Theocracy: excellent Christian metal band

[Wampa]

Has anyone heard of the new Christian band Theocracy? I stumbled upon them a few months ago and I am blown away. Their music is amazing. The genre, per the band, is “epic Metal with occasional progressive tendencies”. They use choir vocals and other “church” sounding effects.

I am an old metalhead from my high school days (Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc). Since becoming Christian, I have been looking for good Christian metal bands. The ones that I find usually don’t do it for me, as the lyrics often seem too cheesy for me. Theocracy has really impressed me with their music and lyrics though.

If anyone is familiar with them, I’d love to talk about them with someone. If you want to check them out, go to theocracymusic.com. There are partial songs available as MP3s for download. I suggest starting with the song Theocracy, the best song on the album (IMHO). The gist of the song is using the political idea of monarchy and theocracy as an analogy to our spiritual lives (IE that we should stop a monarchy - where we rule our life - and start being a theocracy - where Jesus rules our life).

The music itself is pretty non-demoninational. There is nothing specifically Catholic in it, but I don’t sense anything specifically “not Catholic” in it either. I think that any Christian could really enjoy it (and non-Christians, too, just based on how good it is).

 

[kjvail]

I’m old-school metalhead too

I listened to a couple of the samples - not bad. Vaguely reminescent of Iron Maiden, but this guy doesn’t have Dickinson’s voice.

 

[Wampa]

kjvail:

but this guy doesn’t have Dickinson’s voice.

But then again, who does??? Bruce rules.

I’ve been hanging out in the Politics section a lot and I gauged many of our forum members to not be the type of folks who would like metal. As I posted this thread, I was wondering if there was ANYONE else here who would be an old school metaller. It’s nice to see a reply already and it will be interesting to see how many are around!

 

[Wampa]

In case anyone is interested to see some of the lyrics, here is part of the lyrics from the song on the album that I am currently listening to the most, called “Sinner”. Musically, the song is very much in the vein of Metallica’s Bleeding Me (indeed, the main guy in the band told me via e-mail that this was the first Theocracy song he wrote and that he had tried to make it similar to Bleeding Me – this was right after Metallica’s Load came out).

This is the song that I think about when getting ready for Reconciliation.

Sin has tangled me
My life is broken and I bleed eternally
Grief’s controlling me
So I cry out to the only one who can bring
The healing that I need

[Chorus:]

Help me
Save me
Take this guilt away from me
Hear me
Take me back to where I was (before the fall)
Wash me
Cleanse me
See what has become of me
Trying on my own, I failed
So I now come crawling back to you
I’ve fallen

 

[Seven_Sorrows]

Oh man, that music was wayyy to buttrock for me. But I guess I am too young, I was born in 78, so I was probably in kindergarden when this would have been cool.

I go for the newer metal/hardcore

you can listen to my catholic band Seven sorrows
www.sevensorrows.com
we have one hardcore song called vengeance

or my old christian hardcore band disarm
www.sevensorrows.com/music.html

 

[sparkle]

Hey Thanks alot for the mention of these “Christian” bands.

I’m been looking for some music to recommend to my teen boy who listens to **** currently. Blink182, etc., and Rap. I haven’t known where to search. He’s also a musician, and we have been looking for something with some content, both lyrics and instrumentally.

I’ll check them out!!!

Any other recommendations appreciated too!!!

Especially with “cool drums”-----synthesizer, brass…

Thanks so much!!!

 

[Wampa]

I just wanted to give this thread a bump so a few more people might see it. I am still listening to this album several times a week - it is fantastic!

On a totally unrelated (yet still metal) note, Joey Belladonna, the former lead singer of Anthrax, is about the nicest, most down-to-earth person I’ve ever met. When his band, Belladonna, came through last week opening for WASP, I had the good fortune to get to have lunch and post-show dinner with him. If you’re an old-school Anthrax fan, see Belladonna if they come to your area (they play all the old Anthrax classics)!

Peace

 

[kevinator]

Thanks for all the information and suggestions, guys! I’m a metalhead myself. Really like Metallica.

 

[Joe_5859]

Oh man, that music was wayyy to buttrock for me. But I guess I am too young, I was born in 78, so I was probably in kindergarden when this would have been cool.

I go for the newer metal/hardcore

you can listen to my catholic band Seven sorrows
www.sevensorrows.com
we have one hardcore song called vengeance

or my old christian hardcore band disarm
www.sevensorrows.com/music.html

I’ve never heard the term “buttrock” before…

In any case, I was also born in '78 and Theocracy is one of my favorite bands. And I actually have quite an aesthetic aversion to the Nu metal / hardcore stuff. Just doesn’t do it for me. At all. No offense. So I really don’t think age has anything to do with it.

I know, I’m responding to a 6 year old post. Sorry about that.

 

[Joe_5859]

Thanks for all the information and suggestions, guys! I’m a metalhead myself. Really like Metallica.

If you go to Theocracy’s homepage (www.theocracymusic.com) and sign up for their “Club of Souls”, you can download some of their previous Christmas songs (everything they’ve done except for their Christmas Medley). They make a new one available every December (so a new one is just around the corner! :bounce. They have a phenomenal version of O Come, O Come Emmanuel. My favorite, though, is their original composition Rudolph Vs. Frosty. I find it quite amusing.

 

[Overture]

If you like *any * melodic/progressive power metal (DragonForce, Edguy/Avantasia, Gamma Ray, Dark Moor, etc.), Theocracy is right in that vein. Amazing epic instrumentals, frequent use of melodic guitar solos and jack-hammer double-bass drums (a metal requisite for me), and lyrics that are truly inspirational. Their first album (was remastered in 2013) is probably my favorite.

Their lyrics are anti-corny, which is awesome. They’re extremely thoughtful and never lapse into the “praise music” aesthetic of contemporary Christian music.

*At the center of my heart there sits a throne
That the rightful occupant’s not always
free to call His own
For how can I give the King
His place of worth above all else
When I spend my time striving
to place the crown upon myself?

Rather, use me to be your hands down here
a mirror to reflect your glory into hurting eyes
and let me see the world with vision clear
and not through selfishness and lies
for if I am consumed with my own cares
what right have I to speak the words
Thy Kingdom Come?
And if I am consumed with my own will,
what right to pray Thy Will Be Done?

As all around me I see bleeding souls
please give me strength to never pass them idly by
and as the angry storm clouds start to roll
may they see comfort in my eyes
for just as you are full of love
the same to others you have called me to be
and by the covenant of grace above and below
within our souls: theocracy*

Check them out if you like epic power metal!

 

[Joe_5859]

If you like *any * melodic/progressive power metal (DragonForce, Edguy/Avantasia, Gamma Ray, Dark Moor, etc.), Theocracy is right in that vein. Amazing epic instrumentals, frequent use of melodic guitar solos and jack-hammer double-bass drums (a metal requisite for me), and lyrics that are truly inspirational. Their first album (was remastered in 2013) is probably my favorite.

Their lyrics are anti-corny, which is awesome. They’re extremely thoughtful and never lapse into the “praise music” aesthetic of contemporary Christian music.

*At the center of my heart there sits a throne
That the rightful occupant’s not always
free to call His own
For how can I give the King
His place of worth above all else
When I spend my time striving
to place the crown upon myself?

Rather, use me to be your hands down here
a mirror to reflect your glory into hurting eyes
and let me see the world with vision clear
and not through selfishness and lies
for if I am consumed with my own cares
what right have I to speak the words
Thy Kingdom Come?
And if I am consumed with my own will,
what right to pray Thy Will Be Done?

As all around me I see bleeding souls
please give me strength to never pass them idly by
and as the angry storm clouds start to roll
may they see comfort in my eyes
for just as you are full of love
the same to others you have called me to be
and by the covenant of grace above and below
within our souls: theocracy*

Check them out if you like epic power metal!

Welcome!

Wow, this thread is over ten years old! When it was first posted, only the non-remastered version of their self-titled album existed. They still do rock, though. “Theocracy” is still one of my favorite songs by them.

There about due for a new album, I think. “Mirror of Souls” came out in 2008 and “As the World Bleeds” came out in 2011. Now that it’s 2014, they are “due”. Of course, I’m sure remastering the debut album slowed down the process. I wonder where they are at. I haven’t been to their forum in a while. I’ll have to go check and see if there are any updates.