Ilium – Scythe Ballet

Ilium
Scythe Ballet
Label: Arkeyn Steel Records (CD), BraveWords Records (Bandcamp)
Out: 7^th August 2026 (CD), 11^th September 2026 (Bandcamp)
Playing time: 42:09

The Power Metal band Ilium from Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia) was founded in 2002. Prior to that, they were known as ‘Iliad’ for four years. Their first EP, titled after the band’s new name, was released in the year they were formed. Their debut album, ‘Sirens of the Styx’, followed one year later. Since then, they have released nine studio albums and four EPs in total. Their latest album, ‘Scythe Ballet’, was published on CD in August. The digital release via Bandcamp followed in September. With the two guitarists, Jason Hodges (the band’s founder) and Adam Smith, two members from the band’s early days are still part of the line-up.

‘Infant Clairvoyants’ is dominated from the start by heavy, fast guitar riffs. Together with the drums, these drive singer Giles Lavery on. It goes without saying that, with two experienced guitarists, we’re listening to a strong twin-guitar solo. After a brief, calm introduction, ‘Blood Embers’ is also bursting with wild energy. The title track, ‘Scythe Ballet’, is introduced by a guitar staccato. Then the riffs kick in again, whilst the drumming sounds a little frantic. The anthem ‘Confessions Of A Former God’ comes across as majestic. Here, beautiful melodic arcs clearly take centre stage. The chorus encourages you to sing along. This is one of the album’s highlights. But the tempo picks up again straight away on the rhythmic ‘Extinction Point’ – and another guitar solo crowns the song. ‘Byzantium’ is the next great Metal anthem. The alternation between anthems and straightforward Power Metal continues with ‘Jovian Storm’. Here, Adam Smith delivers a brief keyboard solo before once again letting his fingers fly across the guitar strings alongside Jason Hodges. The two are driven on by drummer Tim Yatras, whilst singer Giles Lavery frequently moves into higher registers. We then hear classic Power Metal on ‘Lexicon’. Following a quiet, almost ballad-like introduction, ‘Morality Virus’ is the next anthem. It features beautiful guitar melodies and occasional ‘ohohoh’ chants. The closing track, ‘The Prophet King’, is also a powerful anthem. For one last time, there’s a keyboard solo alongside the guitar solo.

The musicians in Ilium are a well-rehearsed team with years of experience. You can hear that in every song. ‘Scythe Ballet’ is an outstanding Power Metal album – powerful, varied and melodic. And it goes to show that Down Under doesn’t just produce rough-and-ready Hard and Blues Rock in the style of AC/DC, Airbourne or Rose Tattoo. No, it also produces top-class Power Metal. And has been doing so for several decades now.

Lineup:

Giles Lavery – Vocals
Jason Hodges – Guitars
Adam Smith – Guitar, Bass, Keyboards
Tim Yatras – Drums

Track list:

• Infant Clairvoyants
• Blood Embers
• Scythe Ballet
• Confessions Of A Former God
• Extinction Point
• Byzantium
• Jovian Storm
• Lexicon
• Morality Virus
• The Prophet King