The powers that be behind Theocracy saw fit to make us all wait nearly 7 years for a follow-up to 2016s Ghost Ship. This is a sin and something I cannot countenance in good faith. That’s because Theocracy are one of, if not the best American power metal acts running and they deliver such massive, emotion-drenched compositions when they deign to grant us an audience. The brainchild of Matt Smith, he’s steered the band from humble Christian metal beginnings to increasingly epic and monolithic heights over the years, with music so great it enthralls believers and nonbelievers alike. 2011s As the World Bleeds was a wunderkind power metal opus overflowing with hooks and stellar moments that etched themselves on your brain tablet. Ghost Ship kept the ball rolling uphill with another ace collection of killer tunes, and then they played the waiting game. So what does fifth album Mosaic offer after the unacceptably extended wait time? Why, it offers more of the high-quality Theocracy sound and style with their unique identity stamped all over it. Glory be!
I’ll say upfront, the first half of Mosaic delivers everything I want from a Theocracy album. Opener “Flicker” is a breath of fresh air carrying the scent of finesse and excellence. It’s classic power metal and surprisingly heavy, with burly, crunching guitar lines that pack a punch. You’ll love it the very first time you hear it and it only gets better with replays. The title track is a straight-up stunner, full of emotion and packed to the gills with power and energy. Matt Smith shows once again why he’s one of the best vocalists in metal as he gets the listener eating out of his hand while the song moves from emotional ballading to heavy thrash and all the places in-between. At times things approach the heaviness of Heathen, which is great. This one is a strong contender for Song o’ the Year and I can’t stop spinning it. When I do, it’s to spin “Return to Dust,” which is nearly as good and loaded with classic Theocracy bombast and glory. This one sticks in the skull like a cattle bolt and I can’t get enough.
Things move from strength to strength for the first 37 minutes with no let-up in righteous material as the band revels in their US power metal sound. The problem arrives toward the back end with things closing out with back-to-back epic cuts that cover nearly 27 minutes of the album’s oversized hour and 6-minute runtime. Penultimate cut “Liar, Fool, or Messiah” is very good with plenty of memorable moments and a chorus that sticks, but at 7:38 it feels overstuffed. This is followed by the 19-minute family-sized closer “Red Sea” which presents a lot to wade through. The song itself has a lot going for it, including nods to the greatest metal song of all time, “Stargazer.” It’s an epic, sweeping tune with peaks and valleys that feel like a fascinating journey and the musicianship is outstanding across the boards. Matt sells the classic tale of the Jews and their exodus from Egypt with passion and power, but at around the 12-minute mark, things arrive at a perfect stopping point. The band opts to blow right through said stop sign to rattle on for another 7 minutes, which makes things feel like way too much of a good thing. The combined weight of these two good but overlong songs drags down the momentum the band develops over the first two-thirds of the album, leaving a slightly diminished overall impression for the listener.
Album girth aside, the band members themselves are all in fantastic form. Though sporting a new guitarist and drummer, Theocracy doesn’t skip a beat. Jonathan Hinds and new lead axe Taylor Washington bring the full bag of power metal tricks to the altar – crunching riffs, powerful gallops, and stunning solos all flood the ears, parting your brain to allow songs to enter your memory sanctuary. Over the top flies Matt Smith on wings of angels. He sounds pristine and powerful, gilding every song with his Midas touch. His voice cuts through the music like a laser beam and when teamed with his talent for writing huge, Avantasia-approved chorus, it guarantees you pay close attention.
After a wait that would test the patience of Job, Theocracy gift us another album’s worth of high-level power. Mosaic may be overlong, but it borders on great and it’s better than Ghost Ship with several Song o’ the Year contenders that will make you a believer. When Theocracy deliver, it’s God-sized stuff from on high and Mosaic delivers. Hear this and repent your many, MANY sins.
Rating: 3.5/5.0
DR: 5 | Format Reviewed: 320 kbps mp3
Label: Atomic Fire
Websites: theocracymusic.com | facebook.com/theocracyband
Releases Worldwide: October 13th, 2023
