Illuminata, an Austrian symphonic‑metal band formed in 2006 in Graz by Lukas Knoebl and Dave Trummer, emerged from a fluctuating lineup before releasing the Lacrimal demo the same year. The group’s significant release was the From the Chalice of Dreams album in 2009, followed by A World So Cold in 2011, which earned reviews from Legacy and Stormbringer.at and led to touring support slots for Xandria, Visions of Atlantis, and Serenity, as well as a performance at the Metalchamp festival in Slovenia. In 2015, a crowdfunded effort produced Where Stories Unfold, featuring a 60‑member Czech Film Orchestra, choirs, and chamber musicians, and the single "Phoenix" preceded the album.