Tag: War

“CRIMSON WREATH”: Out Now!

ILLUSORY’s third album, “Crimson Wreath”, is out today via Rockshots Records. The Heavy Metal band from Athens is proud to release a record consisting of 78 minutes of music, which has already been gaining massive acclaim by the Press and fans, locally and abroad.

Crimson Wreath” is considered as ILLUSORY’s most mature and complete work, comprising of fourteen songs, showcasing the Ivories’ songwriting and arranging dexterities as well as advanced performing skills.

Heavy duty production, mixing and mastering, once again in and by Matrix Recording Studio, Athens, proved that this unique sound can be achieved when the band teams up with producer extraordinaire and practically the seventh member of ILLUSORY, Yiannis Petroyiannis.

With three singles/videos released up to date and a fourth one on its way, ILLUSORY’s brand new album is the very definition of hard work in pure music terms.

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The Press about “Crimson Wreath”:

“It’s about a multifarious work, with an admirable flow”.
Kostas Lyros, Metal Hammer – Greece

“Adding choirs, classical and acoustic guitars and piano sections can only show that it is a matter of well-coordinated experienced musicians who put quality first. I can say for sure is my favorite and candidate for the album of the year, even though we haven’t even gotten close to half of it yet”.
Ivona Bogner, Abaddon – Serbia

“Give ILLUSORY a listen, because this is actually one of the best this reviewer has heard in a long time”.
Gert Beuse, Calles Rock Corner – Denmark

“This album probably deserves performing in its entirety live at some point and the more I listen the more I like. Deep, melodic and brilliantly written, this is top notch stuff”.
Simon Black, Ever Metal – UK

“Despite a run time of over 75 minutes, not once does the album drag. Rather, you can’t believe it when the album is over because you want to keep listening. I strongly feel that not only is “Crimson Wreath” one of the singular best albums you could hope to come across this year, but it will come to be seen as ILLUSORY’s magnum opus release”!
Jay Roberts, Knac – USA

“ILLUSORY has produced a very enjoyable album. Its melodic qualities are perceived without any difficulty. The production was at the height of the compositions, without any instrument being relegated or buried. Hopefully the conditions allow the band to go on stage very soon, as it will definitely be interesting to listen to the songs on this album live”.
Cristóbal Torres, Metal Rules – Canada

“In general words, I would say that “Crimson Wealth” is a long, but rewarding album, which will gratify every heavy/power metal fan. It’s the most mature work of ILLUSORY, who are getting a pure power metal musical direction. Sometimes epic, sometimes proggy, ILLUSORY find their target, offering us a great power metal offering”.
Dimitris Zacharopoulos, Myth Of Rock – Greece

“Crimson Wreath will hopefully open up ILLUSORY to a bigger audience because they really deserve to be heard by fans of heavy power metal”.
Matt Bladen, Musipedia Of Metal – UK

“This incredible band have created sounds and lyrics and placed it together in such a way that there is no true and real way that my words in this review could ever do “Crimson Wreath” justice for its true original take on melodic and heavy and true metal. I can only hope everyone in the world gets a chance to experience this individual intertwined essence from within”.
Zoe Stone, Rock Out Stand Out – UK

“Give the album its due time and you won’t regret it. You will always come back to it, to constantly find new things. Listen to it in its entirety and let yourselves go to all the thing the record has to offer you. Until the time comes for us to enjoy the album live on stage, I’m pressing the play button once again. I suggest you do the same”.
Jovanna Spiliou, Noizy – Greece

“Throughout, this masterpiece still sports the very same dynamic of the day, with a rich flow of lyricism taking us on a journey of fantasy, myth, mystery and far off lands steeped in history, transporting us all into the realms of thought as the band speed down the track like a runaway train”.
Ian Davies, Stargazer – UK

“This awesome album has so many touches of feelings that takes you back to familiar chords and makes you feel it once again with another way”.
Costas Margaman, Album Reviewz – Greece

“As previously stated, “Crimson Wreath” is an album that you listen to with pleasure and of which you cannot fail to appreciate the quality of writing and attention to detail; if you grew up on bread and heavy metal, this record will surely give you joy”.
Alessia Artesani, Metallus – Italy

“ALL BLOOD RED” – 3rd Single/Video Trailer

“I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. [Nobel Prize acceptance speech, 1964]

The trailer for the 3rd video entitled “All Blood Red” is already up and you can view it here:

Artwork by Manos Psakis
Video by Christ Stergianidis

In addition, there is a link in order to pre-save the track to your Spotify list and get to listen to it as soon as it airs.
Feel free to click here: https://backl.ink/144420809

ILLUSORY Featuring Mr. Grigoris Valtinos

ILLUSORY: Collaboration with famous actor/director, Mr. Grigoris Valtinos

Third ILLUSORY album, ““, features a few exceptional musicians as guests. This record also features a huge artist, one of the biggest Greek actors and directors as well as a globally known star.
Mr. Grigoris Valtinos, a cultural pillar of this country, the very leasing role man who appeared in Colosseum first, in the very first play celebrating the monuments opening after fifteen centuries of silence, is also the leading role man who accepted in collaborating with the Greek Heavy Metal band, sharing his voice and general presence.

What makes a narration special and emblematic, apart from the text itself, is the narrator. The voice, the method, the acting, the approach, the whole attitude. Having a piece in ancient Greek and further back to be exact, such the one you are about to hear, automatically requires for someone who is a total professional as well as a scholar regarding the language and the way of transcription.
Mr. Grigoris Valtinos, one of the most spectacular actors and directors ever, a globally known star and true culture pillar in Greece, is the one narrating this particular piece.

The Ivories are thrilled and genuinely excited about these paths crossed and in the very near future, the outcome of that collaboration will be given the spotlight!

Here you can view the indicative video/teaser of this partnership:

Video by K.man

“CRIMSON WREATH” – 2nd Single/Visualizer Release

The title track of ILLUSORY’s new album, “Crimson Wreath” is their newest video. A visualizer capturing the essence of the song. Anti-war, a cry against all those who made war a necessary evil for humankind, our own lives.

ILLUSORY are proud to release their sophomore video off their third album.
Join in, listen and Shine On!

Artwork by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
Video by K.man

“CRIMSON WREATH” – 2nd Single/Video Trailer

The trailer for the sophomore video off the band’s “” album is already up and you can view it here:

The third album release date is constantly approaching. ILLUSORY will release their sophomore video next week, March 12, presenting the title track off their “” album.

In addition, there is a link in order to pre-save the track to your Spotify list and get to listen to it as soon as it airs.
Feel free to click here: https://backl.ink/144420807

Next Friday will mark the introduction to the second journey inside the Crimson Wreath Reality of Illusory.

Join in, Shine On!

“CRIMSON WREATH” / Full Artwork & Tracklist

“The band is thrilled!
When we look back, from the first minute to the last one, from the moment we pressed “record” on the very first drum tracking, to the latest addition and album wrap-up, we can’t stop thinking about all the things we set and done during those recordings and the long hours of arranging every little album detail. “Crimson Wreath” has become a member of our discography and our most recent brainchild. And we are totally proud of it!”

Alnum Pre-Order: http://bit.ly/CrimsonWreathCD


Produced by Yiannis Petroyiannis
Co-Produced by Dee “K.man” Theodorou

Engineered and edited by Dee “K.man” Theodorou at the iCave Studio and Yiannis Petroyiannis at the Matrix Studios

Mixed and Mastered by Yiannis Petroyiannis at the Matrix Studios

All songs composed, arranged and orchestrated by ILLUSORY

Art cover designed by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
Design / Layout by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
Art concept conceived and directed by Stiver Graunne

Photography by Vaios Roupis
Photo processing by Manos Psakis

Makeup by Helena Theodorou

“CRIMSON WREATH”

The band is proud to announce the release of their third studio album entitled “Crimson Wreath“. Recorded at the iCave & Matrix Studios and produced, mixed & mastered at the Matrix Studios.

This album is a natural evolution and a straight forward statement by ILLUSORY, concerning their sound, song structure and general music appearance, following the steps of its predecessors, “The Ivory Tower” & “Polysyllabic” and featuring a brand new deal with one of the most up and coming as well as promising labels, Rockshots Records.

With a total of fourteen tracks and overall running time seventy six minutes, “Crimson Wreath” is an album of strong thematics and the songs that every fan of Heavy Metal music would love to listen to and spread the word about.

Produced by Yiannis Petroyiannis
Co-Produced by Dee “K.man” Theodorou

Engineered and edited by Dee “K.man” Theodorou at the iCave Studio and Yiannis Petroyiannis at the Matrix Studios

Mixed and Mastered by Yiannis Petroyiannis at the Matrix Studios

All songs composed, arranged and orchestrated by ILLUSORY

Art cover designed by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
Design / Layout by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
Art concept conceived and directed by Stiver Graunne

Photography by Vaios Roupis
Photo processing by Manos Psakis

Makeup by Helena Theodorou