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Mob Rules- Ethnolution A.D.

Published Nov. 23 2006


*
=Staff's pick

Ethnolution A.D.:
-Prologue
-Unholy War*
-Ashes To Ashes (Dust To Dust)*
-Fuel To The Fire
-Veil Of Death*
-The Last Farewell
Day And A Lifetime
River Of Pain*
Ain't The One
New Horizon
With Sparrows*
Better Morning


Genre Heavy/Power Metal
Klaus Dirks
Vocals
Tracks 12
Matthias Mineur
Guitar
Runningtime 52 Min.
Sven Lüdke
Guitar
Label SPV
Markus Brinkmann
Bass
Release 20 Oct. 2006
Arved Mannot
Drums
Country Germany
Sascha Onnen
Keyboard
Similar artists Avantasia, Chinchilla, Queensrÿche, Kamelot

Melodic, progressive, semi symphonic and technichal- Mob Rules are back! The arrangements are rich and full, a solid base of very good sharp riffing sprinkled with keyboards dominate the songs, a strong seasoning of American metal is present and all this combined with good choruses and pretty unique vocals continue to be the trademark of Mob Rules even on this new album, Ethnolution AD, their fifth studio release to date. The problem with me not fully taking this band to heart is not their musical capabilities so much but more that they have always chosen to keep the mid pace a little too much in focus.

Their whole deal has never quite travelled beyond the good area besides tendencies of embers and smouldering that never relly resulted in the big explosion. Every new album has always felt like they have taken the approach from their previous releases, worked in that area for the entire album length and just hasn't impressed all the way. Ethnolution AD can't be said to deliver anything totally new either but the songwriting has really seen improvment since the last and bleaker Among the Gods and Mob Rules are definitely returning to the quality of the Hallowed be thy Name and Temple of Two Suns albums. If not slightly higher and perhaps even the best album pack the band designed so far.

First out is the title number, a 25 minute six parted story, with Prologue as opening act. This short instrumental piece builds up a highly promising feeling which continues with the symphonic/atmospheric Unholy War while Ashes to Ashes shows Mob Rules's more epic and dramatic edge. Both of these mid paced tracks are prime examples of Mob Rules song writing at its highest peaks contain really good choruses, heavy sharp riffage and especially Ashes to Ashes takes on a more progressive edge resembling early Queensrÿche. More promising material is provided by the faster power metal based Fuel to the Fire with its somewhat thrashy attitude and the instrumental Veil of Death where strong Brian May and Axel Rudi Pell sensitive influences are clearly traceable.

Day and a Lifetime is a quite beautiful heavy metal track again featuring an atmospheric aura and the arabic/exotic influences on especially the end piece of Ain't the One are more further examples of greatly delivered goods. River of Pain once again increases the speed and energy with furthermore proof that Mob Rules also know how to compose good up-tempo songs. The sensitive rocker With Sparrows also contains gospel inspired choirs and the atmospheric treatment and beautiful melodic interchanges of the semi ballad Better Morning is thereafter a very sublime way for Ethnolution AD to end.

Sound-wise though you can't really accuse Mob Rules for introducing something totally different compared to what we're used to. An element that has been put in more focus though is the progressive edge that makes the American metal sound more clearly. Already has Queensrÿche been mentioned and overall there is much easier to compare Mob Rules to for instance Kamelot than before on Ethnolution AD. Other differences from the past are that two new band members have come on board. Sven Lüdke and Markus Brinkmann have entered the ranks and Lüdke especially is a major asset since he's not only a great guitarist but also a very good composer and there's a very good explanation to the better song writing on this release.

The lyrics follow the maturing state of the music and this time revolves around social and religious topics like the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Ku Klux Clan, Islamic fanatic suicide bombers, the Middle East conflict and overall the chaotic political climate of the world today. The production is handled by the band members themselves while the responsibilities concerning mixing and mastering are the works of Markus Teske (also Vanden Plas, Saga). A combination that has resulted in the best sounding album in the Mob Rules' catalogue to this point and that also goes for the song writing which put together should make Ethnolution AD into something much more than just a footnote in the metal history.

But maybe you still need to be the true Mob Rules fanatic to have the quintessential listening experience a truly great metal album should provide. There are definitely more lava running down the slopes than earlier but I'm still waiting for the big explosive eruption they seem to have come much closer to unleashing. And gentlemen- a few faster songs nex time wouldn't hurt either.

See also review of: Tales From Beyond , Timekeeper - 20th Anniversary Box , Cannibal Nation , Temple Of Two Suns , Hollowed Be Thy Name , Among The Gods

Production
Vocals
Compositions

8,5

7

7

 
Summary



7 chalices of 10 - Mat


Related links:

www.mobrules.de