Release Date: 6 February 2026
Song Count: 19
Duration: 1 hour, 1 minute, 6 seconds
Rating: 7.9/10
Description:
Strap in everyone, because we are about to have a triple whammy here with three albums releasing on the exact same date, which is today, 6 February - starting with the new face on the block, worldwide-known Illinois-born producer Nicholas Daniel Miller, also known as ILLENIUM, releasing his sixth and newest full-length LP, ODYSSEY. In typical mainstream EDM fashion, most of the tracks featured in this brand new album contain the additional talents of countless other artists mixed in to complete the project, from international music stars such as Ellie Goulding, Kid Cudi and Bring Me The Horizon to more up-and-coming artists such as Tom Grennan, HAYLA and Lauren Alaina, of course among many others.
ILLENIUM has stood out stylistically amongst other mainstream EDM musicians through zany, flowing tracks that contain a lot of melodicism, pace and the use of a song structure that practically guarantees near immaculate song cohesion, which is frequently present in his newest work. Though nearly all of the songs resemble each other in terms of progression, electronic instruments in use and even chord progressions, the actual effectiveness of them nevertheless varies depending on the artist paired together with the signature production style, as well as smaller subtleties to add touches that bring the tracks ever more together. Some of the choices in voices lent in this record are bulls-eyes, matching together perfectly when given the right instrumental setting, which is more than accommodated for - Alna and Tom Grennan in "Forever", Elley Duhé in "Feels Like You", HAYLA in "In My Arms", Alok in "To The Moon" and WYLDE in "Ur Alive" sound stellar as a result, not just on their own merit (which still applies), but also because their talents receive the additional enhancement given by their backdrops.
I've always considered myself fond of ILLENIUM's approach to mainstream EDM, and even though ODYSSEY can tend to go more on the repetitive and less original side of things at certain moments, the highlights that do pack a punch more than make up for the deficits, leaving the public with an overall rounded-out album featuring some of the guy's best songs to date. This is quite a digestible album with something of interest to find for nearly anyone out there, whilst still retaining a clear direction and personality that makes its output not only instantly recognisable on who is behind it, but also positively memorable. Overall a good collection with plenty of bangers to enjoy.