adg211288 My Misanthropia (2015) is the sixth full-length album by Australian power metal act Ilium. It's been just about four years since Ilium's last album Genetic Memory (2011) was released and in that time the group has parted ways with their vocalist Mike DiMeo. DiMeo also performed on the album Ageless Decay (2009) and can currently be found fronting the bands Creation's End and Midas Fate. The new singer of Ilium is Lance King, a US vocalist who, if you're into your power and progressive metal styles, shouldn't need any introduction. He's been with acts such as Pyramaze, Avian and Balance of Power and released his first solo album, the excellent A Moment in Chiros, in 2011. Ilium have also joined King's label Nightmare Records for the release of My Misanthropia.

While I've been aware of Ilium since around the time of Genetic Memory's release, My Misanthropia marks my first time hearing the band. They play a brand of power metal interlaced with more laid back heavy metal orientated parts. I've seen Ilium's music described as being more in the US power metal vein before, but the music on My Misanthropia is a little bit too keyboard heavy for that. Although the keys rarely take a dominant role on the album, they are there and are pretty noticeable more often than not, sometimes even dipping a toe into symphonic territory, such as in second track Quetzalcoatl.

My Misanthropia is quite typical of modern European style power metal but all things considered it's a nice enough release from Ilium. While I think I've personally reached the point where I've simply heard too many power metal records to be really blown away by Ilium's take on the genre, this is a solid, well-played effort from the group with no bad tracks. Penny Black is a early highlight, along with the opening title track which features some slightly edgier vocals than I'm used to hearing from Lance King. These are also heard in The Cryptozoologist, which closes the album, and is another highlight of the record, showing off several different elements from the band's sound. I'd say it's the album's best though Penny Black is certainly hot on its heels due to its infectious power metal energy.

While My Misanthropia certainly isn't among the very best power metal records I've ever heard it has served me well as an introduction to Ilium and as usual I find myself impressed with Lance King as a singer. The band made a good choice for their style in him. Overall for the album I'm going to go with 3.5 stars.

Time Signature Lingua franca...

Genre: power metal

Following up on 2011's "Genetic Memory", the power metallers in Ilium are just about to release their next full-length with the title "My Misanthropia".

As with the predecessor, "My Misanthropia" is more in the vein of US power metal than cheesy Euro power metal, as the tracks, while melodic and larger than life, are aggressive and powerful. Several tracks have slightly thrashy elements without every being power-thrash, and aesthetics of traditional heavy metal are ubiquitous on the release. As power metal goes, this is the type of power metal that I prefer, because it puts the power back in the metal, and it also inject a slight dose of darkness into the whole picture. I would even say that this album has a slight edge over the preceding album.

The production is interesting as it is not super crisp but has a slight warm fuzz to it. The musicianship and songwriting is top notch, and this is an album that those who like US power metal should definitely check out.