Mob Rules: Tales From Beyond

It’s been four years since we’ve seen a new studio album from veteran German power metal band Mob Rules. Since their last release – 2012’s Cannibal Nation – we’ve seen the career-spanning box set Timekeeper, and now we have their eighth full-length album, titled Tales From Beyond.

Ever since 2004’s Among the Gods, Mob Rules has been one of the best, most consistent (and sadly, more overlooked) bands in the German power metal scene. Something was missing on Cannibal Nation though, making it the first “good but not great” Mob Rules album in a long time. The magic is definitely back on Tales From Beyond. It has that combination of power, melody and grandeur that Mob Rules does so well, and goes back to the fantasy themes of their early albums.

The songs on Tales From Beyond seem more focused and more positive than the Cannibal Nation material. Not in a shiny, happy Freedom Call kind of way, but that classic crusading power metal aura. “Somerled,” “On the Edge” and “My Kingdom Come” are great examples of that. The three-part “A Tale From Beyond” suite is another highlight.

It’s good to see Mob Rules doing what they do best: making some of the best power metal Germany has to offer. Tales From Beyond is a very strong release by Mob Rules already high standards, meaning it’s also one of the best power metal albums of 2016. Fans of Iron Savior, Freedom Call, Angra, Gamma Ray and the like should all pick this one up.

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