CD Review: Mob Rules - Cannibal Nation

Written by Petra Whiteley Tuesday, 09 October 2012 12:44

Artist: Mob Rules
Title: Cannibal Nation
Genre: Melodic Power Metal
Release Date: 19th October 2012
Label: AFM Records

Album Review

MOB RULES is a German band formed in 1994 with six albums and seventh on the release point, which is titled as ‘Cannibal Nation’. Theirs is a mixture of Power Metal with Progressive and Hard Rock and Heavy Metal influences though with this album it leans to the latter trends. The titbits of interest to be found with this album is that 'Ice & Fire'  is inspired by the story of the abducted Colombian politician Íngrid Betancourt and features atmospheric orchestral parts by Michael “Miro” Rodenberg (AVANTASIA). Refreshingly they don’t deal only with swords and battle as it goes with the typical tradition of the trend but that the bravery of mankind can be expressed via a story of Edmund Hillary and Tensing Norgay reaching the summit of Mount Everest on May 29th 1953 in one of the best moments of ‘Cannibal Nation’ and that is ‘Scream For The Sun’.

Having said that, another of the highlights of the album does come with a soldierly theme in ‘Soldiers Of Fortune’, which is a stomping epic and indeed the album showcases how well they do with retaining melodic thread throughout with soaring, catchy and epic choruses with a good deal of gusto. And as such it’s enjoyable if only a tad predictable with the interesting mix of styles not adding much of in a way of uniqueness and creativity just only giving it a bit more credibility then a completely mediocre write-off it would be otherwise. They’re still far from what can be described nowhere near as ‘great’ and if one enjoys them for a sitting, there’s not going to be too many returns to it unless one is their die hard fan.


Tracklist

01. Close My Eyes
02. Lost
03. Tele Box Fool
04. Ice And Fire
05. Soldiers Of Fortune
06. The Sirens
07. Scream For The Sun (May 29th 1953)
08. Cannibal Nation
09. Sunrise
10. Children Of The Flames (live in Atlanta) (digipak bonus track)


Line-up

Klaus Dirks – Vocals
Matthias Mineur – Guitar
Sven Lüdke – Guitar
Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keyboards
Markus Brinkmann – Bass
Nikolas Fritz – Drums


Websites

http://www.mobrules.de / http://www.myspace.com/mobrulesband


Cover Picture




Rating

Music: 6
Sound: 7
Total: 6.5 / 10