Theocracy (band)

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Theocracy
Origin Athens, GA USA
Genre(s) Power Metal
Progressive metal
Christian Metal
Years active 2002-present
Label(s) MetalAges Records
Website Official Website
Members
Matt Smith
Shawn Benson
Jonathan Hinds
Former members
Seth Filkins
Josh Sloan
Patrick Parris

Theocracy is a Christian Progressive Power Metal band founded in 2002 by Matt Smith of Athens, Georgia. The group originally started out as a one man project and all the instruments and vocals done on the debut album Theocracy were performed by Smith. The current lineup includes Smith along with Shawn Benson and Jonathan Hinds. Musically, the band mixes the power metal style of Iron Maiden, Edguy, Iced Earth, and Helloween with progressive influences from bands such as Dream Theater, Symphony X, Kansas, and Rush.

Recently, the group performed at the ProgPower USA VII festival Pre-Party in Atlanta, Georgia. Live performances from the show of the songs The Serpent's Kiss and Mountain were included on the ProgPower VII DVD.[1] The band has recently finished recording their second album which is set to be titled Mirror of Souls. The album will be released in the near future on Sweden's Ulterium Records and features cover artwork by Invisible Creature.[2] A new song "On Eagles Wings" which will be on the upcoming album can be heard on the bands official MySpace page.[3]

The band wrote a song about John O'Connell (nicknamed Jack-O), a popular guest from ESPN writer Bill Simmons' podcast, "The B.S. Report." The song is called "The Gregarious Raconteur."

Contents

[edit] Band members

[edit] Current members

  • Matt Smith - lead vocals, guitar

(Note: Smith performed all lead and choir vocals, rhythm, lead, acoustic, and bass guitars, keys and orchestration on the self-titled album Theocracy)

  • Jonathan Hinds - guitar, backing vocals
  • Shawn Benson - drums

[edit] Former members

  • Seth Filkins - bass, backing vocals
  • Josh Sloan - bass, backing vocals
  • Patrick Parris - bass, backing vocals

[edit] Discography

  • Theocracy (MetalAges Records 2003)
  • Mirror of Souls (TBA)

[edit] Miscellanea

  • Matt Smith is also known for being the creator of a popular parody song of the Metallica album St. Anger.[1]
  • Theocracy also has recorded a metal version of O come, O come, Emmanuel. In years past they recorded other songs for the Christmas season including an 11 minute medley of traditional Christmas carols, a version of Little Drummer Boy and a song titled Deck the Joy, which as the title suggests is a combination of Deck the Halls and Joy to the World. All of these songs were made available for free download at their website.
  • Theocracy made an appearance on the cover of the January/December 2007 issue of Heaven's Metal magazine. [2]
  • Matt Smith was also one of a select few musicians to appear in the "Metal Bible". [3]

[edit] Audio

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ ProgPower The DVD Progress Reort
  2. ^ Theocracy Signs with Ulterium Records - Ultimate Metal Forum
  3. ^ MySpace.com - Theocracy - ATHENS, Georgia - Metal / Christian / Progressive - www.myspace.com/theocracyband