

"The really exciting news is the vocalist. As you know, Lord Tim, who helped us out on our second and third albums opted out on this one as he was very busy with LORD and building his new studio. Tim Yatras again provided drums and we recorded at Lord Tim's new SLS studios, and we must say we were most impressed, so if you need some work done, particularly if you're a metal band in Australia there is no better place to go.

"We had a few options with vocalists. Danny Cecati from EYEFEAR/ex-PEGAZUS was all set to join but it all fell down due to other commitments. Fortunately, we gained a great friend out of it though. A few other options were considered, but then they were snapped up by major bands! In the end, our top option was available though. That person is Mike DiMeo, who fronted American legends RIOT for many years and was last seen on the latest MASTERPLAN album with Roland Grapow (ex-HELLOWEEN). We have vocals back for 10 of the 12 songs and they are nothing short of phenomenal. Unless some disaster occurs (and we have most of the album recorded) then this will be the beginning of a new era for ILIUM. Not only have we got a great new vocalist, but it will all be mixed and mastered by the legendary Mr. Tommy Hansen who has overseen the immaculate productions of many bands, most notably HELLOWEEN.

"So that is where it stands. We're really going out on a limb with this album. We know people want to hear our songs with a top Euro production, and now that's what they'll get! And Mike simply adds a whole new dimension to it all.

"By the way — we've been offered many festivals in Europe (including THE big festival — you know the one!) but we have had no success in getting musicians. Adam [Smith, guitar] and I [Jason Hodges, guitar] will be interested in anyone who plays proficient lead/rhythm guitar, bass, double kick drums and keyboards, as well as a lead vocalist, as at this stage we aren't sure if Mike will be available with his heavy schedule (if he is, then we still want a backing vocalist)."