Reviews

The Illuminati derive their name from a secret society widely believed by conspiracy theory fanatics to run the world’s government. The name represents those initiated into this enlightened group of secretive individuals who are known by no one outside the society; but there is nothing cryptic about the garage metal styling of a band who left me baffled from the beginning of their CD to the end, on the mere notion that they are performing in a style not only undervalued by many but one that undercuts the fibers of mainstream music and runs kicking and screaming against the grain.
 
Out of Toronto, Canada, The Illuminati provides stripped down, raw rock and roll with no gimmicks and an unapologetic kick in the teeth to anything you might consider trendy. Reminiscent of a 70’s style metal/rock band, I wasn’t sure I’d like them at first listen. I’m not a big fan of metal or southern rock (with a few exceptions) but I wanted to look at this with an open mind. Despite their Canadian roots, The Illuminati have a strong southern rock influence showing bits and pieces of Skynnard and even bits that remind me of Death From Above 1979 which helps add to their rough and raw style that we’ve all come to know and love as “ROCK!”
 
I found the mix between their vocal and instrumental styles to be unique. Their vocals aren’t the type I would expect from the sound they are portraying, at time’s reminding me a bit of The Queens of the Stone Age because of high, smooth vocals over gruff guitar chords and solos. But overall; the main component working in the favor of this band is their absolute lack of a gimmick in general. To be honest, whether or not anyone cares; I am personally sick of men in eyeliner, sick of overbearing press photos, a little bit sick of haphazardly used synthesizers, and whole heartedly sick of three chord harmonic bar rock that’s message speaks of nothing but a thirty something man getting picked on in grade school and his struggle to “find his smile.” No whining, no bitching; this CD is good. At a lack of anything else to say about it, I’ll simply say that if you like rock and roll, check out the Illuminati, I give them 4 stars.