{"id":10429,"date":"2023-11-30T12:17:23","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T17:17:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/?p=10429"},"modified":"2023-11-30T12:22:10","modified_gmt":"2023-11-30T17:22:10","slug":"theocracy-mosaic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/heavensmetalmagazine.com\/index.php\/2023\/11\/30\/theocracy-mosaic\/","title":{"rendered":"THEOCRACY: Mosaic"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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ALBUM OF THE YEAR<\/s> [REDACT!]<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Likely an understatement (and so music journalist clich\u00e9) to say that Mosaic<\/em> (Theocracy\u2019s 5th<\/sup> studio release) represents one of the most highly anticipated metal releases for 2023 in both the power\/prog metal world and within the niche scene we cover at Heavens Metal Magazine<\/em>. However, you will not see or hear this writer dropping the other music journalist clich\u00e9 which typically follows that kind of hyperbole\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201c\u2026Theocracy does not disappoint with Mosaic representing their most focused, ferocious and decisively fantastic release to date!\u201d<\/s> <\/em>[REDACT!<\/strong>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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To make that statement would be foolish, would it not? For that would be akin to making statements like, \u201cMoving Pictures<\/em> represents Rush\u2019s most brilliant release to date\u201d or \u201cPink Floyd\u2019s The Wall<\/em> clearly represents their best work of the decade\u201d or furthermore to make the point, \u201cSeventh Son of a Seventh Son<\/em> clearly represents Maiden\u2019s most powerful and dynamic album of the \u201880\u2019s.\u201d Surely you jest\u2026 Hmm\u2026 you get my point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, as I poke fun at myself and my music journalism kinfolk for our overzealous and verbose attempts to promote the artists we love (with EVERY single \u2013 well almost \u2013 new release), there is an enduring nugget of truth hidden within the parody…<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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When you are good \u2026 it is good. When you are great \u2026 there is no best, just excellence in excess.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Not the \u201cBest\u201d \u2026 Just More of It<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Theocracy has been so consistently consistent since inception \u2013 every release just as good as (in terms of quality or artistic and musical output) as its predecessor. In this regard, Mosaic<\/em> is no exception (again, sorry for the clich\u00e9). Matt Smith is undoubtedly the human responsible for this \u2013 his striving for excellence in every effort along with his desire to \u201cnever release a bad song\u201d has gifted the world with now 5 amazing slabs of heavy, melodic, progressive power metal lyrically infused by a Christian worldview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nevertheless, I have no doubt Matt would be the first to say that not only has he been gifted with the help of great people (musicians, artists, designers, music engineers\/producers, promoters, label-heads, etc.) over the years, but that he has been inspired and guided by the Spirit of truth. How can I say this, you say? The music of Theocracy speaks it \u2013 in both volume and volumes!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All this to say, Mosaic<\/em> doesn\u2019t represent the \u201cbest work to date\u201d for this artist. Instead, Mosaic<\/em> represents God\u2019s provision to Matt Smith and friends to gift the world with yet another amazing and inspiring collection of powerful, insightful and blisteringly fierce heavy melodic metal!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Changes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

And man, it is heavy \u2026 on so many levels. But before we get to all that let\u2019s get the elephant out of the room on the personnel change. No matter how hard any entity (band, sports franchise, business, etc.) fights for integrity, fights against the entropy of chaos in relationships, things (putting in kindly) happen. Val Allen Wood is out and power metaller Taylor Washington (Paladin) is in (guitars\/back-up vocals).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a reviewer it\u2019s not my job to dwell on all that, however readers might care if the Theocracy soundscape or style has changed as a result. In essence, as a listener (and fan \u2026 really?), the simple answer \u2026 not really. That said, if in some way Washington persuaded the guys to make it heavier? Perhaps\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And, of course, Theocracy is now on Atomic Fire Records<\/a><\/strong> (Germany) having amicably parted with long-time friend and supporter Emil Westerdahl<\/strong> (you rock!) and Ulterium Records<\/a> (Sweden). In tribute to the Ulterium era of Theocracy (3 amazing studio releases plus a wonderful remake of the debut) check out our review of Ghost<\/em> Ship<\/em><\/a>, the culmination release (and the culmination review) from all those years. Cheers!!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Songs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Just a Flicker of Thrash<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFlicker\u201d<\/strong> kicks things off in a bit of unorthodox manner with the almost whispered \u201cSometimes I just feel like I don\u2019t belong here…\u201d but the song quickly crescendos into a thrash metal frenzy with plenty of pace and guitar shred amidst Smith\u2019s lament about the state of the world in which we live and how unrecognizable it has become just within the brief \u201cflicker\u201d of our own lives. This confession resonates deeply with the soul:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u201cDo you ever feel like you just don\u2019t belong here?\/Me I\u2019ve always known this isn\u2019t home\/I\u2019m starting to feel so disconnected\/A stranger in a strange and growing ever stranger land\/In a world that I don\u2019t understand\u201d<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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