|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mob Rules: Cannibal Nation
 Germany's Mob Rules hit an absolute home run in 2010 with their album Radical Peace, and the band is back with the equally stellar Cannibal Nation. Don't let the title fool you into thinking that the veteran power/prog metal act has gone all horror on us, as Cannibal Nation is another sizzling collection of melodic, heavy, power & progressive metal songs.
With a singer as good as Klaus Dirks, Mob Rules already has a step up on the competition, and he once again delivers a stunning performance here. "Tele Box Fool", "Lost", and the brilliant opener "Close My Eyes" all feature his confident, powerful vocals amidst plenty of catchy melodies and challenging metal arrangements. "Ice and Fire" has been picked as the first single from the CD, and it's a hook laden slice of melodic power metal with Dirks' soaring vocals over tasty guitar riffs & solos from Matthias Mineur & Sven Lüdke with just the right amount of keyboards courtesy of Jan Christian Halfbrodt. The CD has its share of heavy thumpers too, like the headbanging "Soldiers of Fortune" and the crunchy, harmony guitar laden title track. For those that like the more proggy side of Mob Rules, there's the atmospheric "Scream for the Sun (May 29th 1953)" and the textured "Sunrise", both heavily melodic and dripping with emotion.
Cannibal Nation is another fine, classy release from Mob Rules, a band that consistently delivers one winner after another without relying on traditional European power metal or progressive metal characteristics.
Track Listing
1. Close My Eyes
2. Lost
3. Tele Box Fool
4. Ice and Fire
5. Soldiers of Fortune
6. The Sirens
7. Scream for the Sun (May 29th 1953)
8. Cannibal Nation
9. Sunrise
Added: December 7th 2012
Reviewer: Pete Pardo
Score:  
Related Link: Band Website
Hits: 3890
Language: english
[  Printer Friendly Page ]
[  Send to a Friend ] |
|
[ Back to the Reviews Index | Post Comment ]
|
|
| » SoT Staff Roundtable Reviews: |
Mob Rules: Cannibal Nation
Posted by Scott Jessup, SoT Staff Writer on 2012-12-07 06:22:48
My Score:
Once again Mob Rules are leading the way and just like prior Mob Rules albums, Cannibal Nation is another melodic metal hit. With so many cool songs like the brisk "The Sirens" and mid tempo "Close My Eyes", when this band's name is on the cover you can't go wrong.
Mob Rules keep on producing great melodic power metal albums while like what is sadly the case with numerous fine bands they seem to be overshadowed by others whose releases aren't as consistent. So if you haven't as yet then do yourself a favour and give Mob Rules a go they have so much to offer, and I know that I for one want to hear their songs for many years to come.
They aren't overly technical like some but they don't need to be, what Mob Rules succeed at is consistent catchy songs thanks to those alluring melodies. Mob Rules have their own melodic sound and style that hasn't varied greatly, they just mix up the pace, so if you have heard prior albums there isn't much in the way of surprises on Cannibal Nation.
The Scorpions may have called it quits this year, and even though they aren't quite the same we still have top German bands like Mob Rules that continue to fly the flag for that country.
|
|
Mob Rules: Cannibal Nation
Posted by Steven Reid, SoT Staff Writer on 2012-11-24 10:49:11
My Score:
For all their seven albums, Cannibal Nation being their eighth, and 18 years together making melodic heavy metal with a pinch of prog and punch of power, Germany's Mob Rules never seem to quite get the plaudits their music has long deserved. From album to album they've provided some of the strongest, riff orientated metal with a strong eye for melody that you could hope for - their 2009 Radical Peace release proving the point in glorious style. Three years on and the six-piece comprising Klaus Dirks (vocals), Matthias Mineur and Sven Ludke (both guitars), Markus Brinkmann (bass), Jan Christian Halfbrodt (keys) and Nikolas Fritz (drums) offer up a Cannibal Nation that takes the tried, tested and triumphant Mob Rules blueprint and turns up the intensity a notch or two. Resulting in a heavier slice of Teutonic metal that slams home with precise power - although never losing sight of the fact that it is the intricate melodies and guitar-keyboard interplay that remain this band's main strength.
That's not to say that Dirks isn't a mighty singer - he is, or that the drum barrage from Fritz doesn't combine with the solid bass work of Brinkmann perfectly - it does. However, whether it is the gallop and rush of "Tele Box Fool" (a cutting comment on the culture of today), the Hammond infused foundations of the title cut, or the bold, brash march of "Soldiers Of Fortune", it is the guitars and keyboards that sweep you along on their hard hitting grandeur and classy, expertly crafted clashes.
"Scream For The Sun (May 29th 1953)" tell the tale of Sir Edmund Hilary's climb to the summit of Mount Everest, toning the attack down to relay the story in a manner as sure footed as the great explorer, with the spoken word intro courtesy of the man himself adding gravitas to an already majestic song. While "Lost" reveals a mixture of Accept like riffing and Jon Lord style keyboards in a song that keeps the pace at a slow steady stomp, raising the hackles on the back of your neck as it does so.
Cannibal Nation is yet another extremely fine addition to the Mob Rules catalogue and one that will hopefully see this outfit receive the recognition they fully deserve for influencing a whole host of younger bands who have followed in their wake. A limited version of the album comes with a bonus live take of "Children Of The Flames", originally from the Radical Peace album, combining the might of prime-time Dio with the symphonic path the likes of Kamelot and Serenity have followed Mob Rules down, making any potential upgrade well worth your consideration. However truth be told Cannibal Nation doesn't need any extra incentives to make it a must have album for any lover of melodic heavy metal.
|
|
|
|
© 2004 Sea Of Tranquility | For information regarding where to send CD promos and advertising, please see our FAQ page.
If you have questions or comments, please Contact Us.
Please see our Policies Page for Site Usage, Privacy, and Copyright Policies.
|
All logos and trademarks in this site are property of their respective owner. The comments are property of their posters, all other content © Sea of Tranquility
SoT is Hosted by SpeedSoft.com 
|
|
