Theocracy is a Melodic Metal band from Athens, Georgia that was founded by Matt Smith back in 2002. Theocracy is known for their Power Metal sound that draws comparison to bands like Sonata Arctica, Stratovarious, Symphony-X, Narnia, and Within Silence. When it comes to the meaning behind the band's moniker, we find in dictionaries that 'theocracy' simply means a government ruled by God. However, the band uses it in a different way that's not referring to governments or politics, but a life that's ruled by God.
Theocracy is a well-seasoned five-piece band that now has a number of releases to their credit. In 2023 Matt Smith released his debut self-titled album on MetalAges Records. Then in 2008 Theocracy followed up with the release of their sophomore highly acclaimed album 'Mirror of Souls' on Ulterium Records. In 2011 the band released their 3rd full-length album titled 'As the World Bleeds' on Ulterium Records. Then in 2016 Theocracy fans were happy to see the release of the band's 4th studio album titled 'Ghost Ship' on Ulterium Records. After the release of Ghost Ship, a number of years went by without a follow-up release to Ghost Ship. This left fans wondering if they would ever hear from the Georgia based band again.
In 2023 after a 7 years hiatus, Theocracy returned to the Metal scene with the release of their 5th full-length studio album titled 'Mosaic' on Atomic Fire Records. 'Mosaic' was released on both CD and Vinyl formats. The album comes packaged in a standard jewel case with clear tray and includes a 16-page booklet. The album was recorded, produced, mixed, and engineered at 'Theocracized Studios' by Matt Smith. The record was mastered by Chris Allgood & Emily Lazar at 'The Lodge' located in New York. The album's cover art, layout, and design were all done by Steven W. Howard.
Over-the-years Theocracy has been mostly known for their epic Power Metal offerings. However, with this latest release, we find our Metal veterans leaning more toward the Thrash & Speed Metal genres. Nonetheless, the band refuses to lose their signature over-the-top epic sound by heavily seasoning their arrangements with plenty of Melodic Metal, big choruses, gang vocals, Neo-classical elements, and Power Metal flavorings. By combining such a wide array of subgenres, the band has created somewhat of a hybrid Melodic Metal that can reach a much broader range of Metal lovin' fans.
With their latest release, there are a couple of changes to the line-up to report. The first comes by way of Val Allen Wood being replaced by lead guitarist-Taylor Washington. The second change is with Shawn Benson being replaced by drummer-Ernie Topran. The complete present-day roster includes vocalist-Matt Smith, lead guitarist-Taylor Washington, guitarist-Jonathan Hinds, bassist-Jared Oldham, and drummer- Ernie Topran.
Over-the-years Theocracy has been mostly known for their epic Power Metal offerings. However, with this latest release, we find our Metal veterans leaning more toward the Thrash & Speed Metal genres. Nonetheless, the band refuses to lose their signature over-the-top epic sound by heavily seasoning their arrangements with plenty of Melodic Metal, big choruses, gang vocals, Neo-classical elements, and Power Metal flavorings. By combining such a wide array of subgenres, the band has created somewhat of a hybrid Melodic Metal that can reach a much broader range of Metal lovin' fans.
With their latest release, there are a couple of changes to the line-up to report. The first comes by way of Val Allen Wood being replaced by lead guitarist-Taylor Washington. The second change is with Shawn Benson being replaced by drummer-Ernie Topran. The complete present-day roster includes vocalist-Matt Smith, lead guitarist-Taylor Washington, guitarist-Jonathan Hinds, bassist-Jared Oldham, and drummer- Ernie Topran.
When it comes to the album cover's artwork, I was a bit surprised to discover that the circle in the center, with its 6 branches coming off of it, forms 6-sixes. When I saw this design, I immediately thought of the blue logo symbol for "CERN" and also "Google Chrome's" symbol with its 3-sixes coming off a center circle. Hopefully in the future, the band will take a little more caution in the details of their album's cover art.
One song on the album that really stands out is track-10 "Red Sea" for both its lyrics and its length. The song clocks in at a whopping 19 minutes long and is second only to their "Mirror of Souls" song, off their 2008 album, which is a staggering 23 minutes long. Matt wrote "Red Sea" way back when he was 19 years old. After pulling it out of the archive, he dusted it off and threw some parts out while rewriting others. The first half of the song's lyrics tells the story from Genesis of the Israelites and Moses crossing the Red Sea. The second half makes a spiritual parallel of red sea and how it's symbolic of the blood of Christ which washes our sin away.
The track-list for 'Mosaic' includes 1.Flicker 2.Anonymous 3.Mosaic 4.Sinsidious (The Dogs of War)
5.Return to Dust 6.The Sixth Great Extinction 7.Deified 8.The Greatest Hope 9.Liar, Fool, or Messiah
10.Red Sea.
The track-list for 'Mosaic' includes 1.Flicker 2.Anonymous 3.Mosaic 4.Sinsidious (The Dogs of War)
5.Return to Dust 6.The Sixth Great Extinction 7.Deified 8.The Greatest Hope 9.Liar, Fool, or Messiah
10.Red Sea.
Lead shredder-Taylor Washington & guitarist-Jonathan Hinds deliver up a Metal feast with their performance here on this 2023 album. Six string enthusiasts will discover plenty of well executed guitar solos throughout with some even drawing comparison to that of the band Trans-Siberian Orchestra.
Jared Oldham does his part in helping to keep the band's arrangements full and heavy with his terminator bass lines. Drummer-Ernie Topran also makes his presence known as he punishes the skins on each and every track on this latest 2023 release!
The band's lyrics for 'Mosaic' are poetic with
the message being a little more hidden and may require some deeper thought.
The following are a few excerpts from the album's lyrics:
the message being a little more hidden and may require some deeper thought.
The following are a few excerpts from the album's lyrics:
(Lyrics are written by Matt Smith who garners some additional help
by Jonathan Hinds on a few different songs)
"Anonymous"
Chosen ones
Futures and names for all of us
No longer anonymous (Anonymous)
No matter what they say
It shall be done
Forging us into priests and kings
Carry us unto greater things
To chase shadows of doubt so far away
Paint the skies with Your Name
"Sinsidious"
Shall we sing a song while the world is burning
As they let the games begin?
Watch the modern Nero play his fiddle
While the teeth are sinking in
Father may we guard our hearts
From the overtly hideous
And the more sinsidious
And the more sinsidious
"Return To Dust"
An inventory of a lifetime passed
Of things ephemeral, and things that last
The hourglass runs out we know not when
To meet the Maker when our time has come to an end
It’s appointed for man once to die
Maybe years, maybe tonight
No matter how hard we rage against the dying of the light
It comes for everyone
For all of us
"The Sixth Great Extinction"
All the wisdom of this world is foolishness
The history of man's opinions changing with the tide
Power to destroy the wisdom of the wise
The wise
Once upon the days of olden times gone by, the ancient stories told
Of great awakenings that shook the hearts of kings
Now we’ve forged a world where our will be done
Are we alive?
Are we alive?
Are we alive?
Or has the sixth great extinction come?
"Deified"
Out of the darkness into light
We open up our eyes
Trying to make the most of just one life
Who are you gonna look to when all your heroes have died
And it's dust you deified?
Burn your idols, Holy Fire
Before they can burn you
Sad denial of liars
Aversion to the truth
You and I or the fallen
Should never wear a crown
These pedestals are gallows
We've come to tear them down!
"Liar, Fool, Or Messiah"
Scene of the crime inside a garden in Jerusalem
Arrested by the temple guards
A mock Sanhedrin trial
With blasphemy the charge
"Are you Messiah?"
Said at the Blessed One
The answer, loud and clear, "I am!
At the right hand of God shall come the Son of Man!"
"Red Sea"
So I rise and run to the shore
Of this sea of righteousness
Sanctified now forevermore
I dive into forgiveness
And float away
And the Red Sea crashes down (And the Red Sea crashes down)
Destroying all my evil (Destroying all my evil)
I sleep beneath the endless waves of Grace (Sleep beneath the endless waves of Grace)
I float within the heart of Peace (Float within the heart of Peace)
At last my soul has found release (Found release, found release)
Within the sea of its eternal resting place (Sea of its eternal resting place)
I'm cleansed within, I'm cleansed without
The Red Sea crashes all around
A baptism a holy trial (The Red Sea crashes all around)
I am overcome and overwhelmed
I take the swim eternal (The swim eternal)
I'm swept away, it washes me (It washes me)
It washes me forever!
by Jonathan Hinds on a few different songs)
"Anonymous"
Chosen ones
Futures and names for all of us
No longer anonymous (Anonymous)
No matter what they say
It shall be done
Forging us into priests and kings
Carry us unto greater things
To chase shadows of doubt so far away
Paint the skies with Your Name
"Sinsidious"
Shall we sing a song while the world is burning
As they let the games begin?
Watch the modern Nero play his fiddle
While the teeth are sinking in
Father may we guard our hearts
From the overtly hideous
And the more sinsidious
And the more sinsidious
"Return To Dust"
An inventory of a lifetime passed
Of things ephemeral, and things that last
The hourglass runs out we know not when
To meet the Maker when our time has come to an end
It’s appointed for man once to die
Maybe years, maybe tonight
No matter how hard we rage against the dying of the light
It comes for everyone
For all of us
"The Sixth Great Extinction"
All the wisdom of this world is foolishness
The history of man's opinions changing with the tide
Power to destroy the wisdom of the wise
The wise
Once upon the days of olden times gone by, the ancient stories told
Of great awakenings that shook the hearts of kings
Now we’ve forged a world where our will be done
Are we alive?
Are we alive?
Are we alive?
Or has the sixth great extinction come?
"Deified"
Out of the darkness into light
We open up our eyes
Trying to make the most of just one life
Who are you gonna look to when all your heroes have died
And it's dust you deified?
Burn your idols, Holy Fire
Before they can burn you
Sad denial of liars
Aversion to the truth
You and I or the fallen
Should never wear a crown
These pedestals are gallows
We've come to tear them down!
"Liar, Fool, Or Messiah"
Scene of the crime inside a garden in Jerusalem
Arrested by the temple guards
A mock Sanhedrin trial
With blasphemy the charge
"Are you Messiah?"
Said at the Blessed One
The answer, loud and clear, "I am!
At the right hand of God shall come the Son of Man!"
"Red Sea"
So I rise and run to the shore
Of this sea of righteousness
Sanctified now forevermore
I dive into forgiveness
And float away
And the Red Sea crashes down (And the Red Sea crashes down)
Destroying all my evil (Destroying all my evil)
I sleep beneath the endless waves of Grace (Sleep beneath the endless waves of Grace)
I float within the heart of Peace (Float within the heart of Peace)
At last my soul has found release (Found release, found release)
Within the sea of its eternal resting place (Sea of its eternal resting place)
I'm cleansed within, I'm cleansed without
The Red Sea crashes all around
A baptism a holy trial (The Red Sea crashes all around)
I am overcome and overwhelmed
I take the swim eternal (The swim eternal)
I'm swept away, it washes me (It washes me)
It washes me forever!
Theocracy is for fans of Sonata Arctica, Stratovarious, and Symphony-X. If you are a Thrash or Power Metal fan then you are going to love the band's latest release. Theocracy has done their part in delivering up another solid slab of Melodic Metal. Help support the band and Christian Metal music by picking up your copy of 'Mosaic' today!
Purchases can be made at any of the following links:
Musicians:
Matt Smith - Lead Vocals
Taylor Washington - Lead Guitars
Jonathan Hinds - Guitars
Jared Oldham - Bass
Ernie Topran - Drums
Matt Smith - Lead Vocals
Taylor Washington - Lead Guitars
Jonathan Hinds - Guitars
Jared Oldham - Bass
Ernie Topran - Drums