Like many Power Metal tracks, the track has an overall epic feeling to it. The guitars, vocals, and bass all sound great, however, the drums I found were lacking in the beginning. I wanted some more punch from the snare, more presence in the mix. There's also a period where it feels like the bass drum is a hair of beat at ~0:54 and it slowly lags more and more offbeat, additionally it doesn't feel mixed well with the other percussion.
The intro starts strong with some chugging guitars backed by some clean guitar chords ringing out periodically. The tension grows and grows until the main riff is introduced. It's pretty excellent. As the quiet portions of the verse weave in and out you gain an appreciation for the band's control of their dynamic range. The chorus is excellent with the final line "Let there be light! Let there be nothing!" Fun fact, there are a few funny typos in the lyric video about halfway through.
The solo is excellent with dual guitar lead intro before switching to a fun Iron Maiden flavored section at ~5:11 that is quite enjoyable. At ~5:41 the solo kicks into gear with a classic Power Metal shred fest for about 20 seconds. We return to the verse, but it carries with it the frenetic energy from the solo, which is a welcome change to the song. The bass drum mix seems to have improved post solo as well. The song ends with a catchy call and response section I foresee working really well at live concerts if those ever happen again.
For me, the most enjoyable part of this band is that the lyrical content has substance. A quote from their Facebook page describes it as being "steeped in historical references and tales of the past. However, the blood pumping through the veins of the music is -as ever- rich with human emotion and rooted in universal experience, regardless of what era your fortune has dictated you dwell within." This album's narrative is centered around a Byzantine general named Belisarius and his quest to "reconquer former Roman territories". Their other albums are also historically inclined (per Wikipedia) as their debut album, "King Of Rome" follows the rise and fall of Napoleon Bonaparte, and their second album follows Prussian history and Frederick the Great.
Judicator is John Yellend on vocals, Tony Codisco on rhythm/lead guitar, Jordan Elcess on bass guitar, Balmore Lemus on lead guitars, and Ulises Hernandez on drums. If you're into Power Metal or are a budding history buff with Heavy Metal tendencies, check this track out. You might be like me and find yourself pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy the last 9 minutes of music. Judicator's new album "Let There Be Nothing" drops July 24th, 2020, and you can order it here. In the meantime, you can listen to the track here on YouTube. If you discover your love what Judicator has to offer, check out their Bandcamp here.
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