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MOB RULES “Rise of the Ruler”
MOB RULES “Rise of the Ruler”
By Colonel Angus
Back before everyone was fussing over Y2K, I was exposed to “Savage Land” by MOB RULES. All my friends were going nuts over the band and I was the only one who felt that not only have I heard it all before, the band brought nothing new to the table. Sure, it was well performed and had a certain retro appeal but overall, I was not impressed. Fast forward six years and the band put out “Ethnolution A.D.” which really caught my ear. The inclusion of some prog metal elements elevated their status in my opinion. Oddly enough, those same “fans” who shouted from the rooftops the glories of MOB RULES were disappointed with the latest at the time. Their loss I say!
Well, since “Ethnolution A.D.”, I have softened my stance on “Savage Land” and quite honestly, all of their releases. When I saw info on the upcoming release of “Rise of the Rulers”, I just had to get sneak peek with a review copy. After seven years since “Beast Reborn”, the band seems extremely energized on this latest offering. Embracing their power metal foundation, “Exiled” and “Future Loom” will satisfy their fans who crave the bombastic and majestic elements of the genre. While not groundbreaking, MOB RULES captures the vibe almost effortlessly with their confident performance. While I’m not a huge fan of the genre, there are bands that do it justice and MOB RULES has proven that they are worthy of your attention.
For me, “Dawn of the Sun” is where things get interesting with an intro that reminds me of latter day IRON MAIDEN. It’s moody and epic and, I’m my humble opinion, this is where the band really shines. There are still some prog elements here and there with the DREAM THEATER-ish “Providence” which incorporates MAIDEN inspired guitar work. But for fans of their earlier work, look no further than the aptly titled “Back to Savage Land”. That track is just a pure power metal workout that should satisfy fans who crave MOB RULES earlier material.
While the band still embraces their foundational elements, they have brought into the fold a more varied sound that gives their albums like “Rise of the Ruler” some dimension. Full-on power metal can get boring so tracks like the fist-pumping “Nomadic Oasis” give the listener a bit of relief from the speed of power metal without sacrificing the heavy, anthemic nature of traditional metal. Speaking of “Nomadic Oasis”, the guitar work from Sven Lüdke and Florian Dyszbalis shows that they have a clear command of both melody and power. “Coast of Midgard” and “Equilibrium (Rise of the Ruler)” are two of a trio of tracks that finish the record on a high note. It’s “On the Trail” that kind of brings down the end of the record for me. While it is competently performed, I just feel this ballad doesn’t match the strength of the other material. Plus, it brings the momentum of the record to a screeching halt when positioned between the two other high energy metal tunes. Thankfully, “On the Trail” is just slightly over three minutes so it is not too long of a diversion.
MOB RULES delivers another slab of quality metal that should resonate with old and new listeners alike. Aside from the one ballad, “Rise of the Ruler” maintains a consistently high level of quality throughout. The album showcases (again) the band’s blend of melodic songwriting with powerful riffing, and dynamic guitar solos proving just why MOB RULES is respected within the power metal scene.
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