Illusory - "Ashes To Dust" (video)
My Goddess, my queen
Scion of Myrmidons,
My fate's been written on
Odysseus tricked me,
A fake battle scene
Deep in the Skyros isle
Where I was hidden
They gave me warfare
When I was fifteen
I've been invincible
And never beaten
Thrust my spear high
Turns ashes to dust
Brave and sacred the Achaean’s nation
We cry in choral, a wail for the dead
Graves in fields, an eternal damnation
Eye for an eye, their blood I shall spread
I'll fight even fame, Achilles' my name
Fifty ships, nine victorious years
Killed men and sons of Gods without a penance
Lost my friend, spent my last drops of tears
I'm coming for you, Hector, taste my vengeance
Thrust my spear high turns ashes to dust
Brave and sacred the Achaean’s nation
We cry in choral, a wail for the dead
Graves in fields, an eternal damnation
Eye for an eye, their blood I shall spread
I'll fight even fame, Achilles' my name
Η σ' εὖ γιγνώσκων προτιόσσομαι, οὐδ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔμελλον πείσειν· ἦ γὰρ σοί γε σιδήρεος ἐν φρεσὶ θυμός. Φράζεο νῦν, μή τοί τι θεῶν μήνιμα γένωμαι ἤματι τῷ ὅτε κέν σε Πάρις καὶ Φοῖβος Ἀπόλλων ἐσθλὸν ἐόντ᾽ ὀλέσωσιν ἐνὶ Σκαιῇσι πύλῃσιν.
Twelve Gods of Greece, all by your side
Now rest in peace, brother be my guide
Your soul is mine, your mortal breath
Now quench your thirst, water from Lethe
So brave and sacred the Achaean’s nation
We cry in choral, a wail for the dead
Graves in fields, an eternal damnation
Eye for an eye, their blood I shall spread
I'll fight even fame, Achilles' my name
Ashes to Dust!
Δισκογραφική επιστροφή μετά από πέντε χρόνια για τους Illusory. Ο διάδοχος του album "Polysyllabic" (2016) και τρίτος συνολικά δίσκος των Αθηναίων metallers τιτλοφορείται "Crimson Wreath" και κυκλοφόρησε προ μηνός. Η ιστορία των Illusory ξεκινά το μακρινό 1992. Τότε σχηματίσθηκαν οι Ivory Tower.
Είκοσι χρόνια μετά (και με δισκογραφικό απολογισμό δύο demos, ένα ep και τον ομώνυμο "ολοκληρωμένο" δίσκο) μετονομάσθηκαν σε Illusory. Το album μάλιστα "The Ivory Tower" αποτελεί τον συνδετικό κρίκο στην αλλαγή ονόματος της μπάντας καθώς αποτελεί τον δισκογραφικό επίλογο των The Ivory Tower το 2006 και το ντεμπούτο των Illusory όταν κυκλοφόρησε επανηχογραφημένο το 2013...
Illusory: «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! "Crimson Wreath" has a very warm and solid sound and we feel very proud of the production we have done for it. It is an album that we recorded during one of the toughest times of our lives. We self-produced it with Yiannis and Dee doing an exceptional job mixing and mastering the tracks. It just sounds humongous! We feel we truly captured what we wanted to achieve in C.W.»
Δελτίο τύπου: «Rockshots Records is proud to announce their latest signing of Greece's Illusory for their third full length “Crimson Wreath” planned for release May 2021. Having opened for such legendary acts Blue Oyster Cult, Warrel Dane, Geoff Tate, and Gus G, the heavy metallers new album is the next step in their widely praised evolution to follow 2016's Polysllabic (7hard/7us) and 2013's "The Ivory Tower" (The Leaders Records).
Melodic, riffy, cerebral, and complex "Crimson Wreath" is a very emotional and melodic release, yet heavy and strong at the same time. Both new fans and ones who have been listening to the band for years will indulge themselves in this latest offering of classic, progressive, epic, and thrashy performances.
Lyrical themes found on “Crimson Wreath” are mostly anti-war, but the full length also includes a thematic unit consisting of three songs that deal with human loss as both guitarist George Papantonis' parents passed away while the band was in studio recording it. For fans of Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Savatage, Jag Panzer.»
Illusory (about the song): «Pyrisous, Aeacides, Aemonius, Aspetos, Larissaeus, Ligyron, Nereius, Pelides, Phthius, Podarkes… Some of the names of the greatest warrior of all time. The myth amongst the living and the departed. Achilles, the main character of Iliad, the glorious king, the fearless leader, the ideal soldier... On the other hand, the allegory… He who wanders in grief, Homer’s epic poem in the hands of the righteous, catapulted in a dystopian reality, becoming a cultural heritage for the future. Illusory presents “Ashes To Dust”, a heroic rhapsody, taken off their third album, “Crimson Wreath”. Illustrious actor/director Grigoris Valtinos is the leading man in a story which exemplifies the essence of a fable across a path walked by the bravest and honored by the scholars of the world. This short film is about an epic manifesto, a darkening day to come and everlasting hope.»
Bio: «The band was founded in 1992 by two friends who used to jam on top of their building. Armed with enthusiasm, desire and most of all, love for music, they decided to pursue what every teenager at the time was dreaming of, so they formed a band to play their beloved Heavy Metal sounds.
The band’s hometown, Moschato Greece, is utterly well-known for its fine wine; although wine hasn’t been produced in years, the vines are still haunting the city itself, namewise. Thus, like good wine, “Ivory Tower” was maturing nicely, obtaining a better taste by the day, the month, the year.
Constant rehearsing, composing and live gigs. Excitement, tension, a lot of sweat in the middle and the first song bouquet is ready to be served. Come June 2008, the sextet is opening for legendary Blue Oyster Cult, at a fantastic open air venue in Athens. Gig was an absolute bliss, headliners did actually pay attention to the Greek youngsters and a whole new chapter was added in the existing band history.
“The Ivory Tower” (mixed and mastered in Germany, Mystic Studios and R.D. Liapakis & Christian Schmid) was released in May 2013 via The Leaders Records in Europe and the rest of the world. The Japanese edition hit the Land of the Rising Sun in August 2013 (special artwork featuring the OBI).
First edition of the album was sold out and the news brought tons of enthusiasm to the band members as well as the fans. The band has played quite a few shows throughout Greece. Over the course of time, the “Ivories” (members’ fav nickname) managed to attract the attention of German label 7hard/7us media group.
The contracts were signed and the sophomore album, entitled “Polysyllabic” was released in November 2016. Recorded at their own studio - the iCave by Dee “K.man” Theodorou. “Polysyllabic” was produced by Yiannis Petroyiannis & Dee “K.man” Theodorou, mixed and mastered at the Matrix Studios Athens by Yiannis Petroyiannis.
“Polysyllabic” became the sonic vehicle which carried the Illusory sound further and prepared the way for a breakthrough release. Thus, the supersonic vehicle made a number of stops in Greece, featuring a few cities live-wise. Then the band was selected for a concert to remember.
Illusory got to open for the legendary Geoff Tate, the voice of Queensryche for over thirty years and his Operation: Mindcrime saga. February 2019 and the boys played an amazing show in Athens, at a sold-out venue and confirmed they can totally deliver. 2021 finds the band ready to release their third album.
Featuring a brand new deal with one of the most up and coming as well as promising labels, Rockshots Records, the “Ivories” are about to hit the Heavy Metal world in 2021 with “Crimson Wreath“, with the same people participating and the same studios involved. You can’t do any substitutions when your team is constantly winning. You simply continue!»
Είκοσι χρόνια μετά (και με δισκογραφικό απολογισμό δύο demos, ένα ep και τον ομώνυμο "ολοκληρωμένο" δίσκο) μετονομάσθηκαν σε Illusory. Το album μάλιστα "The Ivory Tower" αποτελεί τον συνδετικό κρίκο στην αλλαγή ονόματος της μπάντας καθώς αποτελεί τον δισκογραφικό επίλογο των The Ivory Tower το 2006 και το ντεμπούτο των Illusory όταν κυκλοφόρησε επανηχογραφημένο το 2013...
Illusory: «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! "Crimson Wreath" has a very warm and solid sound and we feel very proud of the production we have done for it. It is an album that we recorded during one of the toughest times of our lives. We self-produced it with Yiannis and Dee doing an exceptional job mixing and mastering the tracks. It just sounds humongous! We feel we truly captured what we wanted to achieve in C.W.»
Δελτίο τύπου: «Rockshots Records is proud to announce their latest signing of Greece's Illusory for their third full length “Crimson Wreath” planned for release May 2021. Having opened for such legendary acts Blue Oyster Cult, Warrel Dane, Geoff Tate, and Gus G, the heavy metallers new album is the next step in their widely praised evolution to follow 2016's Polysllabic (7hard/7us) and 2013's "The Ivory Tower" (The Leaders Records).
Melodic, riffy, cerebral, and complex "Crimson Wreath" is a very emotional and melodic release, yet heavy and strong at the same time. Both new fans and ones who have been listening to the band for years will indulge themselves in this latest offering of classic, progressive, epic, and thrashy performances.
Lyrical themes found on “Crimson Wreath” are mostly anti-war, but the full length also includes a thematic unit consisting of three songs that deal with human loss as both guitarist George Papantonis' parents passed away while the band was in studio recording it. For fans of Iron Maiden, Queensryche, Savatage, Jag Panzer.»
Illusory (about the song): «Pyrisous, Aeacides, Aemonius, Aspetos, Larissaeus, Ligyron, Nereius, Pelides, Phthius, Podarkes… Some of the names of the greatest warrior of all time. The myth amongst the living and the departed. Achilles, the main character of Iliad, the glorious king, the fearless leader, the ideal soldier... On the other hand, the allegory… He who wanders in grief, Homer’s epic poem in the hands of the righteous, catapulted in a dystopian reality, becoming a cultural heritage for the future. Illusory presents “Ashes To Dust”, a heroic rhapsody, taken off their third album, “Crimson Wreath”. Illustrious actor/director Grigoris Valtinos is the leading man in a story which exemplifies the essence of a fable across a path walked by the bravest and honored by the scholars of the world. This short film is about an epic manifesto, a darkening day to come and everlasting hope.»
Bio: «The band was founded in 1992 by two friends who used to jam on top of their building. Armed with enthusiasm, desire and most of all, love for music, they decided to pursue what every teenager at the time was dreaming of, so they formed a band to play their beloved Heavy Metal sounds.
The band’s hometown, Moschato Greece, is utterly well-known for its fine wine; although wine hasn’t been produced in years, the vines are still haunting the city itself, namewise. Thus, like good wine, “Ivory Tower” was maturing nicely, obtaining a better taste by the day, the month, the year.
Constant rehearsing, composing and live gigs. Excitement, tension, a lot of sweat in the middle and the first song bouquet is ready to be served. Come June 2008, the sextet is opening for legendary Blue Oyster Cult, at a fantastic open air venue in Athens. Gig was an absolute bliss, headliners did actually pay attention to the Greek youngsters and a whole new chapter was added in the existing band history.
“The Ivory Tower” (mixed and mastered in Germany, Mystic Studios and R.D. Liapakis & Christian Schmid) was released in May 2013 via The Leaders Records in Europe and the rest of the world. The Japanese edition hit the Land of the Rising Sun in August 2013 (special artwork featuring the OBI).
First edition of the album was sold out and the news brought tons of enthusiasm to the band members as well as the fans. The band has played quite a few shows throughout Greece. Over the course of time, the “Ivories” (members’ fav nickname) managed to attract the attention of German label 7hard/7us media group.
The contracts were signed and the sophomore album, entitled “Polysyllabic” was released in November 2016. Recorded at their own studio - the iCave by Dee “K.man” Theodorou. “Polysyllabic” was produced by Yiannis Petroyiannis & Dee “K.man” Theodorou, mixed and mastered at the Matrix Studios Athens by Yiannis Petroyiannis.
“Polysyllabic” became the sonic vehicle which carried the Illusory sound further and prepared the way for a breakthrough release. Thus, the supersonic vehicle made a number of stops in Greece, featuring a few cities live-wise. Then the band was selected for a concert to remember.
Illusory got to open for the legendary Geoff Tate, the voice of Queensryche for over thirty years and his Operation: Mindcrime saga. February 2019 and the boys played an amazing show in Athens, at a sold-out venue and confirmed they can totally deliver. 2021 finds the band ready to release their third album.
Featuring a brand new deal with one of the most up and coming as well as promising labels, Rockshots Records, the “Ivories” are about to hit the Heavy Metal world in 2021 with “Crimson Wreath“, with the same people participating and the same studios involved. You can’t do any substitutions when your team is constantly winning. You simply continue!»
Band: Illusory
Country of origin: Greece
Location: Athens, Attica
Formed in: 2012
Genre: Heavy Metal
Lyrical themes: History, Literature, War, Reality, Relationships, Fantasy
Years active: 1992-2012 (as The Ivory Tower), 2012-present
Video: "Ashes To Dust"
Director: Maria Chatzigianni (aka M-Word)
Cinematography / DOP: Markellos Plakitsis
Assistant Director / Kinesiology: Ioanna Korina Palaska
Wardrobe: Despina Chimona
Hair and Make-up: Elena Theodorou
Production Assistant: Kalliopi Karamani
Backstage Photographs: Cristina Alossi
Starring: Grigoris Valtinos, Deedinos Theodorou
Video by: Christ Stergianidis
Album: "Crimson Wreath"
Type: Full length
Release date: May 21st, 2021
Label: Rockshots Records
Track listing:
01. Besetting Sins (5:01)
02. Acedia (2:11)
03. Crimson Wreath (6:35)
04. Immortal No (4:25)
05. All Shall Fade (1:51)
06. All Blood Red (5:48)
07. The Voice Inside Me (1:28)
08. S.T. Forsaken (8:08)
09. Ashes To Dust (5:51)
10. A Poem I Couldn’t Rhyme (4:22)
11. An Opus Of Loss And Sorrow: Pedestal I: Past Forever Last (6:07)
12. An Opus Of Loss And Sorrow: Pedestal II: The Isle Of Shadows (9:08)
13. An Opus Of Loss And Sorrow: Pedestal III: Agony’s Last (6:53)
14. Fortress Of Sadness (10:04)
Band members:
Dee Theodorou - Vocals
George Papantonis - Guitars
Greg Bakos - Guitars
Niki Danos - Bass
Makis Vandoros - Keyboards
Costas Koulis - Drums
Keyboards on Crimson Wreath performed by George Konstantakelos and Dee Theodorou
Album Credits:
➺ All songs composed, arranged and orchestrated by Illusory
➺ Produced by Yiannis Petroyiannis
➺ Co-Produced byDee “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 Design / Layout by Panagiotis “Hammer” Sfiris
➺ Art concept conceived and directed by Stiver Graunne
➺ Photography by Vaios Roupis
➺ Photo processing by Manos Psakis
Guests:
➺ Soprano Parts on “Fortress Of Sadness” by Nancy Moschopoulou (Fortis Ventus)
➺ Additional Vocals on “Fortress Of Sadness” by Ophelia Baudelaire
➺ Lullaby Intro on “Agony’s Last” by Mary Tirou
➺ Classical Guitars on “Acedia” by Dimitris Fakos
➺ Acoustic Guitars on “The Isle Of Shadows” by Dimitris Fakos
➺ Piano on “All Shall Fade” by Alexandros Roumeliotis
➺ Piano on “Past Forever Last” by Alexandros Roumeliotis
➺ Narration on “Ashes To Dust” by Grigoris Valtinos
➺ Narration on “Acedia” by Paul Logue
➺ Narration on “The Voice Inside Me” by Stiver Graunne
➺ Narration on “The Isle Of Shadows” by George Papantonis
➺ Gang Voices by the Ivories & Gregory Koilakos (Fortis Ventus)
➺ Choral Arrangements by Dee Theodorou
➺ Choir on “The Isle Of Shadows” and “Fortress Of Sadness”: Anastasia Papadopoulou (Upon Revival), Gregory Koilakos (Fortis Ventus), Nancy Moschopoulou (Fortis Ventus) and Ophelia Baudelaire
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