JUDICATOR
“Concord”
Album Review by Iron Mathew

10/10

Judicator are a power metal band from the USA formed in 2012, releasing to date seven albums – ‘Kings Of Rome’ (2012), ‘Sleepy Plessow’ (2013), ‘At The Expense Of Humanity’ (2015), ‘The Last Emperor’ (2018), ‘Let There Be Nothing’ (2020), ‘The Majesty Of Decay’ (2022), and ‘Concord’ (2025).

Featuring nine songs across fifty minutes, Judicator return with more majestic elegance courtesy of seventh album ‘Concord’, the American power metallers making grandiose magnificence just one of their USP’s – ‘Call Us Out Of Slumber’ opening the album with a little Southern rock swagger, the band proceeding to pound the ground hard as the song gets going proper. And when it does, the pace is breath taking, ‘Call Us Out Of Slumber’ cruising along the freeway at top speed, Judicator showing their penchant for progressive leanings too, the album opener displaying an immense variety of influences! As does ‘Sawtooth’, Judicator maintaining their stance at the heavier end of the metal genre as majestic power pours profusely out of the album right now – the prolific metallers standing head and shoulders above many of their peers! The opening brace has been as good as anything I’ve heard from the band over the years, ‘Johannah’s Song’ keeping a tight hold on everyone’s attentions as Judicator introduce a NWOBHM sounding guitar riff – the American outfit incorporating a four decade old sound into their modern day soundscape.

Everything the band produce is mesmerising, the jaws of every listener, fan and follower falling to the floor with an almighty thud as ‘A Miracle Of Life’ injects a little more urgency and purpose into the album! The pace is head bangingly addictive, all the worlds mosh pits turning frenzied to this one, every metaller and many thrashers grinning from ear to ear as ‘Concord’ crosses genre boundaries right now – ‘Weeping Willow’ entering the fray with a rougher texture than everything heard so far! Judicator are in gear changing mode here, the bands progressive tendencies shining brighter than a thousand suns as ‘Weeping Willow’ meanders from one corner of metal territory to the other leaving no stone unturned in terms of variety! There’s just so much on offer, one listen isn’t gonna be long enough to appreciate everything the band have on display, ‘Imperial’ continuing the rough nature of the previous song – albeit with a level of brutality I didn’t think Judicator had in their locker! A little industrial metal is tucked in here too as ‘Imperial’ marches on with more variety than Heinz!

And at the opposite end of the scale, ‘Hold Your Smile’ is mellower than everything heard up to this point, the elegance level shooting right through the fucking roof as the band adopt a heavy thunder stomp after a minute or so to send shockwaves rippling right round the world – I swear I just felt the ground tremble beneath my feet! And I’m over five and a half thousand miles away! And with no let up in the all conquering intensity, the album marches on with the title song ‘Concord’ – and a blistering turn of speed, not to mention a more abrasive nature too, the band veering very close to thrash metal territory! Maybe just dipping a toe over the border wall, ‘Concord’ (the song) is gonna please a very wide array of fans, the album coming to a close with the longest song on offer, ‘Blood Meridian’ clocking in at over eight minutes in length! And what a tense atmosphere as ‘Blood Meridian’ gets underway, a chill running down the spine of every listener as Judicator build towards majestic elegance across the songs first couple of minutes – the band turning on their heels to roar off at high velocity! And if you thought the variety over the previous eight songs was immense, just take a few listens to the ninth – ’cause for every repeat listen, you’re gonna hear something new!

Overall, fifty fabulous minutes featuring majesty and elegance in droves, Judicator deliver a magnificent meld of power come progressive metal.

TRACKLIST

Call Us Out Of Slumber
Sawtooth
Johannah’s Song
A Miracle Of Life
Weeping Willow
Imperial
Hold Your Smile
Concord
Blood Meridian

https://judicatormetal.bandcamp.com/
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