Mob Rules: Rise of the Ruler

Mob Rules return in 2025 with Rise of the Ruler, their eleventh studio album, and it shows a band still faithful to their German power metal and heavy metal roots, while adding a few progressive touches that bring to mind bands like Fates Warning or even Dream Theater. These nuances appear in the songs that gradually build momentum, layering riffs and melodies until they hit full force.
Singer Klaus Dirks delivers with a raw yet fitting vocal tone that matches the urgency of the music. Guitarists Sven Lüdke and Florian Dysinger shine throughout, often reminding me of the classic Judas Priest twin-guitar style, while drummer Nikolas Fritz gives the songs that extra push when the energy needs to explode.

Personal highlights for me include "Dawn of the Second Sun", which captures that perfect balance between heaviness and melody, and "Trial and Trail of Fear", where the pacing and guitar lines lock in beautifully. "Providence" offers one of the most dynamic and atmospheric moments, while "Nomadic Oasis" adds color and texture to the album’s flow. "Coast of Midgard" carries an epic flair, and "Equilibrium" closes the record with the kind of weighty drama that leaves you with no doubt you’ve reached the final chapter of the story.

Overall, Rise of the Ruler is an album I truly enjoyed from start to finish. It’s powerful, melodic, and dramatic, with just enough progressive depth to keep things interesting without straying from its metal foundation. For me, it’s a record strong enough to not only stand on its own, but also to inspire me to dig deeper into Mob Rules’ back catalog... cheers!

Track Listing:
1. The Fall Of Dendayar (1:25)
2. Exiled (4:55)
3. Future Loom (4:14)
4. Dawn Of The Second Sun (4:51)
5. Back to Savage Land (3:43)
6. Trial And Trail Of Fear (4:56)
7. Providence (4:17)
8. Nomadic Oasis (5:57)
9. Coast Of Midgard (4:35)
10. On The Trail (3:12)
11. Equilibrium (Rise Of The Ruler) (4:26)

Added: October 4th 2025
Reviewer: Jose Antonio Marmol
Score:
Related Link: Band @ Bandcamp
Hits: 638
Language: english

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