Review MOB RULES “Stories from the Verdant Vale”

A few days ago, Mob Rules released Stories From the Verdant Vale, an album that turns out to be not quite as new as it might first appear. The songs originated from the sessions for the band’s 2025 album Rise of the Ruler and were originally included on the earbook edition. At the time, they were an exclusive extra for fans, but these songs have enough substance to deserve a wider audience.

The album, or rather these songs, are now available in their own format, which should be particularly welcome news for vinyl enthusiasts. Musically, there is little to complain about across the five “new” tracks. Melodic power metal comes pouring out of the speakers, and the songs feel a little more compact and catchy than some of the material on Rise of the Ruler. At the same time, the North German band has lost none of its punch. In other words, Mob Rules still know how to make their guitars do the talking.

The B-side includes some bonus tracks. Among the guests are Udo Dirkschneider on “Insurgeria” and Bernhard Weiß on “Celebration Day,” adding an extra touch to both the release and the songs themselves. Last but not least, “Broken,” a song from 2014 that was originally released as a single, is now also available in a vinyl format. A little trip into the past, pressed on vinyl.

Overall, Stories From the Verdant Vale is a release that should appeal particularly to vinyl collectors. At the same time, fans who do not own the Rise of the Ruler earbook will find enough previously limited available material here to make this release worth a closer look.