Lake Macquarie, Newcastle Power Metal band ILIUM started life in the suburbs of Barnsley and Edgeworth as early as 1990. Originally known as ORACLE, the band founded by guitarist Jason Hodges laboured in the Australian scene for almost a decade. Alongside Hodges, ORACLE comprised school friends Mark Snedden on vocals, second guitarist Troy McLellan, bass player Keith Jacobsen and drummer Jason Dohmen. A a succession of line-up changes then ensued, with Eric Pedersen assuming the bass position and Kris Arendse superseding McLellan. The latter was then ousted and both both Pedersen and Arendse departing. Regrouping, ORACLE pulled in guitarist Adam Smith and bassist Matthew Woodland. This version of the band debuted live in 1992 at the King George's Tavern in Islington.

Membership tensions had Smith and Woodland leaving the group after several months, during which time Kris Arendse made a brief return to the ranks, and were replaced by Sean Vittadello and Michael Noonan respectively. Just before Noonan enrolled ORACLE, with Daryl Metcalfe deputising on bass, travelled to Melbourne to record the track 'Half-Life' for inclusion on the compilation album 'Def Metal II'. Oddly, the album credits mis-titled the song as 'Purgatory's Hold'.

Once again ORACLE went into flux, this time resulting in the exit of Vittadello then shortly afterward founders Sneddon and Dohmen. The remaining duo pulled in Adam Smith once again and new drummer Aaron Flynn but soon fractured. Post ORACLE, Jason Hodges published a book based upon one of the band's songs, 'Black Abyss'.

A two year hiatus was broken as ORACLE was reformed by Snedden, Arendse, Dohmen, Woodland and Hodges. This formation was short-lived, as Dohmen soon relinquished his position. The band, enlisting session drummer David Pearson, adopted the moniker ILIAD, recording a six song demo, which would remain unpublished and officially described as "truly horrible". The band title was eventually changed to ILIUM. Adam Smith rejoined and for a priod the group operated with three guitarists until Arendse left once again.

Around the turn of the century ILIUM, now consisting of vocalist Mark Snedden, guitarists Jason Hodges and Adam Smith, bassist Matt Woodland and Dave Pearson on drums, released thier independent debut, self-titled EP. The pro-four track, produced by DUNGEON's Lord Tim, featured a cover of FLEETWOOD MAC's / JUDAS PRIEST's 'The Green Manalishi (With The Two Pronged Crown)' and received favourable reviews around the globe and scored European distribution through German label Hellion Records. However, both Pearson and Woodland were to leave shortly after.

The strength of the EP scored ILIUM a deal with the Italian label Steelheart Records and the band recorded a full-length debut entitled 'Sirens Of The Styx', which lyrically and visually relied heavily on classical literature for inspiration and packaging. The line-up at the time comprised a trio of Snedden, Hodges and Smith. The recording of the bass and keyboards on the recording were done by Adam Smith and the drums were recorded by Steve Moore of DUNGEON. The group re-recorded three songs from the debut EP for inclusion. Soon afterward the line-up was rounded out by newcomers Peter Gilchrist on bass guitar and Dave Walmsley on drums.

'Sirens Of The Styx' was co-produced by Lord Tim, who also provided some backing vocals. The album, released in late 2003, was warmly received in the era of renewed interest in Power Metal, especially in the respected and growing Australian scene. The following year the band contributed a cover version of DIO's 'Rainbow In The Dark' for the Steelheart Records compilation, 'A Tribute to The Glory Of 80's Metal'.

The newfound success and exposure for the band proved to be a bittersweet and mixed blessing. The band quickly entered the studio and in a creative surge finished recording the bulk of material for two full-length albums. However, the added pressure led to the departure of Snedden, Gilchrist and Walmsley. Pete Judd of THE BLACK was auditioned for the vocal spot. At this point the duo of Smith and Hodges recruited Lord Tim to re-work and finish the vocals and over time he officially joined became the vocalist.

The bands second album 'Permian Dusk' would be scheduled for Winter release in 2005 on the Steelheart label, with a third full-length album, provisionally entitled, 'Vespertilion', also in production. ILIUM's ranks expanded once again with the re-recruitment of familiar faces Pete Gilchrist and Dave Walmsley and the addition of Pete's son Corey Gilchrist, an 'Australian Idol' finalist, added on keyboards.

The 2008 album 'Ageless Decay' featured lead vocals from the highly reputed Mike DiMeo of RIOT and MASTERPLAN.