Band:	Theocracy
Album:	Mirror Of Souls
Style:	Progressive power metal
Release date:	November 26, 2008
A review by:	Jeff

01. A Tower Of Ashes
02. On Eagles' Wings
03. Laying The Demon To Rest
04. Bethlehem
05. Absolution Day
06. The Writing In The Sand
07. Martyr
08. Mirror Of Souls
09. Wages Of Sin [Japanese bonus]

In general, when we talk about combos from USA which use to play Power Metal everybody think about bands like Iced Earth first. For sure this is something different of the European trends but of course, USA is so big that it can be possible too to find Power Metal bands a la European sauce and Theocracy is one of them. In the genre I think that the band is good but unfortunately this is also a bit cliché and Theocracy is finally just one other Metal acts which simply play what a lot of other people have already done?

"Mirror Of Souls" is the second album of Theocracy and this release is just something extremely common? I mean that ok, this is good Power Metal actually, the music is solid in the genre and the orchestrations with a lot of keyboards are not bad at all. The choruses are catchy the melodies fits perfectly to the standards of the genre but, and that's a big but, this is also extremely cliché! And this is the main problem of the album; the choruses are catchy ok but damn it is so "happy" and smells so much the kings, dragons and "Flower Power" that it can quickly become indigestible for someone who doesn't like such music? I don't know what to say for a release like "Mirror Of Souls" I'm quite sure that the fans of the band and the fans of Power Metal in general will like a lot this release but if you're looking for originality and something new, damn it won't be for you!

"Mirror Of Souls" has a good production and I cannot say that the band members are bad musicians. The singer Matt Smith is a good singer of Power Metal but his voice is not something which gives a lot of emotions too. This is good but that's all. Theocracy is in the category of the bands which know how to do their job and do it well but which don't give anything special in the end. "Mirror Of Souls" is the perfect example of a band which don't take any risks and only propose something which has been done a lot of other times in the past? that's a bit sad?

You're looking for good Power Metal, so be sure that you can go with this band. You hate this music and want something different, just go away as soon as possible. The new album of Theocracy is a bit poor for me in the end. I cannot say that they're bad but I didn't find anything special and surprising there and I regret it. "Mirror Of Souls" is recommended for the fans of the genre no doubt that they will like this release the other ones can go away without any regrets.