You know how someone mentions orange Jeeps and suddenly you see orange Jeeps everywhere? So the other day I pick up the first issue of the relaunch of Heavy Metal Magazine and I’m instantly reminded of the 1981 movie which featured BLACK SABBATH’s “The Mob Rules” and then I’m watching the first episode of Alein Earth and boom, as the credits roll “The Mob Rules” kicks in; and finally, I’m looking through the list of upcoming albums to review and there’s the latest album from Germany’s Heavy Metal masters, MOB RULES. Call it coincidence, call it fate, it seems MOB RULES has raided the collective consciousness of the universe. And, yes, I know the band and the album and the song are three different things, but they all triangulate back to a single origin.  

Rise of the Ruler is the 10^th full-length from MOB RULES, clocking in at over 46 minutes with 11 massive tracks (okay, 10 massive tracks and one spoken word intro). The album continues the narrative the band introduced with their 2018 Beast Reborn about a “dystopian, hostile end-time world.” One would presume there may yet be future installments. Only time will tell. And if you’re counting, yep, it’s been seven years since the last release from MOB RULES. A lot, of course, has happened since then but thankfully none of the brilliance has worn off this band.

Best tracks include “Exalted” which properly kicks the album off after a short spoken-word intro. “Exalted” has all the classic MOB RULES elements—crushing riffs, piercing vocals, and melodic rhythms. I also really enjoy “Dawn of the Second Sun” which adds just a touch of Symphonic to the mix. Third on my list is “Providence” which has a bit of Prog twist. So clearly, I enjoy it when MOB RULES defies the Heavy Metal template and introduces influences from other subgenres. The final track, “Equilibrium (Rise of the Ruler),” is another a stellar track though it’s straight-forward Heavy Metal with no deviations. The perfect epic closer.  

Formed in the way back 1994, MOB RULES has been devastating the eardrums of true heavy metal fans for over three decades. With Rise of the Ruler they show zero intention of stopping anytime soon.