Theocracy (band)
Encyclopedia
Theocracy is a Christian
progressive
power metal
band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens
, Georgia
. The group originally started out as a one man project and all the instruments and vocals done on the debut album Theocracy
were performed by Smith. The current lineup includes Smith along with Shawn Benson, Jonathan Hinds, Jared Oldham, and Val Allen Wood. Musically, the band mixes the power metal
style of Edguy
, Iced Earth
, and Helloween
with progressive influences from bands such as Dream Theater
, Symphony X
, Kansas
and Rush
.
The group performed at the ProgPower
USA VII festival Pre-Party in Atlanta, Georgia. Live performances from the show of the songs "The Serpent's Kiss" and "Mountain" were included on the ProgPower VII DVD. Their second album, Mirror of Souls
, was released on Sweden's Ulterium Records and features cover artwork by Robert G. Wilson, Jr. A song, "On Eagles Wings", which is on that album, can be heard on the bands official MySpace
page. Mirror of Souls was released on November 26, 2008 in Japan by Soundholic Records. The Japanese version contains the bonus track "Wages of Sin". The North American edition was released December 9, 2008. A picture disc LP was released through the record labels web store containing "Mirror of Souls", "Laying the Demon to Rest", "Absolution Day" and "The Wages of Sin". This LP was limited to 250 copies worldwide.
The band's latest album, As the World Bleeds
, was released on November 21, 2011 in North America and will be on November 25, 2011 in Europe.
*songs originally written/arranged by 'Theocracy'
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
progressive
Progressive metal
Progressive metal is a subgenre of heavy metal originating in the United Kingdom and North America in the late 1980s...
power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens
Athens, Georgia
Athens-Clarke County is a consolidated city–county in U.S. state of Georgia, in the northeastern part of the state, comprising the former City of Athens proper and Clarke County. The University of Georgia is located in this college town and is responsible for the initial growth of the city...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
. The group originally started out as a one man project and all the instruments and vocals done on the debut album Theocracy
Theocracy (album)
Theocracy is the self-titled debut album by the Christian Progressive Power metal band Theocracy. It was released in 2003 on MetalAges Records...
were performed by Smith. The current lineup includes Smith along with Shawn Benson, Jonathan Hinds, Jared Oldham, and Val Allen Wood. Musically, the band mixes the power metal
Power metal
Power metal is a style of heavy metal combining characteristics of traditional metal with speed metal, often within symphonic context. The term refers to two different but related styles: the first pioneered and largely practiced in North America with a harder sound similar to speed metal, and a...
style of Edguy
Edguy
-Demos, AFM years :Edguy was founded in 1992 by 14-year-old students Tobias Sammet, Jens Ludwig, Dominik Storch and Dirk Sauer. The name "Edguy" was an affectionate epithet for Mr. Edgar Siedschlag, their math teacher at the time. In 1994, the band released two demos, Evil Minded and Children of...
, Iced Earth
Iced Earth
Iced Earth is an American heavy metal band from Tampa, Florida. Originally formed under the name "Purgatory" in 1984, Iced Earth has released a total of ten studio albums, one live album, three EP's, two compilations and boxsets...
, and Helloween
Helloween
Helloween is a German power metal band founded in the mid 1980s by members of Iron Fist and Powerfool. The band was a pioneering force in the European Power Metal movement and their second and third studio albums, Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt...
with progressive influences from bands such as Dream Theater
Dream Theater
Dream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
, Symphony X
Symphony X
Symphony X is an American progressive metal band from Middletown, New Jersey.Founded in 1994 by guitarist Michael Romeo, their albums The Divine Wings of Tragedy and V: The New Mythology Suite have given the band considerable attention within the progressive metal community...
, Kansas
Kansas (band)
Kansas is an American rock band that became popular in the 1970s initially on Album-Oriented Rock charts, and later with hit singles such as "Carry On Wayward Son" and "Dust in the Wind"...
and Rush
Rush (band)
Rush is a Canadian rock band formed in August 1968, in the Willowdale neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario. The band is composed of bassist, keyboardist, and lead vocalist Geddy Lee, guitarist Alex Lifeson, and drummer and lyricist Neil Peart...
.
The group performed at the ProgPower
ProgPower
ProgPower is the name of four progressive and power metal festivals:*ProgPower Europe , held in the Netherlands since 1999*ProgPower USA, held in the United States since 2001...
USA VII festival Pre-Party in Atlanta, Georgia. Live performances from the show of the songs "The Serpent's Kiss" and "Mountain" were included on the ProgPower VII DVD. Their second album, Mirror of Souls
Mirror of Souls
Mirror of Souls is the second album by Christian progressive power metal band Theocracy. It was released by Ulterium Records on November 21, 2008 in Europe, November 26 in Japan, and December 9 in North America. It is Theocracy's first album as a full band, as their self-titled debut album was a...
, was released on Sweden's Ulterium Records and features cover artwork by Robert G. Wilson, Jr. A song, "On Eagles Wings", which is on that album, can be heard on the bands official MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. Mirror of Souls was released on November 26, 2008 in Japan by Soundholic Records. The Japanese version contains the bonus track "Wages of Sin". The North American edition was released December 9, 2008. A picture disc LP was released through the record labels web store containing "Mirror of Souls", "Laying the Demon to Rest", "Absolution Day" and "The Wages of Sin". This LP was limited to 250 copies worldwide.
The band's latest album, As the World Bleeds
As the World Bleeds
As the World Bleeds is the third studio album by Christian progressive Power metal band Theocracy. It was released by Ulterium Records on November 21, 2011 in North America and will be on November 25, 2011 in Europe.- Track listing :# "I AM"...
, was released on November 21, 2011 in North America and will be on November 25, 2011 in Europe.
Current members
- Matt Smith - Lead Vocals
- Jonathan Hinds - Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Shawn Benson - Drums
- Val Allen Wood - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
- Jared Oldham - Bass, Backing Vocals
Note
Smith performed all lead and choir vocals, rhythm, lead, acoustic, and bass guitars, keys and orchestration on the self-titled album TheocracyFormer members
- Seth Filkins - bass, backing vocals
- Josh Sloan - bass, backing vocals
- Patrick Parris - bass, backing vocals
Discography
- TheocracyTheocracy (album)Theocracy is the self-titled debut album by the Christian Progressive Power metal band Theocracy. It was released in 2003 on MetalAges Records...
(MetalAges Records, 2003) - Mirror of SoulsMirror of SoulsMirror of Souls is the second album by Christian progressive power metal band Theocracy. It was released by Ulterium Records on November 21, 2008 in Europe, November 26 in Japan, and December 9 in North America. It is Theocracy's first album as a full band, as their self-titled debut album was a...
(Ulterium (EU), Nightmare Records (US), 2008) - As the World BleedsAs the World BleedsAs the World Bleeds is the third studio album by Christian progressive Power metal band Theocracy. It was released by Ulterium Records on November 21, 2011 in North America and will be on November 25, 2011 in Europe.- Track listing :# "I AM"...
(Ulterium (EU), Nightmare Records (US), 2011)
Christmas
Starting in the year 2005, the band has recorded and released one Christmas-themed song for free download to all members of their "Club of Souls" fan group, located on their official website. ,So far no new song has been released for 2011.- 2005: Little Drummer Boy
- 2006: Deck the Joy (To the Halls)*
- 2007: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
- 2008: Rudolph vs. Frosty*
- 2009: Angels From the Realms of Glory
- 2010: All I Want For Christmas*
In media
Theocracy made an appearance on the cover of the January/December 2007 issue of Heaven's Metal magazine. Matt Smith was also one of a select few musicians to appear in the "Metal Bible".External links
- Official Theocracy Home Page
- Official Theocracy Forums
- Official Theocracy Page at MySpaceMySpaceMyspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
- Theocracy at Metal Archives