MOB RULES – Celebration Day [30 Years Of Mob Rules] (2024)

This 2024 Northern German melodic metallers MOB RULES are celebrating their 30th anniversary. With “Celebration Day – 30 Years Of Mob Rules“, the band around singer Klaus Dirks releases a compilation that could hardly have become more extensive and of higher quality. With over 150 minutes of playing time (spread over two CDs), the were selected by the band themselves. You get classic tracks including ‘Black Rain’, and ‘Hollowed (not ‘Hallowed’) Be Thy Name’, ‘Rain Song’, but also songs that have previously been less in the spotlight.
There are tracks that were previously only able to be heard digitally, some re-recorded tracks, and some brand new, including covers of Iron Maiden’s ‘Run to the Hills’, ’80s pop-rock classic ‘Fame’ from the movie of the same title, a version of DIO’s classic ‘Sacred Heart’, and more.
As you see, Mob Rules are not just metal, they add hard rock elements to their music here an there. So ”Celebration Day [30 Years Of Mob Rules]” is a perfect introduction to the band for the casual listener.
All songs have been remastered by Markus Teske himself.

The album pleases you from the start, as many of the harmonies in opener ‘Way of the World’ are rather adventurous and surprising, sometimes almost sci-fi. However, the orchestrations are relatively simple creating a sound that is ideal for a more accessible metal band.
The cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Run to the Hills’ is almost note for note, but with Mob Rules own sound. Same goes for their previously released version of DIO’s ‘Sacred Heart’, where Markus deliver a strong performance.
Their version of Irene Cara’s 1980 classic ‘Fame’ is very good. The original is a great melodic dance track, so to take its melodic overtones and crank up it’s not easy. The result is a grest example in how to take a song from a different genre and make it your own.

‘Hollowed Be Thy Name’ is darker, and shows one of this band many facets. ‘Hymn Of The Damned’ is more modern, and the keyboards are fairly industrial, too. The mix of power metal guitars and singing is a nice touch. ‘Dykemaster’s Tale’ has a clean Iron Maiden feel in the intro, think ‘The Clansman’ then it speeds up with distorted guitars, again like Maiden. There is a bit of Manowar in the song too, if that didn’t sound epic enough for you already.
Others like ‘Black Rain’ and ‘Evolution’s Falling’ slow things down a bit without losing its power and allow the band’s more melodic elements to shine through.

In conclusion “Celebration Day – 30 Years Of Mob Rules” is rather consistent in quality, and there is a fair amount of variation in the thirty tracks you get, covering Mob Rules different eras.
Long-time fans of the band found here some new tracks, remastered versions of songs, some re-recordings, and have physical copies of digital only releases. For new listeners this is a great entrance way into Mob Rules and what they have to offer.
Highly Recommended

CD 1
01. Way Of The World
02. Run To The Hills (Iron Maiden cover)
03. Fame (Irene Cara / movie cover)
04. Square Hammer (Ghost cover)
05. Ghost Town
06. Sacred Heart (Dio cover)
07. Ghost Of A Chance
08. Hollowed Be Thy Name
09. Sinister Light
10. Black Rain
11. Ice & Fire
12. Somerled
13. Flag Of Life
14. Unholy War
15. Fuel To The Fire

CD 2
01. Raven’s Flight (Amon Amarth cover)
02. Hymn Of The Damned
03. Lord Of Madness
04. Evolution’s Falling
05. Shores Ahead
06. Hydrophobia
07. Hold Back The Light
08. Tele Box Fool
09. Desperate Son
10. The Sirens
11. Better Morning
12. Trial By Fire
13. On The Edge
14. Rain Song
15. Dykemaster’s Tal

Klaus Dirks – Vocals
Sven Ludke – Guitars
Florian Dyszbalis – Guitars
Jan Christian Halfbrodt – Keyboards
Markus Brinkmann – Bass
Sebastien Schmidt – Drums

Pre order:
napalmrecordsamerica.com/mob-rules-celebration-day-digipack-2cd.html