Label:Metal Ages Records
Running time:68minutes
Tracklist:
 1) Prelude (1:36)
2) Ichthus (4:39)
3) The Serpent's Kiss (11:56)
4) Mountain (4:48)
5) Theocracy (6:00)
6) The Healing Hand (11:36)
7) Sinner (6:08)
8) New Jerusalem (5:10)
9) The Victory Dance (5:02)
10) Twist of Fate (11:30)

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Theocracy - S/T
Ever since this album was released I have heard people giving it praises. I heard some samples and as a huge fan of power metal, progressive metal and orchestral metal I knew I had to get it. Even by the samples I knew it would be one of my favourite releases this year but yet, when I finally heard the whole album I was surprised - it's even better than I had expected! Even more amazing is the fact that it's all done by one man named Matt Smith. He did all the rhythm guitars, lead guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, orchestration, lead vocals and even choir vocals with up to 70 voices recorded separately. Not that this would be enough since he even produced, mixed and engineered the whole album all by himself.

Especially the most excellent rhythm playing, vocals and beautiful harmonies stand out on this album but everything else is also made very professionally as well. The only weakness of the album is the use of a drum machine but don't let this turn you off as it's done so well that you hardly can notice it. The drum sound is also very good compared to most drum machines. The songwriting is just superb. On many albums there are some specific great melodies and riffs that you want to listen to over and over. This album is filled with those from the beginning to end so it's really easier to just listen through the whole album one more time when you get to the end.

After a beautiful prelude the album kicks into the very fast classic power metal song Ichtus that is a great opener. After this the album gets more epic, orchestral and progressive. The Serpents Kiss is the first over 11 minutes long masterpeice and it's followed by the extremely powerful and touching Mountain. The title track continues in the vein of atmospheric power metal. At this point you feel you've pretty much figured the album out but you couldn't be more wrong. The second over 11 minute long masterpeice The Healing Hand takes on a slower paced progressive groove. The following track Sinner continues in the slow pace and also contain a lot of both progressive and symphonic elements. New Jerusalem is once again a faster track and brings back the power metal elements from the first half of the album. The Victory Dance is a mid-paced song with a march beat and very nice folkish melody that layers bag pipe, string arrangements and electric guitar in a most excellent way. Finally comes the third over 11 minute long song Twist of Fate. It starts out as another slow paced progressive groover that is very modern sounding. With a lot of strange effects it sounds like something that could be found on a modern scifi-movie soundtrack. Then it kicks into a faster power metal beat that slowly progresses towards a very majestic ending.

I can not recommend this album enough, it has instantly become one of my all time favourites. Besides that it is musically breath taking it is also very spiritually uplifting. Matt Smith seems to be a very humble man with a true heart for God and he has been able to write lyrics that speak to the heart and the choir parts make them even more majestic. There is a sense of worship and surrendering to God throughout the album. I could go on and on how good this album is but the only way you'll really realize it is by hearing it yourself.

Style: Symphonic power metal  
Hot shots: All of them are musical masterpeices!
Overall:
Year: 2003
Review by: Whitewashed