Turkish atmospheric doom/death metal act Illusions Play stream their second studio album »Empire Of Desolation«; out now via IP Records!

Istanbul, Turkiye based atmospheric doom/death metal act Illusions Play has just released their much-anticipated second studio album »Empire Of Desolation« on December 13th, 2024 via IP Records.

Listen to »Empire Of Desolation« on all major streaming platforms!

Tracklist:
01. Morning Dew
02. The Passage
03. Empire of Desolation
04. Last Hours
05. Under Shining Moon
06. Unformed Existence
07. The Spaceless
08. Under Shining Moon (Radio Edit)

Courtesy of Against PR:

After ten years of silence, Illusions Play return with »Empire Of Desolation«, an album shaped by a decade of evolution and experience. The band’s hallmark atmospheric doom-death sound emerges with a renewed intensity, blending heavy, commanding riffs with haunting melodies that strike a balance between despair and aggression.

The album reflects Illusions Play’s growth over the years, with each song showcasing their ability to craft music that is both powerful and deeply evocative. The record’s darker tone will resonate with long-time fans while offering an entry point for newcomers to experience the band’s carefully layered approach to doom and melodic death metal.

»Empire Of Desolation« represents not just a return but a redefinition of the band’s sound.

Emerging in 2011 from the historic depths of Istanbul, Illusions Play quickly established themselves as a force in atmospheric doom/death metal. Their sound is built on contrasts – glacial riffs collide with dark, deliberate rhythms, guttural growls intertwine with soaring clean vocals.

Illusions Play transforms despair into beauty, creating melodies that evoke solitude and introspection, yet pulse with an undeniable vitality. Their compositions capture a sense of longing and resolve, balancing shadow and light in ways that resonate deeply with listeners.

From their beginnings to their triumphant return with »Empire Of Desolation«, they’ve continued to create a soundtrack for the human experience—melancholic, dynamic, and profoundly moving.

Line-up:
Vitaliy Petrenko – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards
Sezer Soylemezoglu – Guitars, Backing Vocals
H. Arda Burhan – Drums

Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well