After a number of affirming underground reviews and unexpected, humbling fan reaction, John and Tony decided the band would be more than just a one album 'fire and forget' project set on paying homage to their favorite bands, and quickly began working on the follow up "Sleepy Plessow" -- this time focusing on developing more of their own heavy/power metal sound and incorporating a wider range of their influences. The album was released less than 7 months later in June of 2013. The sophomore effort showed a departure from the speed and riff obsessed nature of "King of Rome" and focused more heavily on atmosphere, melody, slower tempos, more complex vocal arrangements, and bigger overall narrative concept. The album also brought in numerous guest vocalist from friend's and underground bands alike in order to portray the various characters and soundscapes needed for the album. The story of Frederick the Great of Prussia showed the band progressing into a more mature and developed territory as a band, but Judicator still remained a homemade recording project.
Feeling that "Sleepy Plessow" had demonstrated the improvement they wanted over the first album, John and Tony decided it was time to begin work on a third, and change the nature of the band to reflect a more a traditional setup and help progress the band's material to a more professional level. The band added drummer Jordan Elcess in late 2013 and began work on the third album "At the Expense of Humanity". This album took the band to new heights and finally sealed Judicator as a legitimate band, leaving behind the days of home laptop recording projects. The band played their first two live appearances at the Deland Rock and Metal Festival in Fall 2014 leading up to the release of "At the Expense of Humanity" in March of 2015. The album showed an even further expansion of the band's sound, both musically and production wise. The album pushed the band in a more progressive and personal direction, as the concept revolved around John's retelling of the story of how he lost his brother to cancer when he was 18 years old. The album's tragic and personal concept was illustrated by a more diverse and progressive approach to power metal. The band was able to partner with Dirty Viking Audio (Shadowdance, Noble Beast, Helion Prime, etc) and Tower Studios (Ayreon, Noble Beast, etc) to have their first truly professionally produced album, and with the help of fan support, was able to crowd fund the production for the album. Additionally, "At the Expense of Humanity" saw the band partner with Divebomb Records, which Tony had previously worked with in Project: Roenwolfe, for a widespread release of the album and beyond. The album was met with enthusiastic underground/online critical praise, noting the professional and mature change of direction for the band, and that Judicator had finally come into their own. The band was able to also embark on their first small regional tours throughout the Southwest and West Coast of the United States in Spring 2015 and Summer 2016 in support of "At the Expense of Humanity".
Currently, the band is hard at work on their fourth full length album "The Last Emperor" which will see a return to the historical based and speed/power metal approach of the first two albums, and follow the tale of a historical fiction taking place during the second crusade. The album will be released via Divebomb Records some time in 2017 and be produced once more by Dirty Viking Audio and Tower Studio with plans for a midwest/east coast tour to follow in early 2018.
Sapphire
Judicator Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You come to a point where one must act on his words
A broken resolve, a path carved into the mountain's heart
One last escape, the only light in this darkness
Into the unknown, my spirit has flown
It's time now to follow
The wraith of my dreams tears apart at the seams
No escape
In the sapphire starlight
It's my trial of fears
Come with me to the shadows
As hell appears
And so I'm discovered, my father's rage inflamed and provoked
They call me a traitor
It's not betrayal to run from your pain, but certainly shameful
And so I sit and await my trial
They've taken my friends away, extinguished their chances of happy lives
I'm dead on my feet; they sit in their seats and pierce me with dead eyes
They question my pride, they threaten my life
My future is uncertain
Austria's plans will soon come to light
A happenstance benefit now that is ripe
You've offered your future as king of this realm
Reverse what you plea as the moon turns to stone
-Where are you taking him? Leave him alone
Dear Friedrich, I must say goodbye
It's time for my star now to fade in the night
Be strong and don't break your own will
-A brave man who kneels there with tears in his eyes
The sword in the sun wants to fall
My head to the bars so I can't look away
By god I will make you all pay!
No escape
In the sapphire sunbeams
Piercing through to my cell
Come with me to the shadows
As hell appears
I am swimming in anger
I will make them all burn
Not for this flash in the pan, but the whole damn situation
The lyrics of this song, Sapphire by Judicator, address the theme of personal struggle and emotional turmoil. The singer, who has been lost in the haze and mist for days, decides to act on his words and follow the wraith of his dreams into the unknown. As he faces his fears, he realizes that there is no escape from the trail of fears that the sapphire starlight represents.
The journey takes a turn when the singer is discovered, sparking his father's rage and leading to his trial. Though he maintains that running from his pain is not betrayal, he is left uncertain about his future. In spite of the circumstances, he resolves to make his captors pay and to swim in anger until he can resolve the situation.
The lyrics of this song are rich in symbolism and emotion, reflecting a sense of personal struggle and the motivation to overcome adversity. The author's use of contrasting imagery (the mist and the sapphire starlight) adds depth and complexity to the singer's journey of self-discovery.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost in this haze, I swim in the mist for days at a time
Feeling lost and confined, wandering aimlessly for an extended period
You come to a point where one must act on his words
A realization that words alone are not enough and decisive action is necessary
A broken resolve, a path carved into the mountain's heart
A loss of determination leads to a challenging journey filled with obstacles
One last escape, the only light in this darkness
The final chance at freedom shines in the midst of despair
Into the unknown, my spirit has flown
Venturing into unfamiliar territory with an open mind and heart
It's time now to follow
The moment has come to take action and pursue one's aspirations
The wraith of my dreams tears apart at the seams
The haunting visions that once inspired hope and motivation are now falling apart
With the sight of my captor
Upon encountering the source of one's oppression and confinement
No escape
The realization that there is no way out of a dire situation
In the sapphire starlight
Surrounded by a beautiful and serene nighttime setting
It's my trial of fears
Facing daunting and challenging obstacles and fears
Come with me to the shadows
Symbolic of undergoing a difficult journey to emerge stronger on the other side
As hell appears
Referring to a sudden or impending confrontation with danger and darkness
And so I'm discovered, my father's rage inflamed and provoked
Exposed and subjected to intense anger and outrage from a significant figure in one's life
They call me a traitor
Being accused of disloyalty and betrayal, often unjustly
It's not betrayal to run from your pain, but certainly shameful
Explaining that fleeing from a traumatic situation is not necessarily a betrayal, but can carry a sense of shame and disappointment
And so I sit and await my trial
Awaiting a judgment or verdict while in a state of uncertainty and fear
They've taken my friends away, extinguished their chances of happy lives
Others close to the singer have suffered due to their plight, feeling powerless to protect them
I'm dead on my feet; they sit in their seats and pierce me with dead eyes
Feeling exhausted and beaten, while being harshly scrutinized by those in power
They question my pride, they threaten my life
Being interrogated and intimidated, with one's self-esteem and safety at risk
My future is uncertain
Feeling anxious and unsure about what lies ahead
Austria's plans will soon come to light
Indicating a forthcoming revelation or disclosure regarding Austria's schemes
A happenstance benefit now that is ripe
A fortuitous opportunity that has approached and should be seized in a timely manner
You've offered your future as king of this realm
Being presented with an offer to become a monarch of a given territory
Reverse what you plea as the moon turns to stone
Urging a reversal of a previous position or request, with the implication that it may not be possible
-Where are you taking him? Leave him alone
An inquiry and plea for a character's safety and integrity
Dear Friedrich, I must say goodbye
A farewell to a character who has become dear to the singer
It's time for my star now to fade in the night
The artist's glory and ambition are coming to an end
Be strong and don't break your own will
Encouragement and support to persevere through adversity and challenges
-A brave man who kneels there with tears in his eyes
Describing a character as brave, yet vulnerable and emotional
The sword in the sun wants to fall
A fatalistic imagery, as if the character's doom is imminent
My head to the bars so I can't look away
A literal interpretation of the artist's confinement, while also conveying a sense of hopelessness
By god I will make you all pay!
An oath of revenge, fueled by anger and desperation
In the sapphire sunbeams
Experiencing a tranquil and picturesque moment despite ongoing turmoil and pain
Piercing through to my cell
The contrast between a beautiful outdoor scene and the singer's imprisoned state
I am swimming in anger
Being consumed by rage and frustration
I will make them all burn
A vow to seek destruction and retribution upon those who have wronged the singer
Not for this flash in the pan, but the whole damn situation
The cause of the singer's wrath is not a trivial matter, but rather the entire unjust and oppressive system
Contributed by Kaylee O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
John Yelland
this leaves me moist and wanting
Patricia Fallis
lol