Review THEOCRACY ‘Mosaic’

Theocracy is not exactly what you might call a new band. The band’s founding year was many years ago. It was 2002 in Athens, Georgia when guitarist and singer Matt Smith formed Theocracy and a self-titled debut album came out a year later. Since that moment, Theocracy has been a steady force in the heavy metal community, releasing new longplayers with regularity.

The move to Atomic Fire Records could be another milestone in the band’s history as it allowed the guys to strengthen their profile in Europe.

With ‘Mosaic’ Smith and his comrades-in-arms have finished another record, which will be available on the market these days. To describe the sound a bit to those of you who haven’t heard of Theocracy yet; my first thought was bands like Symphony X and Stratovarius. The reason for this is the melodic power metal roots that characterize the band’s sound. In addition, there is a slightly progressive touch and a filigree guitar playing of the two guitarists Jonathan Hinds and Taylor Washington. The bandleader himself has focused on the vocals for years and also here Theocracy knows how to please. All together, supported by good songwriting, delivers songs, which on the one hand go straight into a listener’s mind, but on the other hand also have enough richness to guarantee a long-lasting listening delight.

With ‘Flicker’ the band has packed a real blast at the beginning of the album. With just under four minutes, it is one of the shortest tracks on ‘Mosaic’ and accordingly resounds with accumulated impact.

With ‘Return to Dust’ the guys also have a midtempo anthem on the album, while the loud roaring ‘Anonymous’ represents the dark and heavy side of the outfit. Even though ‘Mosaic’ has become a rather dark album, it includes a very soulful moment with the ballad-like ‘The Greatest Hope’ which fortunately does not directly rely on the elements of a cliché ballad.

The real centerpiece of the album comes at the end. ‘Red Sea’ is a nearly 20-minute epic which Smith wrote at the age of 19. Reworked and slightly rewritten, ‘Red Sea’ forms the absolute highlight on ‘Mosaic’. No moment of boredom arises with such a length, which speaks for the quality of Theocarcy.

The slightly oriental moments are a welcomed change as well as the somewhat complex solo parts. Inaddition, the acoustic interlude offers a well-placed twist before the song picks up speed again.

I have to admit that Theocracy was not on my radar before. With ‘Mosaic’ this has now changed. This longplayer represents quality, songwriting finesse and first class songs that always finds the sweetspot between progressive patterns and melodic moments. Actually, one can only enjoy the album and I think that we will hear (and hopefully see) a lot more from this band in the future.