Drop-D.ie described the band as 'majestic post-metal', while Terrorizer Magazine wrote that "you'd have to be pretty thick not to check these guys out - and keep your eyes on them", while describing "Rule By Thieves" as "expansive and well written".

Ilenkus began in 2010, when the band released three demo tracks and began playing shows.
In the year prior to this the band had wanted to record an album, but without the time constraints or pressures of a day rate studio. So they purchased recording equipment, rented a house and began getting to grips with their recording process. After some months they realised that they had been recording a collection of songs which they now felt were not the album they wanted to release. The band had been playing gigs under the name FUBAR, so a name change took place and thus began the recording of 'Rule By Thieves'.

Released in September 2011, Rule By Thieves has been recieved excellently by critics. The bands' sound has been described as 'A mix of Metal, Grunge and Noisecore', while being compared to acts like Mastodon, Isis, Dillinger Escape Plan, Tool and Botch.

The word Ilenkus comes originally from the Greek word Elenchus and is a form of debate commonly known as the Socratic Method.