MOB RULES

Simplifying matters here: MOB RULES's "Stories From The Verdant Vale" features five songs left over from last year's "Rise Of The Ruler" studio offering and another five cuts swiped from the band's 2014 "Timekeeper" 20th anniversary boxset. It's technically not a new studio album. Instead, it's an EP with bonus tracks. Call it what you will.

Nevertheless, the prolific MOB RULES occupies the stout, call to arms brand of power metal that will never go out of fashion in Europe. While the Germans aren't prone to the effortless bombast of BLIND GUARDIAN or early AVANTASIA, their choruses are generally large and in charge thanks to frontman Klaus Dirks, who remains the lone remaining original member since the band's 1994 formation. Dirks's warm, quasi-husky delivery means he can lay it on thick during the balladry of "Above The Maelstrom" and reach for the proverbial rafters on "Masquerade Ball", which is the most satisfying of the five "new" songs here. It has occasionally boggled the mind as to why Dirks hasn't received more recognition for his abilities: he's the quintessential "everyman" German melodic metal voice. Give him good tunes and melodies, and he's going to do the trick.

Speaking of which, twin guitar melodies top off "Master Of The Black Crow", while the steely HAMMERFALL-like "Balance Of Power" closes out Side A. The remaining cuts from 2014's "Timekeeper" have merit primarily because it's worth a pass to hear other singers put their own spin on the band's early numbers. Of particular note is one-time FIREWIND vocalist Chity Somapala doing his thing on "Coast To Coast", the indomitable Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O. , ex-ACCEPT) popping up on "Insurgeria" and Amanda Somerville (TRILLIUM, EXIT EDEN) lending her fantastic pipes to "End Of All Days".

The sextet (MOB RULES have wisely employed a keyboard player for the last 25-plus years) has amassed a discography that often gets overlooked in the face of much larger German power metal bands. "Stories From The Verdant Vale" is simply the output from a band riding a hot hand that more people should be aware of.