Judicator (band)

Judicator was formed in 2012 after guitarist/songwriter Tony Cordisco and vocalist/lyricist John Yelland met at a Blind Guardian concert two years prior. They released their debut album King of Rome under Masters of Metal Productions in October of 2012. The album discusses the rise of Napoléon Bonaparte and his eventual defeat during the Seventh coalition at Waterloo.[1]

On June 4th, 2013, their second studio album Sleepy Plessow was released; it focuses on Prussian history leading up to the life and death of Frederick the Great.

In 2015, the band released the album At the Expense of Humanity based on Yelland’s experience of losing his brother to cancer when he was a teenager, as well as the struggles of the Yelland family during the tragic experience, and the questions it raised surrounding faith, death, and family. Judicator left Masters of Metal Productions, as it had closed, and signed with Divebomb Records to release the album.[2] The band also successfully launched and funded the production of the album through an IndieGoGo campaign.[3]

In 2018, Judicator released their fourth studio album The Last Emperor. The album goes into detail about the Peasant's Crusade, and The Crusades.[4] Hansi Kürsch, the vocalist of Blind Guardian, appeared on the track “Spiritual Treason”.[5][6][7]

In April 2020, the band announced they had signed with Prosthetic Records and would release their fifth album Let There Be Nothing on July 24, 2020.[8]

In September 2020, co-founder, guitarist and songwriter Tony Cordisco announced his departure from the band citing personal reasons, and that he would be continuing his former band Project: Roenwolfe. The band announced that they would continue on with a new lineup, adding John Dolan on bass, Jordan Elcess moving back to drums, and Balmore Lemus on guitar.[9]

Current members

• John Yelland – vocals (2012 – present)
• Jordan Elcess – drums (2014 - present), bass (2014)
• Balmore Lemus - lead guitar (2020 - present)
• John Dolan - bass (2020 - present)

Former members

• Tony Cordisco – rhythm & lead guitars, backing vocals (2012 – 2020)
• Joseph Palomares – bass (2013 – 2016)
• Chris Kelly – drums (2013 – 2014)
• Joshua Payne – guitars (2013 – 2014)
• Tyler Sherrill – keyboards (2014 – 2016)
• Austin Bentley – guitars, keyboards (2016)
• Michael Sanchez – bass, guitars (2016 – 2020)
• Ulises Hernandez - drums (2020)

• King of Rome (2012)
• Sleepy Plessow (2013)
• At the Expense of Humanity (2015)
• The Last Emperor (2018)
• Let There Be Nothing (2020)