Neo prog; AOR prog
Latest release: From the Silence (2014). They still post from time to time though do not appear to be active otherwise.
Iluvatar (1993)
Iluvatar are a band from my second city of Baltimore. They released three albums in the 90s with one reformation album 15 years later. Unfortunately they came around long after I had any interest in what was/is known as neo prog - essentially the early 80s British take on the classic 70s sound (Marillion, Pendragon, IQ, et al). Today I have a great nostalgia for the movement - an updated arena rock face-punch to go with a bit of that sophistication we expect from progressive rock. Honestly this album is more the sound of the late 70s North American proggy AOR bands roaming the countryside, playing anywhere from small clubs to large stadiums. File alongside bands such as Sunblind Lion, Stencil Forest, Fragile (San Jose), Relayer, Avalon, etc... It can get a bit too FM radio/poppy in places, and sure, a little vintage instrumentation would have been nice. All hallmarks of the genre I suppose, through thick or thin. Were this a small private press from 1981, I can assure you this would be a sought after and expensive LP today. Glad to hear it now, as there's no way I would have enjoyed this when it was released.
11/25/23 (new entry)
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