Review MOB RULES “Rise of the Ruler”

After traditional heavy metal made room for grunge, nu metal, and other genres, bands like Hammerfall paved the way for metal again at the end of the ’90s. The German band Mob Rules was also founded around this time. They launched their first longplayer in 1999, with singer Klaus Dirks being the driving force.

With “Rise of the Ruler,” the band released their eleventh record, their first in seven years. With two new members, Florian Dyszbalis (guitar) and Sebastian Schmidt (drums), the six-piece band from Lower Saxony recorded ten new songs and an intro.

The lead single, “Back to Savage Land,” indicated a strong album, and fans of heavy metal will enjoy this pure treat for the ears and mind. The combination of heaviness and well-crafted melodies makes “Rise of the Ruler” a strong album that immediately brings joy and continues to excite listeners.

“The Fall of Dendayar” is an intro with spoken words that introduce a dystopian end-of-the-world scene. “Exiled” takes over and is the first song on the album. It’s a fierce start, with a pounding rhythm leading to a chorus that unveils its melodic greatness immediately.

“Future Loom” is an upbeat blast with a great melody, followed by “Dawn of the Second Sun.” The latter has a Maiden-esque foundation and is an atmospheric highlight of the album.

“Rise of the Ruler” has a great flow in terms of how the songs are placed on the album’s tracklist. Next is the stomping “Trial and Trail of Fear,” which hands over to the atmospheric “Providence.” This song shows that Mob Rules’s musical approach is wider than solely relying on relentless heaviness. “Providence” is the most sophisticated song on the album, and “Nomadic Oasis” also shows a level of versatility that makes “Rise of the Ruler” a really entertaining album. The band can create soundscapes that provide lasting joy for listeners.

“Coast of Midgard” is an anthemic metal tune that transitions to the acoustic “On the Trail.” Then comes “Equilibrium: Rise of the Ruler,” the final chapter of the album. It is another cleverly crafted moment of this 47-minute metal extravaganza.

Lyrically, the songs connect to the band’s concept albums, “Savage Land” and “Temple of Two Suns,” continuing the storyline.

“Rise of the Ruler” is an exceptional album. In fact, I would say that Mob Rules deliver their most sophisticated album to date. Powerful melodies and a great flow characterize this stunning example of melodic metal, which never shies away from bold riffs and throbbing rhythms. “Rise of the Ruler” is a delight for headbangers, and it’s hard not to be fascinated by these songs.