Released By: ROAR
Release date: August 22nd, 2025
Genre: Heavy/Power Metal
Links: https://www.facebook.com/mobrulesband
Line Up:
Klaus Dirks – Vocals
Sven Lüdke – Guitars
Florian Dyszbalis – Guitars
Markus Brinkmann – Bass
Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keyboards
Sebastian Schmidt – Drums
Tracklist:
1. The Fall of Dendayar
2. Exiled
3. Future Loom
4. Dawn of Second Sun
5. Back to savage Land
6. Trial and Trail of Fear
7. Providence
8. Nomadic Oasis
9. Coast of Midgard
10. On the Trail
11. Equilibrium (Rise of the Ruler)
It’s always fun seeing bands with a lengthy discography go back and revisit their old work in some way while still releasing fresh material. Be it a thematic follow-up or a return to the roots following a long run of different-sounding albums, it’s always interesting to see how a band approaches familiar territory at a much later point in their career. Such is the case with German heavy/power metal band Mob Rules, who are set to release their tenth full-length album, Rise of the Ruler, a conceptual continuation of what they started on their first two albums, Savage Land and Temple of Two Suns. Both in terms of lyrics and overall sound, the band has done a great job of recapturing the feel of their early albums while still maintaining everything they’ve been delivering on their more recent releases. The result is possibly their best album to date, and one that was well worth waiting seven years for!
Mob Rules started out as more of a typical German power metal band, with a little bit of heavy metal flavor here and there. In terms of songwriting, they did always lean a bit toward slow and mid-paced tracks compared to others in the genre, but their early albums were very intense and energetic, as well as a bit raw compared to their newer releases. Meanwhile, their later releases still have moments of explosive, speedy power metal, but their sound has become much more refined over the years, as well as much more epic, and the influence of Iron Maiden has only become stronger over time, with both the melodic guitar sound on their more upbeat tracks and the more dialed-back passages on some of their lengthier, slower-paced tracks. Rise of the Ruler feels like somewhat of a combination of both approaches, with the songwriting a little bit toned down in that there aren’t any lengthy tracks, and most songs are fairly simple, with a focus on catchiness and fantastic melodies over everything else. The album also has some of their speediest, most explosive tracks in quite some time, so power metal fans are sure to find a lot to love here. On the other hand, there’s still a fair amount of the slower, more moody and atmospheric tracks the band has been delivering on later albums, and the album definitely has a dark feel, as usual. I’d say compared to their previous few albums, it’s leaner, meaner, and more direct, but at the same time, fans of the past few albums are still likely to find a lot to love here, as the moody passages are still there on some tracks, and the choruses and vocal melodies are as fantastic as ever.
Performances are excellent across the board, as usual. Veteran Sven Lüdke and newcomer Florian Dyszbalis lead the way with some excellent guitar work. The album has some of the band’s heaviest, most explosive riffs in quite some time, but it also has plenty of that classic, Maiden-style melodic lead guitar work, as well as some moody passages and some excellent solos. Keyboards and symphonic elements have been dialed back a fair bit compared to the previous few albums, so guitars are more prominent than ever, and thankfully, both guitarists do an excellent job on every track. New drummer Sebastian Schmidt fits in perfectly, doing a nice job of leading the rhythm section. As usual, there are tons of more straightforward, full-speed-ahead sections where he gets to go all out, as well as plenty of more laid-back passages where he has to slow things down, and he does an excellent job of both. Vocalist Klaus Dirks has improved a lot over the years. Going back to revisit their early albums recently really showed me how much his voice has become grittier and more powerful over the years, as well as how much smoother his delivery has become. This album features some of his most intense and powerful vocals to date, and he sounds a tad more aggressive than usual, especially on the speedier tracks, but at the same time, he still sounds excellent on the softer portions, where he sings with more emotion and with a lighter approach. Production is fantastic as always, and everything sounds perfectly balanced.
As I mentioned earlier, Rise of the Ruler picks up where the band’s first two albums left off, focusing on a dystopian wasteland where an evil ruler has taken charge. There are plenty of lyrical references to each of the first two albums, so fans of those albums have a lot to look forward to, and even listening more casually, the lyrics are often very epic and intense. Songwriting is an area where the band can be a bit inconsistent sometimes, though their previous two albums, Tales from Beyond and Beast Reborn, were both excellent the whole way through, and thankfully the trend continues with Rise of the Ruler. If anything, I’d say this might be their best batch of songs to date, with every one of them being amazing in their own way, and of course there are some huge standouts as always, such as the explosive opening track “Exiled” and the slightly more laid-back but super addictive “Trial and Trail of Fear.” Songwriting is a bit more direct this time around, with no songs clocking in at over six minutes, and there’s a ton of speedy, energetic tracks early on, so the album gets off to a flying start. Even later on, when the pace slows down considerably, tracks still fly by, as every moment is thoroughly enjoyable, and even the more atmospheric tracks have enough hooks and memorable moments to be easy to get into right away.
The album opens up with a brief intro track, featuring some light background music and some excellent narration, which nicely introduces the concept. It does a nice job of setting the mood before “Exiled” comes in and immediately steals the show. It’s a fast-paced, energetic track with some pretty heavy riffs right out of the gate, and it never lets up. The verses are heavy and energetic, with some excellent vocal melodies, while the chorus is super epic, with lightning-fast drums, intense vocals, and a killer climax. It’s a bit simpler than most of the band’s choruses, but it fits the track perfectly and makes an incredibly strong first impression. The instrumental section is the one moment where the track slows down slightly, but it builds up nicely for an excellent, classic heavy metal solo section. Next is “Future Loom,” which also comes storming out of the gate, moving at an even faster pace than the opener. The Maiden influence is extremely noticeable in the guitars, with some excellent, melodic lead guitar work carrying the track through its energetic verses and into a more melodic but still super fast and catchy chorus. The solo section has a classic power metal feel to it, reminding me of Helloween at times, and it’s fantastic. The track is certainly one of the more straightforward ones here, making it a great choice for a single.
Following two explosive tracks, it makes sense that the band would slow things down a bit with “Dawn of Second Sun.” The track opens up rather calmly, with light guitar work and some soft passages, with a strong atmospheric buildup. Again, the Maiden influence is undeniable, with the way the track very slowly builds up, leading into a slightly heavier but still fairly mellow chorus. It’s a slow, laid-back track for most of its duration, and the vocal melodies are easily the highlight, though it does pick up toward the end, with a speedy instrumental section that adds in a dose of power metal to liven things up. Next is lead single “Back to Savage Land,” another speedy, rather straightforward track with some excellent melodic lead guitar work. Verses move at a moderate pace, upbeat but not fully storming ahead, while the chorus speeds things up and is one of the most epic-sounding choruses on the album, with some absolutely fantastic vocal melodies and lead guitar work. The track gets more intense as it goes along, with the instrumental section being quite explosive, and overall it’s certainly one of the band’s catchiest songs in recent memory.
Another personal favorite is next in “Trial and Trail of Fear,” which starts off with a rather soft guitar-driven passage before the drums fully kick in and the guitars get a bit crunchier. The verses have a classic heavy metal/hard rock feel, going for more of a gritty approach, while the tempo is more laid-back and relaxed, and the drums have a very nice rhythm. The chorus speeds things up a bit, with the drums very subtly picking up the pace, while the guitars are fairly light and the vocal melodies are fantastic. As usual, the guitars lead the way throughout the track, though this is also a track where Schmidt shines, expertly alternating between more deliberate timing and more explosive drumming throughout the track. There’s an explosive, speedy section toward the end, and the final run through the chorus is even more epic than the rest. Next is a more relaxed, moderately paced track “Providence,” which starts off very calmly until the drums slowly start to build up tension, and then heavy guitars kick in. It’s a fairly slow, moody track, and the guitars have a rather sinister feeling, which remains throughout the track. The verses are slow and rather mellow, while the chorus speeds things up slightly, again utilizing some very subtle changes in the tempo of the drums, while the vocals open up a lot and Dirks gets to shine with some fantastic vocal melodies. Toward the end is an epic bridge section, with some of the best, most powerful vocals on the entire album, and it leads into a very Maiden-sounding guitar solo.
One of the slowest tracks on the album is “Nomadic Oasis,” which utilizes a fair bit of acoustic guitar work, especially during the opening verse. It opens up slow and calm, almost like a ballad, though it does become a tad heavier and more intense as it goes on. It’s the longest track on the album, and it’s slightly more complex than most tracks, starting off very moody before becoming a bit lighter and more melodic as it goes on. The chorus in particular is the biggest highlight, and the instrumental section toward the end is also quite lively and energetic. Two tracks later, “On the Trail” is a short, acoustic ballad. There are some very beautiful melodies throughout, and obviously Dirks shines, especially on the chorus, where he delivers a very emotional performance. The verses show him at his softest, and his smooth delivery is on point, as usual.
In between those two tracks is “Coast of Midgard,” another very Maiden-inspired track. It’s fast-paced, explosive, and a bit simple, but also a lot of fun. As usual, the guitar work is very melodic and energetic, and the track moves at a fast pace, with some of the most explosive drumming and guitar work of the album. The chorus is very simple, and it’s one of those tracks that effectively utilizes repetition in a way that it sounds intense and energetic and never gets annoying as it sometimes can if not done properly. It has the feel of a classic heavy metal track played at a power metal tempo, which is something the band has always been very good at, so it’s no surprise they pull it off wonderfully here. Closing out the album is “Equilibrium (Rise of the Ruler),” one of the most epic-sounding tracks on the album. It moves at a fairly moderate tempo, but it has an upbeat feel, with some very nice melodic lead guitar work paired with some slightly heavier riffs. The verses have a slightly sinister atmosphere, while the chorus is much more upbeat and melodic, with some of the best vocal melodies on the album, and Dirks really gets to go all out. The instrumental portion is quite beautiful, but the chorus is the clear highlight and one of the best moments of the album. It’s a fantastic track overall, and it closes the album out perfectly.
Mob Rules have been on an impressive run as of late, with Tales from Beyond and Beast Reborn both being among my favorite albums in their discography, but Rise of the Ruler is somehow even better than either of them. It brings back some of the intensity and energy of the band’s earlier albums while revisiting familiar lyrical concepts, but at the same time, it still maintains the more mature, moody side of the band’s music, which has become an important part of their sound over the years. Songwriting is fantastic the whole way through, and performances are excellent across the board, with Klaus Dirks delivering possibly his best vocal performance to date. Longtime fans are sure to find a lot to love here, and I’d also say it’s a great place for newcomers to start, especially anyone looking for a fluid blend of heavy metal and power metal, with a nice mix of intense, speedy tracks and some more laid-back, moody tracks. It really does feel like the band has delivered a great mix of everything they do best, and while all their albums are excellent, this one feels like it goes above and beyond to become their best work to date!
Ratings: 10/10
Editors Pick 
Written by: Travis Green
My Global Mind – Staff Writer
Travis Green is a Canadian based writer for My Global Mind, with a particular passion for power metal, as well as an interest metal in all its forms.
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