While Northern German melodic metal band Mob Rules are currently busy applying the finishing touches to their boxed anniversary set Timekeeper (release date: 13 October 2014, Germany: 10 October 2014, US/Canada: 28 October 2014), the musicians have revealed initial details about this special package which consists of two CDs, a single and a live DVD. CD 1 has Mob present the 15 most important songs from their previous eight releases, among them classics such as 'Black Rain', 'Hollowed Be Thy Name', 'Astral Hand', 'Rain Song' (Live) and 'Cannibal Nation'.
CD 2 is the fulfilment of the band members' longstanding dream: "We've always wanted to invite guests to the studio who have been important to us and our development and who have become friends," explains drummer Nikolas Fritz, referring to a long list of renowned musicians who have contributed to Timekeeper, among them Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O.), Bernhard Weiß & Marco Wriedt (both Axxis), Amanda Somerville & Sascha Paeth (both Avantasia), Peavy Wagner (Rage), Michael Ehré (Gamma Ray), Herman Frank (Accept), Corvin Bahn (Uli Jon Roth, Saxon), Herbie Langhans (Sinbreed, Seventh Avenue), Stefan Lill (Vanden Plas) Chitral Somapala (ex-Firewind, Red Circuit) and Peter Knorn (Victory). These artists can be heard on newly recorded Mob Rules classics, the cover versions 'Lights Out' (UFO) and 'Run With The Wolf' (Rainbow) as well as two brand-new songs which Mob Rules composed exclusively for Timekeeper. "This boxed set reflects the band's past, present and future," comments Nikolas Fritz.
Timekeeper is rounded off by a DVD featuring recordings from the 2011 Mob Rules performance at the Prog Power US festival in Atlanta/USA plus extensive bonus material. Nikolas Fritz: "Our fans kept asking about those film recordings, that's why we have now had the material cut and its sound mixed. A great souvenir, also for ourselves."
Real eye-catchers are the cover artwork and 44-page booklet which are part of the elaborate box, featuring scores of photos from all phases of Mob Rules' 20-year career, a special feature being the fact that each one of the limited boxes has been numbered individually by hand, making this boxed set a very special fan item.
TIMEKEEPER -TRACKLISTING
DISC 1: THE BEST
Temple Fanfare
Pilot of Earth
Black Rain
Cannibal Nation
Astral Hand
Close My Eyes
Dead Man`s Face
Among The Gods
In The Land Of Wind And Rain
Hollowed Be Thy Name
Last Farewell
Ice And Fire
Lord Of Madness (Live)
With Sparrows Rain Song (Live)
DISC 2: FRIENDS
Insurgeria (new recording, w/ Udo Dirkschneider & Marco Wriedt)
Celebration Day (new recording, w/ Bernhard Weiß)
Lights Out (new recording, w/ Peter Knorn)
End Of All Days (new recording, w/ Amanda Somerville & Corvin Bahn)
Broken (new Track)
All Above The Atmosphere (new recording, w/ Herbie Langhans & Herman Frank)
Coast To Coast (new recording, w/ Michael Ehré, Stephan Lill & Chity Somapala)
How The Gypsy Was Born (remastered, w/ Peavy Wagner)
Run With The Wolf (new recording, w/ Sascha Paeth)
My Kingdom Come (new Track, Orchestral Version, w/ Corvin Bahn)
DISC 3: SINGLE
My Kingdom Come (new Track)
Meet You In Heaven (Live at Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven, 2004, prev. unreleased)
DISC 4: DVD
Children Of The Flames
Trial By Fire
Astral Hand
Unholy War
Ashes To Ashes
Fuel To The Fire
Veil Of Death
Last Farewell
In The Land Of Wind And Rain
Black Rain
Hollowed Be Thy Name
