BIO

Formed in 2015 by guitarists Scott Onofrychuk and Brandon McNeil, bassist Jeff Perry, and drummer Darren May, Illyrian was the culmination of several bands in the Western Canadian metal scene dispersing and reforming with new lineups, new material, and new ideas.

Hitting the ground running, 2016 saw the release of their first album, aptly named Round 2: Fight! in homage to the band’s origins and previous enterprises. It would lay the groundwork for the band’s thematic sensibilities, containing a roster of songs based on movies, comics, and video games that the group shared a love for. The less-than-serious lyrical content and playful musicianship suited their energetic live performances, and Illyrian quickly made a name for themselves among their peers and new fans alike.

Following an active couple years of performing locally and touring abroad, McNeil departed the band in late 2018. On the cusp of recording a new album, Onofrychuk, Perry, and May opted to move forward as a three-piece for the production. The result was 2019’s The Entity, Unknown.

Entity marked Perry stepping into a more prominent vocal role; something that would remain a permanent fixture for the band going forward. It was also the first of many recordings done with producer Brett Reid. Among its accolades, The Entity, Unknown received the 2020 YYC Music Awards winner for “Metal Recording of the Year.”

Guitarist Kelly Hagg joined in late 2019, bringing the band back to a full performing lineup. However, with 2020 being what it was for live music, the group instead focused on writing new material and working out how to keep collaborating remotely.

2021 saw the release of Aegis, an EP which would be the first and only performance from Hagg on an lllyrian record, and the final recorded performance of longtime drummer Darren May, both of whom departed the band shortly after its release.

Onofrychuk and Perry recruited drummer Calvin Reid in early 2022, and set to work on writing their next album. The band at present continues to operate as a three-piece, with new material set to be released in 2023.