Atlanta’s progressive power metal masters Theocracy have returned with their third full- length album “As The World Bleeds”. For those that are familiar with the band’s last album, “Mirror of Souls”, not a lot has changed stylistically. Personnel-wise, the band welcomes in new guitarist Val Allen Wood. Wood’s shredding guitar technique just adds to the bands already sterling songwriting. The songs are now heavier, faster, uber-melodic, and catchy as heck. Theocracy’s style is reminiscent of old school metal bands such as Iron Maiden (check out the blazing intro to “The Master Storyteller”), Judas Priest, and Queensryche, but also has a modern feel to it as well. Listening to the crystal clear soaring harmonies along with the powerful lead vocals of Matt Smith, I am reminded of Stryper and Michael Sweet.

Lyrically, the religious themes on “As The World Bleeds” deal with Christian faith and theology, but not in a cheesy or corny “To Hell With The Devil” kind of way. To the contrary, the lyrics are intelligent, heartfelt and delivered with passion by Smith. The music runs the gamut from thrashy, heavy, melodic, and epic. Drummer Shawn Benson keeps things tight, precise and at a rapid pace for most of the albums cuts.

The lead single, “30 Pieces of Silver” is an old school rocker with thrash metal like verses and a catchy chorus. “Drown” starts with a mid tempo and builds to a glorious crescendo during the chorus. My favorite song is the epic title track, which begins with a piano/vocal intro and kicks into a traditional mid-tempo groove before turning on a dime to a speed metal chorus, breakdown and finally ending in grand fashion. Theocracy has once again created a melodic masterpiece that will not only appeal to Christians, but to fans of traditional metal, power metal and progressive metal as well.

Rating: 8.0