History Mob Rules

a) Mob Rules is a German power metal band.

b) Mob Rules are also a band from Leeds, UK, playing hardcore/power-violence. They have released a 7", The Donor, on Super-Fi Records and a split 7" with Crowd Control from Ireland. They do not have a Myspace page nor a website. They have just released their debut full-length record The Donor LP through Zandor and Grot Records.

Information on Mob Rules a)

Mob Rules :: Ethnolution A.D.

“Sometimes the political events in this world catch up with you faster than you like,” says Klaus Dirks, vocalist with the German melodic metal act, Mob Rules, shaking his head in obvious shock. Their new, multi-part title song ‘Ethnolution’ began to take shape as early as autumn 2005. “We have always been fascinated by the ethnological development on our planet, the problematic coexistence of culturally and intellectually different peoples. That’s why this aspect of the history of mankind is the focus of our new album. Naturally, the Middle East conflict has to be part of this kind of discourse. But we had no idea that we would find ourselves in the middle of a war between Israel and Hezbollah just before the release of our new album.” Dirks is referring to ‘The Last Farewell’, the fifth and final chapter of the elaborate title track which deals with the suicide missions of militant fanatics. In the other four parts of the song, Mob Rules throw a critical light on the fall of the Berlin Wall and the machinations of the Ku Klux Clan in America. With more than 25 minutes playing time, ‘Ethnolution’ is by far the longest and most progressive song that the band has ever composed - an opus that stylistically explores the whole musical range of the band from Northern Germany: from the anthemnic opener ‘Unholy War’ through the prog-metal manifesto, ‘Ashes To Ashes’, reminiscent in parts of Queensrÿche, and the edgy thrash number, ‘Fuel To The Fire’ to the final track, ‘The Last Farewell’ with its addictive chorus, Mob Rules prove that their fifth studio album has all the makings of a real classic.

Ethnolution A.D. confirms that melodic metal does not necessarily have to consist of musical or thematic clichés and predictabilities. The predecessor album, Among The Gods, already saw Mob Rules tackle controversial subjects, rail against the reckless destruction of the environment and the dubious role of the Church. In 2006, the sextet continue to consolidate their special position on the German metal scene, combining traditional styles with surprising arrangements, mixing their sound with progressive elements, always leaving enough space for symphonic passages. On the final track, ‘Better Morning’, Mob Rules cooperated with the composer/arranger Chris Wolff, a band member with Rage in the late Nineties. “It was an interesting experiment to have a song structure that had only been rudimentarily prepared by us developed by somebody who has conceived an exceptional offering such as ‘Lingua Mortis’,” Dirks enthuses about the renowned support. But also ‘Ain’t The One’, driven by oriental sounds, or the anthem ‘With Sparrows’, featuring a wonderful gospel choir, document the wide range of the song material. Typical Mob Rules tracks such as ‘River Of Pain’ or ‘Day And A Lifetime’ round off a recording that is more than likely to set the benchmark.

The twelve tracks were produced by Mob Rules again, Markus Teske (Vanden Plas, Saga) taking care of engineering and mix. Following Savage Land (1999), Temple Of Two Suns (2000), Hollowed Be Thy Name (2002) and Among The Gods (2004), Ethnolution A.D. is the fifth studio recording by the group, who made a break in their band history last year with their live DVD, Signs Of The Time. Mob Rules had played in the same line-up for almost ten years when bassist Thorsten Plorin and guitarist Oliver Fuhlhage left the group in autumn 2005. “It was time to bring new blood into the band,” Dirks comments, looking back. “Some things simply wear out over the years.” In Sven Lüdke (ex-Murder One), Mob Rules have enlisted a guitarist who lives up to international standards and not only fits well into the group on a personal level, but has also contributed a number of impressive solos to Ethnolution A.D. The latest addition to the Mob Rules fold is bassist Markus Brinkmann, who went through his baptism of fire on stage with the group. “I think this is our strongest line-up ever,” Dirks comments eagerly about the breath of fresh air that the two new members have brought.

Ethnolution A.D. will be out on October 20, 2006, the band performing a big release show at the Pumpwerk in their hometown of Wilhelmshaven that same day. Immediately afterwards, Mob Rules are scheduled to embark on a tour of Germany, playing alongside UFO in Stuttgart, Aschaffenburg, Regensburg and Pratteln, as well as various individual shows and a number of festivals. The fact that the songs from Ethnolution A.D. will be presented live to an audience for the first time should make for one of the highlights of the autumn 2006 concert season. Timo Hoffmann (Rock It)

TRACKS

Ethnolution: a.) Prologue, b.) Unholy War, c.) Ashes To Ashes (Dust To Dust), d.) Fuel To The Fire e.) Veil Of Death, f.) The Last Farewell * Day And A Lifetime * River Of Pain * Ain´t The One * New Horizon * With Sparrows * Better Morning

DISCOGRAPHIE

• SAVAGE LAND (1999)

• TEMPLE OF TWO SUNS (2000)

• HOLLOWED BE THY NAME (2002)

• AMONG THE GODS (2004)

• SIGNS OF THE TIME (DVD, 2005)

• ETHNOLUTION A.D. (2006) >> NEW

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