Theocracy - As the World Bleeds
2011, Ulterium
1. I AM
2. The Master Storyteller
3. Nailed
4. Hide in the Fairytale
5. The Gift of Music
6. 30 Pieces of Silver
7. Drown
8. Altar To the Unknown God
9. Light of the World
10. As the World Bleeds
Theocracy has been around for awhile but for some reason I never really investigated them. That is, until recently, of course. They're and American power metal/progressive metal band that sounds a bit like a combination of Dream Theater and early Stryper. They've got a lot of epic songs. Take the very first track, "I AM," which is an eleven minute opus about the characteristics of God. However, they've also got a lot of strong hooks as well. It is kind of nice to hear something new but at the same time rather familiar. I get a little bit nostalgic for the glory days of Christian metal when I listen to this. I imagine if this came out then they would have been THE band. It's also nice to hear such good quality, well put together metal with some good old fashioned Jesus lyrics. Not the "turn or burn" variety, mind you. They're a bit more worshipful - sometimes they deal with the human condition. Either way, it's nice to hear.
Useless Fact: I'm told the boys in Theocracy are Catholic. "Nailed" is a song about Martin Luther. Not against him either. So... yeah... I wonder what's going on there. Not that I mind - it's a great song!
You really need to check out their other 3 albums (one new one, "Ghost Ship" coming out at the end of October and, especially, "Mirror of Souls" (The title cut is over 22 minutes long) and of course, all of their Christmas Songs they've released over the last decade. Some great, fun stuff. Mirror of Souls is really the album that could potentially define them. There was also a version released in 2011 of the album (3 years after it was initially released) that contains a bonus track that was originally on the Japanese release, called, "Wages of Sin", which is a killer track (which can be found on their BandCamp page). Definitely a must-listen!
ReplyDeleteI do want to check out more if this band. My budget right now isn't great for that but they are on the list!
DeleteTheocracy guitarist Jon Hinds is Catholic. Singer Matt Smith grew up a Baptist and last said he was attending a "sort of non-denominational" church. The other members are more vague about Christianity.
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