Stick To Dream Theater
Melodic metal seems to have come back into fashion courtesy of the UK's own Dragonforce, though Germany's Mob Rules have been around a lot longer it is weird hearing the likeness though there isn't a much shredding here.
Latest album 'Ethnolution A.D.' tackles the concept of current world politics. Though it seems a little wasted on this band. The five part title track is very laughable in some parts. One being the use of keyboards on 'Unholy War'. The vocals of Klaus Dirks sound a cheap imitation of Dream Theater singer James La Brie. Though Mob Rules sounds operatic; it doesn't have any presence and doesn't feel like it could take you somewhere like a Nightwish song. The lead guitar sound on 'Ashes To Ashes' does somewhat compensate for the weakness of the songs but not very much. 'Fuel To The Fire' picks up the pace and is a little more listenable. Nevertheless the vocals are cheesy everything seems completely over the top in the wrong places. The songs seem to be too reliant on the keyboards and the feel the sound of the album is almost synthetic.
'Ethnolution A.D.' is typical progressive/melodic metal album but it fails to thoroughly amaze the listener. It's better to stick to the Dream Theater with this one.