Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography
Iluvatar - Ilúvatar CD (album) cover

ILÚVATAR

Iluvatar

 

Neo-Prog

3.22 | 82 ratings

From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

progrules
Prog Reviewer
4 stars Several years ago I checked out many (some 200) streamsongs (downloads back then) and I remember there were two new bands that stuck out for me: Anglagard and this Iluvatar with Children's Late of Conscience. Anglagard was the most special to me but Iluvatar was the band I hoped to find with their extremely melodic neo prog. In that sense it's truly of the same quality as Pendragon, Clepsydra and Satellite. As soon as I realized that I resolved to buy all their albums. So far I bought the first three and their last is more of a compilation so I might as well forget about that one.

This debut is the last one I bought but the first I will review to keep things in the right order. First track is the title track (same name as the band's name) and is a short instrumental overture with a dreamy atmosphere (3*).

In the Eye is a short epic consisting of three parts. First part is the longest (Look us in the Eye) and starts pretty fierce for Iluvatar standard. The band is not known for an aggressive approach but here they prove they can also play in an energetic way. The second part (Blind) is more in the same style but totally instrumental. With the third part (Through the Eye) the vocals are back and round this great mini-epic off in a worthy way (4*).

Eagle is a wonderful, more ballad like track with a much more quiet impact than previous song. With this one we are introduced to the two extremes this band is capable of. Another high class track (3,75*).

New found Key is one of the shorter tracks and is not really of the same high quality as the previous two. Still the basic standard of Iluvatar is so high it still deserves 3,25*.

Exodus is a song that's charactarized by a continuous acoustic guitar riff of 10-15 notes going on for 7 minutes and is thus played somewhere between 75 and 100 times. You would think this starts to bore after some 20 times but somehow it doesn't. And that's amazing I think, the other elements of the song are so impressive it keeps its value and beauty. For instance another acoustic contribution from 4:00 till 6:00 is very compelling and makes this another successful song (3,75*).

Wait for the Call is a song for which the same description as the one for New found Key can be used. Also the rating is the same (3,25*). Good, but not really significant.

Dream Visage starts strangely with a deep vocal sound but soon after gets to become a regular Iluvatar track. Special feature of this one is the stand out vocals besides a nice atmosphere at times (3,75*).

Marionette is the highlight to me, a song that can compete with the best songs on their later albums. Especially the instrumental part in the second half makes it a magical composition (4,5*).

Emperor's new Clothes is a dignified closer of a very good debut by Iluvatar (3,75*). Some great guitar here.

I give it 4, although rounded up (3,7). Recommended for all neo progressive fans. This band deserves more attention than it got so far.

progrules | 4/5 |

MEMBERS LOGIN ZONE

As a registered member (register here if not), you can post rating/reviews (& edit later), comments reviews and submit new albums.

You are not logged, please complete authentication before continuing (use forum credentials).

Forum user
Forum password

Share this ILUVATAR review

Social review comments () BETA







Review related links

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.