"Ghost Ship" is the fourth studio album of THEOCRACY, from Athens, Georgia. Their last studio recording was a few years back in 2011 when they released, "As The World Bleeds".  Band founder and vocalist Matt Smith had originally started as a solo project, writing and recording all materials.

We can see that since then, he's had a good trajectory and has grown as a musician and songwriter. The first impression that "Ghost Ship" gives is an increased strength in composition: the songs are heavier, the riffs clear-cut and more pressing.

The beginning of the record is quite quick and catchy. "Paper Tiger" doesn't hesitate to grab you and take you in the world of classic heavy metal power-chords. There is a good mix of fast paced thrash riffs and melodies, with great rhythm patterns in "Ghost Ship", the title track. "The Wonder Of It All" is perhaps the best track of the album and has an epic chorus that will undoubtedly get screwed into your brain. Sadly, the beautiful combination of speed and atmosphere present in the first four songs suddenly disappears. With "Around The World And Back", the album changes drastically, as the songs lose their power and structure, and the sound becomes almost something out of the late eighties/early nineties; very ballad like. It reminds me of G'N'R and Aerosmith at times, mixed with some unknown one hit band of the early 2000, although with the epic style sonorities of power metal. This is where the album lost me frankly, and it is all resumed in "Easter", a ten-minutes song that has so many styles and changes that you would think you are listening to three different tracks, but it is still the very same tune.

There are some good points still; the songs have some interesting breakdowns. Matt Smith, as a vocalist, is quite talented and uses various techniques that catch the listener attention. There is little originality in sound; the most remarkable part of this album really is the singing and dictation of Matt Smith. His lyrics also get a more socio/political approach that focuses on the world current situation, this is quite interesting and it both mange to involve and confront you.

All in all Theocracy is better than your average power metal and "Ghost Ship" is a good listen: it is crisp, melodic and catchy. The choruses are very sing-a-long and if you are a power metal fan you will enjoy most of the tunes. To me it only needs a more clear structure and steady objective as overall sound.<