Theocracy Album battle: As the World Bleeds vs Ghost Ship

Since my Stryper album battle was well received, I thought I'd try a new one with two newer albums:

Theocracy: As the World Bleeds vs Ghost Ship
1. I Am vs Paper Tiger
PT is more intense, but I Am is epic 1/0
2. The Master Storyteller vs Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship is so catchy! 1/1
3. Nailed vs The Wonder of it All
Like Nailed, but like the rapid-fire riffing of Wonder better 1/2
4. Hide in the Fairytale vs Wishing Well
Hide is one of their best songs, WW is a bit too plodding 2/2
5. The Gift of Music vs Around the World and Back
Dont really like Gift of Music, but Around is a cool song 2/3
6. 30 pieces of Silver vs Stir the Embers
Stir is heavier, but not as memorable as 30 pieces 3/3
7. Drown vs A Call to Arms
I really like A Call to Arms, but Drown has a more epic feel that works better 4/3
8. Altar to the Unknown God vs Currency in a Bankrupt World
Love the fast-paced feel of Altar 5/3
9. Light of the World vs Castaway
Castaway has awesome thrash guitars and a great chorus (not that LOTW doesnt, but Castaway has more going for it) 5/4
10. As the World Bleeds vs Easter
Has to be AtWB 6/4
Winner: As the World bleeds

^I'm with ya on basically everything, though I like Currency... over Altar... 

8/2 ATWB for me.  Wonder of It All and Around the World and Back are the only two Ghost Ship winners.

Think I agree with eatbugs though I might give the nod to Castaway over Light of the World.

1. Paper Tiger vs. I Am. 
PT is catchy with an oft-needed rebuke. But I Am takes this one. 0/1
2. Ghost Ship vs. The Master Storyteller 
Both super catchy, but TMS by a hair. 0/2
3. The Wonder of It All vs. Nailed
Nailed has a good message, but TWoIA is a better song. 1/2
4. Wishing Well vs. Hide in the Fairytale 
WW has a catchy chorus, but Hide is stronger all around, with great lyrics. 1/3
5. Around the World and Back vs. The Gift of Music
I don’t care for Gift at all and always skip it, but I like AtWaB. 2/3
6. Stir the Embers vs. 30 Pieces of Silver
Can’t decide. I prefer the music for Stir and the lyrics for 30. Tie. 2/3
7. A Call to Arms vs. Drown
I find Drown kind of dull, but the chorus for ACtA is fantastic. 3/3
8. Currency in a Bankrupt World vs. Altar to the Unknown God
I like the music for Currency, but the lyrics stretch the metaphor in awkward ways. Altar is a great tune with a killer chorus. 3/4
9. Castaway vs. The Light of the World
I find TLotW to be one of their weakest songs with a chorus that’s too cheesy even for power metal. Castaway, however, is a monster. 4/4
10. Easter vs. As the World Bleeds
Neither are among the band’s best epics and they certainly can’t touch Mirror of Souls, but they’re decent. I’ll give it to Easter for the “Let me break apart” section. 5/4

While the total score isn’t that different, I prefer Ghost Ship by a decent margin. The main reason is that I think AtWB has both some of their career-best and some of their career-lows. I think Ghost Ship is more consistent.

ATWB over Ghost Ship without a doubt.
I don't even need a song by song comparison, ATWB is a classic.

I always felt that Ghost Ship was the band at their best. It'll be interesting to see how or if this changes.

deathisgain wrote:I always felt that Ghost Ship was the band at their best. It'll be interesting to see how or if this changes.

Agreed, although I like Mirror of Souls just as much. I was surprised when I saw the lukewarm reception to Ghost Ship.

Pethead wrote:

deathisgain wrote:I always felt that Ghost Ship was the band at their best. It'll be interesting to see how or if this changes.

Agreed, although I like Mirror of Souls just as much. I was surprised when I saw the lukewarm reception to Ghost Ship.

Because it lost the epic-ness and proggy-ness of Mirror of Souls and As the World Bleeds.  I think As the World Bleeds is their best, mostly because those "career best" are better than others and "career lows" aren't lower than others.

Personally, "I Am" is one of my all-time favorite songs.  I'll make AtWB my favorite Theocracy album just for that.

eatbugs wrote:8/2 ATWB for me.  Wonder of It All and Around the World and Back are the only two Ghost Ship winners.

This is me, pretty much. I was disappointed with Ghost Ship. Around the World and Back is a KILLER song, but the rest of that album was just meh to me. As the World Bleeds is my favorite Theocracy album and IMO stands head and shoulders above all others.

For me, The Gift of Music and Light of the World are bad enough that AtWB could never rank above MoS and GS. But about half of AtWB is superb.

As The World Bleeds would win for me.  But Ghost Ship, ATWB and MoS are all excellent and even the worst tracks are pretty good.

I love The Gift of Music! LOL

Follower of Jesus wrote:I love The Gift of Music! LOL

I’m sorry  

As The World Bleeds. What I heard from Ghost Ship I didn't care for.

As The World Bleeds takes it for me… Ghost ship does have some great songs on it….and I do like The Gift Of Music because of the absolute killer ending.

Ammocas wrote:As The World Bleeds takes it for me… Ghost ship does have some great songs on it….and I do like The Gift Of Music because of the absolute killer ending.

You mean when it’s finally over? I agree.

I have all the Theocracy CDs. I got Ghost Ship back in 2016 and I have not listen to it in full yet. I've listend to part of it. For some reason I can't get into it as much as the last one. I'll listen to it eventually.

Listen to Around the World and Back! It’s more AOR/melodic. While GS as an album, is not an album that interests me, that song in in my top 3 Theocracy songs, maybe even #1. I love that song!

Theocracy: As the World Bleeds vs Ghost Ship
1. I Am vs Paper Tiger
PT is more intense, but I Am is epic 1/0
2. The Master Storyteller vs Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship is so catchy! 1/1
3. Nailed vs The Wonder of it All
Wonder is awesome, but Nailed's guitar riff/solo and the verse. 2/1
4. Hide in the Fairytale vs Wishing Well
Hide is one of their best songs, WW is awesome, though not as good. 3/1
5. The Gift of Music vs Around the World and Back
Love The Gift of Music, but Around is a cool song... Tie 4/2
6. 30 pieces of Silver vs Stir the Embers
30 Pieces is awesome, but Stir is so heavy and the guitar riff is a monster. 4/3
7. Drown vs A Call to Arms
I really like A Call To Arms, but Drown's chorus is so freaking awesome. 5/3
8. Altar to the Unknown God vs Currency in a Bankrupt World
Love both but def Altar. 6/3
9. Light of the World vs Castaway
LOTW has the better chorus imo, but C is thrashy and epic. 6/4
10. As the World Bleeds vs Easter
Has to be AtWB 7/4
Winner: As the World bleeds

Christian Thrash Rules wrote:Theocracy: As the World Bleeds vs Ghost Ship
1. I Am vs Paper Tiger
PT is more intense, but I Am is epic 1/0
2. The Master Storyteller vs Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship is so catchy! 1/1
3. Nailed vs The Wonder of it All
Wonder is awesome, but Nailed's guitar riff/solo and the verse. 2/1
4. Hide in the Fairytale vs Wishing Well
Hide is one of their best songs, WW is awesome, though not as good. 3/1
5. The Gift of Music vs Around the World and Back
Love The Gift of Music, but Around is a cool song... Tie 4/2
6. 30 pieces of Silver vs Stir the Embers
30 Pieces is awesome, but Stir is so heavy and the guitar riff is a monster. 4/3
7. Drown vs A Call to Arms
I really like A Call To Arms, but Drown's chorus is so freaking awesome. 5/3
8. Altar to the Unknown God vs Currency in a Bankrupt World
Love both but def Altar. 6/3
9. Light of the World vs Castaway
LOTW has the better chorus imo, but C is thrashy and epic. 6/4
10. As the World Bleeds vs Easter
Has to be AtWB 7/4
Winner: As the World bleeds

I'm going to redo this.

1. I Am vs. Paper Tiger
I Am easy, 1/0
2. The Master Storyteller vs. Ghost Ship
Ghost Ship has the catchiest chorus ever made, 1/1
3. Nailed vs. The Wonder Of It All
Nailed's verse is amazing, 2/1
4. Hide In The Fairytale vs. Wishing Well
I'm going with Wishing Well, 2/2
5. The Gift Of Music vs. Around The World And Back
I love TGOM but I'm going with ATWAB, 2/3
6. 30 Pieces Of Silver vs. Stir The Embers
Both great songs but gotta go STE, 2/4
7. Drown vs. A Call To Arms
I'm going with Drown, 3/4
8. Altar To The Unknown God vs. Currency In A Bankrupt World
ATTUG is my fav from that album, 4/4
9. Light Of The World vs. Castaway
Both amazing songs but I'm going C, 4/5
10. As The World Bleeds vs. Easter
ATWB easy, 5/5

Tie!

Actually I think Drown vs. Call To Arms should be Call, so 4/6 Ghost Ship!

ATWB wins easily. The entire album is great, Ghost Ship has some really good songs but some filler as well imo

As The World Bleeds is the best Theocracy record so far.

zelote wrote:As The World Bleeds is the best worst Theocracy record so far.

Fixed it for ya.