Theocracy – As the World Bleeds

This is the U.S. outfit’s third album, following “Mirror of souls” in 2008.

While this is power metal, there is often an element of Bay Area thrash, which messes with the flow of the songs and detracts from melodies from time to time.  It appears that the band has a bit of an identity crisis and it rears its ugly head in places.  The second half of the album, though, is very strong with a couple of stonking tracks on it.  Matt Smith’s vocals sound a bit reedy at times, where it is engulfed by the playing instruments, but in the quieter places he sounds very good indeed…although one wonders whether he is suited to this genre.

Promising, but for the band’s third outing it will be disappointing to some.

Nick van der Meulen

6 out of 10


Featured Artist: JOSH TAERK

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Power Plays w/c 9 December 2024

In this sequence we play ‘The Best of 2024′ GRTR! reviewer selections

Featured Albums w/c 9 December 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2024 (Singer Songwriter)



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