Theocracy - Interview

I ran across an interview done by the Washington times not long ago and it's a pretty good read! You can read the entire thing here:

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/business-being-diva/2011/dec/2/metal-music-theocracy-World-Bleeds/

But there was one bit that I thought might spark some interest. They were discussing Theocracy's previous albums when the idea of re-releasing their debut album came up:

Quote :

GRASSMAN: Speaking of previous albums, my
husband has been looking for your first CD and he can’t find it. Are
there any plans to re-release it?

THEOCRACY (MATT SMITH):
Actually, yeah! It was basically a solo project. That wasn’t the
intent. It’s just that at the time I couldn’t find anyone around here
who knew what this music was, let alone would want to play it.

GRASSMAN: Sure. You’re doing a specialty thing.

THEOCRACY (MATT SMITH):
Yeah. So I did everything on my own as well as I could. I used a drum
machine and the production isn’t very good. Also, it was a limited run.
The little label that put it out is gone now, but Ulterium, the label
we’re with now, wants to re-release it. I think what we’ll do is go back
and record real drums and remix the whole thing.

That would be cool. I think it's great already but real drums and some good mastering would rock.

topshot rhit wrote:

That would be cool. I think it's great already but real drums and some good mastering would rock.

Agreed! I think it would be cool if he redid the vocals since his voice has improved since he recorded this, IMO. I can understand why he's not though, just because they and a lot of the fans see this album as a benchmark as to how far they've come since then.

I agree with the part about his vocals. He has improved considerably since that first album. But if he rerecorded them it would change the songs (even if slightly), and they might not be quite as enjoyable anymore.

I would say yes to rerecorded drums, but rerecorded vocals makes me nervous.

I would rather the band spend time looking forward. I just listened to the s/t record the other day and its a great record just as it is. Let it be a benchmark as silentthunder said. If the band wants to play in the studio, let it be on NEW music.

It's funny...I think that s/t record has about the most real-sounding drum machine I've ever heard. There are a number of other struggling Christian artists who have to use drum machines and it is patently obvious they are machines. To an untrained ear like mine, though, Theocracy's first record sounds as much like real drums as I've ever heard.

Follower of Jesus wrote:

It's funny...I think that s/t record has about the most real-sounding drum machine I've ever heard. There are a number of other struggling Christian artists who have to use drum machines and it is patently obvious they are machines. To an untrained ear like mine, though, Theocracy's first record sounds as much like real drums as I've ever heard.

I agree. I didn't even know Matt wrote and recorded the entire album by himself, let alone used a drum machine. Haha

Follower of Jesus wrote:

It's funny...I think that s/t record has about the most real-sounding drum machine I've ever heard. ....

I never would have known it was a drum machine unless I hadn't seen it one of the boards. I have recorded with a drum machine before, and the drums on that first Theocracy album sound nothing like a drum machine to me.

My thought is that Theocracy should re-issue the self-titled debut as is- without re-recording the drums, re-mixing the project, etc.

That being said, perhaps they could include some bonus material in the form of live tracks or unreleased demo material.