"Like nothing and everything you'veever heard."
--Liz Koch, Promotion Agent,
Notorious Productions, 2004.

Final Verdict: Powerful music with a strong message.
A diverse, masterful blend of genres.
-- Word of Mouth Magazine, Oct. 2006.

"The Illuminati do what they do best on this album -
a meditative rock extravaganza,
wheel-painted with hard-hitting vocals and innovative arrangements.
Moody and strong, Love and War is a triumph for the Illuminati,
who once again prove themselves absolute pigeonhole genre proof."
--Kevin Keating, CD Reviews,
Origivation Magazine, May 2006.

"A great departure from today's commercial drivel,
the Illuminati offer socially relevent lyrics,
supported by complimentary and well-developed musical progressions.
--Melissa Gee, Host, Local Anesthetic
92.1 FM, Lock Haven, PA.

Very unique and enjoyable.
If you do not get it at first,
listen again to realize its depth.”
--Crazy John, CD Reviews,
HbgOnline.com, June 2007.

I haven't heard anything that sounds quite like it,
which is something I seldom say."
--Bill Hanson, Host, The Sunday News
105.7 WQXA, Elizabethtown, PA

"This band sounds fresh and clean
in a genre that is stale and redundant."
--Yaron Gabai, Owner,
Jagged Edge Productions, Philadelphia, PA. 2008.


"This is a band that obviously takes time to craft their music. The songs are
very well written and recorded. My guess is that (the Illuminati)
are of those bands that aregenuinely in it for the music.
Which is just fine by me."
-- Mike Brennan, CD Reviews,
Fly Magazine, January, 2004.


"Readers of this column may recognize Stephen Musti as the name of the driving force behind
a band called Alien Sphynx whose 2009 album I'm Telling You still gets rotation in my office sound system.
He has returned with his wonderfully colorful vocals, great guitar work, and topical, informed, and
subversive lyrics along with fellow front man keyboardist/vocalist/guitartist Mark Higgins, ballsy
drummer Dana DeLong, and skillful bassist Aaron Hoke as the legendary world-dominating cabal, the Illuminati.
The five-song EP begins with the wonderful, radio-ready "Final Fight" and proceeds through three more ambitious epics
including the excellent "The Winds" and finishes with Sphynx's beautiful instrumental "Jade."
The addition of Mark Higgins' keys and compositional skills take this material a bit beyond that done with Alien Sphynx,
although the punkier anarchistic element of Sphynx is missing from this collection.
The band retains Musti's penchant for broad, Floyd-like musical statements that do verge on
more than a passing glance at indulgence. We're talking about a great follow-up work by a band
containing some of my favorite regional artists. Can't wait for a full-length! Can't wait to see them!
--Alex Greenberg, CD reviewer,
PA Musician Magazine, October, 2003.
NOTE: PA Musician ranked Because at number 10 for
"Best Rock Albums" from Pennsylvania in 2003.
It was the only EP that made the list.