Judicator - Let There Be Nothing Review

Could it be? Is PMMetalGuide really reviewing a power metal album, after the site's negative opinions regarding the subgenre as a whole? Well, you're in luck, because there are exceptions to every rule we set, and groups like Judicator and Unleash The Archers are the perfect example of this. I was stunned in 2018 when I heard The Last Emperor. I'd never heard a "trve" power album that I actually enjoyed, and as a sucker for Medieval history tracks like "Take up Your Cross" and "Antioch" charged forward into battle with speeding fury and soaring force. So as our strange year enters its downswing, we have a hearty plate of tasty new Dark Age jams to talk about, under the banner of Let There Be Nothing. 

Now, my experience with this style is somewhat limited, so a cautionary warning to all power metal aficionados reading this article. For once, I am going to start with my biggest critique(s) of this record, rather than save it until the end, because it(they?) persists and envelops the entirety of this project. Aside from the fact that this is their first non-independent release (on a label that we aren't very fond of here), it must be said that the production here is jarring. Specifically, the drums, which lack any punch, fade into the background, and let the guitars and vocals do all of the work. But this entire album feels so boxy, the guitar tone so compressed, and mastered so far behind the stunning vocals of John Yelland. It's strange because, for a band that is usually so gaudy in a genre that is even more ostentatious, it sounds like the EQ was set to the 'Modern Thrash' preset, and it does not do their sound justice. These are easily the greatest hurdles for your ears to overcome, however, and what is left is some of Judicator's best songwriting to date.

Here, Judicator shows their prog chops with their second concept album. While I haven't personally read through the lyrics, I'm sure it has to do with some epic medieval adventure to align with music of the same essence. Yes, I just decimated the production quality, but as for the music itself, it showcases a very healthy blend of progressive and power metal that is extremely enjoyable throughout. While maybe ditching the speed metal that made the band iconic in my eyes on The Last Emperor and The King of Rome, it harkens back to At The End of Humanity, their 2015 release which is a very strong effort in its own right. It keeps the 'gimmick' of feudal storytelling and melody template but adds more complex and narrative song structures. For example, "Strange to the World" doesn't have a chorus. It has a hook, but no real verse-chorus-verse structure that the band employs. Changes that showcase a willingness to experiment like this, and nutty solos nature to both genres, make their style work as well as it does. 

The speed metal we know and love isn't completely gone, however, and tracks like "Tomorrow's Sun" and "Autumn of Souls" are excellent takes on Judicator's classic sound, with thundering drums, chugging arpeggios and towering power metal vocals. With enough balladry to keep the otherwise draining genre interesting, Let There Be Nothing also has a great sense of pacing, with no real drops in quality throughout the 57-minute runtime. The long songs towards the back half of the record also fly by, even as they climb upwards of nine minutes in length. With strong builds and climaxes to boot, "The Way of the Pilgrim" and the title track do a superb job at bringing the energy home at the same, if not a greater pace. 

Sure, power metal really is not my thing. It takes some of my least favorite aspects of the genre of metal and mixes all of it together into a very derivative package that fails to entertain nearly every time. Let There Be Nothing is not an example of this. But while it boasts originality, it suffers the major flaw of questionable production choices. For me, there is some confusion about whether or not these drums are real or not. My assumption stands that Jordan Elcess wrote the parts for this release, but the entirety of the record is programmed. This is the other of the group's struggles but doesn't completely take away from the quality of this album. Overall, this could contend as the veteran's best work, standing toe to toe with At The End of Humanity and The Last Emperor. Time will tell whether or not it surpasses them, but as it stands, it cements Judicator as arguably the best the genre has to offer. 

Final Verdict: 'Then they knew, these were allies at least - let them in."

Favorite Tracks: "Tomorrow's Sun," "Autumn of Souls," "Let There Be Nothing"

FFO: Blind Guardian, Iced Earth, Visigoth

Track List

1. "Let There Be Nothing"

2. "Tomorrow's Sun"

3. "Strange to the World"

4. "Autumn of Souls"

5. "Gloria"

6. "Amber Dusk"

7. "The Way of the Pilgrim"

8. "Let There Be Nothing"

You can support Judicator on their Bandcamp.