Adam Smith (guitar, keys, bass); Jason Hodges (guitar)
Epic-style power metal band from Newcastle with some similarities to Virgin Steele. The band's history is a litany of line-up hassles that borders on the contrived and confusing. The first version of the band came together under the name Oracle with Mark Snedden (vocals), Hodges, Troy McLellan (guitar), Keith Jacobsen (bass) and Jason Dohmen (drums). Jacobsen and McLellan were shortly replaced by Eric Pederson and Kris Arendse, but these two also stayed only briefly. A variety of personnel shifts continued with various members leaving, returning briefly and then leaving again. Smith came and went and there was a string of bass players. After several years of to-ing and fro-ing Oracle was put to rest but some time later revived once more. After a name change to Iliad, then Ilium, the line-up of Snedden, Hodges, Smith and Michael Noonan (bass) began work on a debut CD but during the recording Noonan left, so Smith and Matt Woodland completed bass tracks. A follow-up album was then recorded with drumming by Steve Moore of Dungeon. Peter Gilchrist (bass) and David Walmsley (drums) joined the fold in short order. After tying up a deal with Adrenaline Records in Italy, Ilium began work on a further two albums at the same time, but Snedden left the band in July 2003 before recording could be completed. Dungeon's Lord Tim recorded the vocal tracks on both albums, but Ilium's progress has again stalled with Gilchrist and Walmsley leaving the band in late 2003.
Discography:
Sirens of the Styx (Steelheart) 2003
Jason Hodges (guitar) Adam Smith (guitar, bass, keyboards) Mark Snedden (vocals) Matt Woodland (bass) Steve Moore (drums)
Antigone
Embrace the Myth
Solitary Empires
Half-life
Semblance
Incipience: Beowulf Defeats Grendel
The Celestial Sphere
Quoth the Raven
Tombsouls
Sirens of the Styx
Ilium (self release) 2002
Jason Hodges (guitar) Adam Smith (guitar, bass, keyboards) Mark Snedden (vocals) Matt Woodland (bass) Michael Noonan (bass)
