| CD REVIEW Theocracy |
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Band : Theocracy With a name like that, do I really have to emphasize the fact that this Athens (Georgia) based American band’s members are driven by the Christian faith? Well yeah, they are, and they can’t stop singing about how The Lord and His Son “save” them every day, over and over again! To the point of becoming annoying when one has to listen to their album a couple of times in a row in order to review it! Luckily, the music this threesome plays makes up for a lot...that is, at least, when you’re into slightly Symphonic and Progressive Power Metal! The band was started off as the one-man project of singer/ guitarist Matt Smith, whom had built a decent home recording studio by 2002. As most people he’d known to be interested in his kind of music had by then either moved away to go to college or for jobs, Theocracy became his solo project...although he still jammed with others from time to time. A year earlier he had already recorded a 3-track demo which he’d sent to some friends, and eventually this demo came upon the desc and under the attention of MetalAges (then still only a media/ design/ distribution company) owner Deron Blevins, who contacted Smith while he was working on his first full-length outing. Blevins liked the new stuff so much, he decided to expand his company with a record company, and wanted Theocracy’s to be the first release on it! The self-titled debut, on which Smith was still the only musician/ singer, was issued on MetalAges Records in late 2003. What with the band at that time being a solo outing in the most literal sense of the word, live promotion of the album only came after Smith recruited drummer Shawn Benson and guitarist/ backing vocalist Jon Hinds and, after having inducted them to the material, began playing small local shows to start with (as the positive momentum of the media’s reactions to the release has since then gone somewhat). The apotheosis of which would be a showcase at the prestigious Progpower USA. Since then the band’s been working on new songs, which now come together on Mirror Of Souls. In June 2007 Theocracy announced they were being joined by Patrick Parris (frontman of Eclipsed By Sanity) on the bass. Although Parris had made an agreement to part ways (either temporarily of permanently) with his former band to concentrate on Theocracy, he came to feel his position in the latter band was less satisfying than when he was lead vocalist...and so he re-joined EBS to rekindle those feelings of old. EBS finally being successful in acquiring the necessary attention within the Atlanta Metal scene, Parris eventually cut the knot and left Theocracy on amical terms in early May of this year [Although not confirmed by the band’s own MySpace (better check out the band’s forums where their activity is somewhat more frequent), the name of Seth Filkins is mentioned as bassist (but I have no way of knowing whether he’s a new guy, or what...) on the above mentioned unofficial MySpace page]. Later that same month, Theocracy signed to Ulterium for the European release of the album (since then, deals have been made for the November 26 release of the album in Japan on Soundholic, and the December 9 release of the album in North America on Nightmare Records). With mastering done at the famed Finnvox studios, the 8 songs (for a total of 68 minutes listening time!) sound both muscular and clear, which is a perfect complement to the songs! When trying to compose my thought about how to describe the band’s sound, I suddenly came upon their own description at their MySpace page, so I thought, why not let ‘em explain themselves, eh? Here goes: “Epic, melodic power Metal with occasional Progressive flourishes. Long songs, longer songs, short songs, fast songs, slow songs, midtempo songs, ballads...epic choirs, soaring vocals, pounding drums, crunchtastic guitars, and most importantly, melodies that get stuck in your head”...well, I couldn’t have said it better, but I càn elaborate! Compared to the debut, which had 3 songs in the 11-minute range, you’ll only have to “longer” songs this time around: the 9 ½ minute “Laying The Demon To Rest” and the truly epic albubum closing album title song with its 22 ½ minutes of length! In spite of that “enormous” length, the track however fails to get boring or repetitive, as the story grabs one from the start to the finish! Special moments come in the album opening “A Tower Of Ashes”, where occasional remeniscennces to Bruce Dinckinson occur...in “Laying The Devil To Rest”, where you’d swear RobHalforddoes a guest appearance...the acoustic and balladesque sstart of “Bethlehem”, and the short passage of Tex Mex trumpet in the background during “Martyr”. For your fun, I’ve gone looking for audio material on the Internet, so check out myspace.com/theocracyband for some of the new stuff (aslo a video promo), as well as a couple of tracks off the debut (and a weird version of “Mirror Of Souls”, apparently posted as an April Fools thing). For two more songs off the debut, check fansite myspace.com/theocracy! Overall, the constant soaring high-pitched vocals (both lead and backing) tend to work on my nerves somewhat, and although I’m the first to say the religious background shouldn’t matter (even when the subject comes through in each and every song), I’m willing to admit that the two combined are costing this otherwize great album some points! 93/100 Tony. |