Mob Rules [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Mob Rules [Original recording remastered] [Import]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
1996 reissue on Castle of their top 30 1981 album for WarnerBrothers, remastered from the original master tapes & withfaithfully restored artwork. Nine tracks, including 'The MobRules', 'E5150', 'Falling Off The Edge Of The World' and'The Sign Of The Southern Cross'. --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Tracks:

Turn Up The Night
Voodoo
The Sign Of The Southern Cross
E5150
The Mob Rules
Country Girl
Slipping Away
Falling Off The Edge Of The World
Over And Over

Customer Reviews:

Hard To Beat.......2007-05-28

Certainly a staple in any metal/hard rock fan's catalog; A near perfect album on every front, from the powerful, legendary vocal style of Dio, the intricate basswork of Butler, the tasteful yet busy drumming of Appice, and some of the best guitarwork Iommi has done to date. 'Voodoo' has always been my personal favorite here, but every track is highly listenable, inspiring, and what Black Sabbath are all about. Who other than Dio can get away with singing "Bring me your children, they'll burn..." or "You were a fool, but that's cool, it's alright..." with such menace and emotion, as opposed to making those lyrics sound totally laughable? Classic stuff.

Next strike...Still deadly!!!!!.......2007-04-29

This was the album that attracted me to the Dio-fronted Sabbath. At first it seems to follow the blueprint set by Heaven and Hell, being a blend of fast tracks (Turn Up the Night, Mob Rules), ballads (Sign of the Southern Cross, Falling Off the Edge of the World) and midtempo rockers (Slipping Away, Country Girl). Martin Birch again produced this album. Nevertheless, the sound of the album is distinguishably gloomier, than its predecessor's. As founding drummer Bill Ward departed in the middle of the Heaven and Hell tour, ex-Rick Derringer's drummer Vinny Appice was recruited to the drum stool. The album's mood set by the brilliant cover art (Greg Hildebrandt's painting originally called "The Mob Dream") is also different than on Heaven and Hell. Some songs such as Country Girl and Voodoo show bluesy approach reminding of old Sabbath. There is also almost psychedelic bass-based intro to the title track, later used in the live show. The band seems to stick to the proven formula while expanding it on new approaches of the songwriting. Dio-penned lyrics once again are fitting greatly to the music, although this time they seem to be more down to earth. With two albums under their belt, they toured extensively, incorporating many new as well as classic songs in the live set as shown on the Live Evil album. Sadly, as the position of Dio in the band became more established this ultimately led to the clash of egos that ended this lineup a year later. While the original version of Black Sabbath always will be the ultimate one, this incarnation produced great music, and proved to be relevant and influential enough to inspire two eventual stints: the Dehumanizer album and tour and the recent Heaven and Hell 2007 tour.

Mob Rules...five stars...a classic........2007-04-15

"Voodoo", "Over and Over", "Sign of the Southern Cross", "Falling Off the Edge of the World", etc.... From beginning to end, this album rocks. An all-time favorite.

Man...Dio + Sabbath is the best ever....

Masterful follow-up to a revolutionary album........2007-03-28

It is always difficult to follow up masterpieces. Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell album with their new vocalist Ronnie James Dio at the helm shot them right back into stardom, garnering critical acclaim both musically and sales-wise. However, what everyone was curious about was whether Heaven and Hell was going to be a one-off achievement, and if not, how the band would top it without original drummer Bill Ward who had left due to health problems. He was replaced by Vinnie Appice, who put in an unbelievable performance, making Mob Rules the timeless masterpiece it is.

In many ways, particularly its track-listing, Mob Rules tends to mirror its predecessor, and even though both "Turn Up the Night" and "Voodoo" are excellent cuts, they fall slightly short off the mark in comparison to the one-two punch start of Heaven and Hell. However, contrary to popular opinion, I happen to think this album actually surpasses the first Dio-era record, most notably because of its more in-your-face mix treatment (by the legendary Martin Birch) and rawer musical landscape. New drummer Vinnie Appice proves to be an excellent substitute, and his drum fills on this album are among heavy metal's best. The drumming on "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is stunning. Appice never lets go and supplies a strong rhythmic backbone to Iommi's sledgehammer riffage, accentuated by a fuzzed-out keyboard arrangement courtesy of Geoff Nicholls (now listed as a full-time member in the credits). Dio's vocals are among his most diverse, going from innocent, almost whisper-like sections to rousing high registers. No other metal band had written such a dynamic song before 1981, and Iommi's run-out lead simply tears the roof. "The Sign of the Southern Cross" is the greatest Dio-era Sabbath song ever.

On the whole, Geezer Butler serves to thicken Iommi's rhythm parts on the album, but the predominantly dissonant instrumental "E5150" sees weird collection of sounds built around his screeching bass guitar, smothered by sizzling keyboards and eventually darker-than-black guitar effects -- it is a frightening experience. Also, the remarkable interplay of "Slipping Away" has awesome bass lines coming through its addictive chorus, punctuated by yet another mindblowing drum performance. The title track, while great, fails to leave as strong a lasting effect as that of Heaven and Hell, but "Country Girl" is a fantastic mix of powerful vocals and hook-laden rhythms. The slowed-down middle of the the song with beautifully harmonised guitar tracks (excellent production job!) and backing vocals is sublime. And Dio's voice kills.

Unlike the first two songs, Mob Rules closes on a very high point, with the criminally overlooked "Falling Off the Edge of the World", bridging Sabbath's old, doomy side with their new-found, guitar-driven aesthetic. It kicks off with solid doomy riffery sinking the piece deep into pits of hell before launching into a rocking metal anthem, complete with a crazy solo. However, it is with the final track "Over and Over" that Iommi lays down quite possibly his longest lead solo, amidst crashing cymbals and a powerful snare sound (which would later on be copycatted by hundreds of doom metal acts in the late 80's). The funereal main riff of this song is pure bliss, and worth checking out the album alone. No one - I repeat - no one can emulate Iommi's unique riffing style, which made Black Sabbath one of the most important bands on the planet.

In terms of historical significance, Heaven and Hell is still unmatched and remains the band's renaissance. To me, the band, having toured extensively for almost a year, matured to another level in composition and therefore had a better view of honing their sound. Mob Rules is equally satisfying and overall a more consistent disc to these ears. That said, if you've never heard Dio-period Sabbath, get Heaven and Hell first -- you'll have to pick up Mob Rules after hearing it anyway.

MOB RULES RULES!.......2007-03-22

MOB RULES IS DIO'S 2ND ALBUM AND IT'S A
ROCK CLASSIC. THEY DON'T MAKE EM LIKE
THIS ANYMORE AND RARELY THEN BACK THEN.
TITLE TRACK MOB RULES IS A KILLER WITH
SIGN OF THE SOUTHERN CROSS ONE OF THE
HEAVIEST SONGS EVER! MY FAVORITE IS
COUNTY GIRL. GREAT SPOOKY ROCKER. THE
ENTIRE ALBUM MIGHT NO BE AS GOOD AS
HEAVEN AND HELL BUT THEN AGAIN WHAT IS?
SORRY OLD SABBATH FANS DIO WAS BEST!

Average customer rating:

Dio and Sabbath At Their Finest!!!
You Snooze, You Lose! But There STILL Is Hope....
What Live-Evil should have been
I'm sure its a great disc

Live At Hammersmith Odeon
Black Sabbath , Dio , and Ronnie James Dio
Manufacturer: Rhino Handmade
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000Q8QDE8

Product Description

Released just weeks after The Dio Years, this single-disc Rhino Handmade edition of the original double LP, Live At Hammersmith Odeon, features Dio, Iommi, Butler and Appice getting hot one December night in London during Sabbath's 1981 tour for Mob Rules. Previously unreleased, the concert spotlights Sabbath as they storm through 14 of the Dio-era's best, including "Neon Knights," "Heaven And Hell," "Children Of The Sea" and "Country Girl." The band also performs several pre-Dio classics including "Paranoid," "Children Of The Grave" and a white-hot version of "War Pigs." Live At Hammersmith Odeon is available as an individually numbered limited edition of 5,000 copies. Live At Hammersmith Odeon completely sold out on the day of release. In the 9 years of Rhino Handmade, this is the quickest a title has ever sold out.

Customer Reviews:

Dio and Sabbath At Their Finest!!!.......2007-06-25

I am one of the lucky 5000 who own this disc and I am happy that I do. I agree with one of the reviewers that this disc is what LIVE EVIL should have been. The track listing is almost the same except that "Country Girl replaces "Sign of the Southern Cross" and "Fluff" is omitted. Dio and the band sound great and I am very HAPPY to own this disc. I do not want to brag but I am glad that this is a collectors item and it is definitely worth owning!

You Snooze, You Lose! But There STILL Is Hope...........2007-05-24

"Black Sabbath Live At Hammersmith Odeon" is quite a nice little treat to commemorate the release of Black Sabbath's latest Best-Of CD "The Dio Years" as well as the 2007 World Tour featuring the classic Dio/Iommi/Butler/Appice line-up as Heaven And Hell. Recorded during the 1981 Mob Rules tour, this recording takes the best versions of the performed songs from 3 out of the 4 Hammersmith Odeon sold-out concerts (between December 31st, 1981 through January 2nd, 1982) and compiles them seamlessly as one glorious presentation.

Even though this was released AND sold-out as a numbered limited edition of 5000 copies only on May 1st 2007, it was available for pre-sale at Rhino Handmade since early April 2007, and did NOT go outta print till it's first official release day, so the "snooze, you lose" motto sorta applies here. But more on that later, let's get to the actual disc.

Man, this CD is more than I ever coulda hoped for a huge life-long Black Sabbath fan like myself. I probably didn't even have this recording before as a bootleg (I don't recognize it audio-wise). Rhino majorly cleaned up this recording. True true soundboard, remastered excellently, this thing deserves to be in stores next to Live Evil! In fact, it might even be better than Live Evil....well maybe that's pushing it, but it's way up there. Thing's long too (79:52)! Those rare live tracks, Country Girl, Slipping Away, as well as Iommi's shortened solo on this make it so worthwhile. Even Dio on this one says "P**S OFF, I'm gonna burn in Hell with all of you!" instead of the usual "Go Away, I'm gonna burn in Hell...". I've got a lot of Heaven And Hell live versions with Dio & he never said it like THAT before! Cool! I do wish they did the entire "Slipping Away", instead of going to the drum solo in the middle. That part where Tony & Geezer trade licks on the studio version is great live, I have a boot of them doing it all somewhere, but not on here like that. It's just too bad they stopped doing "Sweet Leaf" live by this time too, that would have been the cherry on top. Oh well, can't have it all.

Concerning though the new battle between Black Sabbath fans "Which Is Better:Hammersmith or Live Evil?", truthfully "Live At The Hammersmith Odeon" is a great "addition" to any Sabbhead's library, but it's not as "essential" as Live Evil. First off, Live Evil is classic due to it's 25 year old existence this December (wow, has it been that long!). If Hammersmith came out in 1982, then Live Evil in 2007, maybe. But that's not the case. Second, Live Evil is a fuller representation of a complete Black Sabbath concert, LATHO is not. Lemme explain. When Castle Communications reissued/remastered Live Evil in 1996, they edited out things like Ronnie banter, crowd noise, and some of Tony's solo to make it fit on ONE disc, instead of the original two. LATHO was done in the same way. Don't believe me, think about it, how long is the crowd applause in between the tracks....it's two or three seconds each...that's not realistic. Ya mean Ronnie didn't talk to the audience at that show between songs? C'mon. And Iommi didn't do a full blown eight minute plus solo either? Sure they did, Rhino Handmade just edited it out from the master to make it fit on one disc, while Live Evil was always meant to be a two record/two CD release, hence as much filler as possible resulting in a complete show, solos, banter, crowd, and all. But don't get me wrong, LATHO has some of the best editing I've EVER heard on a live recording! But the editing is quite apparent to fans like me with a ton of boots in our collections already. But trust me, in a way it's sorta nice to get to the point with this recording, compared to times when I have to wait 30 seconds to get to the next song on Live Evil (LATHO's editing is way better than what Sanctuary Records did on Disc Two of Sabbath's Past Lives CD), but the average fan will never notice, but to most of us it's apparent pretty early on yet acceptable due to the quality it was done here.

Finally, Live Evil was recorded in the intent of a worldwide audio release, LATHO was not. It's more as a library recording for the band and management. Even though the remaster job on LATHO is excellent, you can tell that the instruments weren't mic'ed for that purpose. Also, some parts of LATHO wouldn't cut it for a major/first live representation of a band like Sabbath. The feedback during N.I.B., the "trying to get the girl in the front row to sing Heaven And Hell and failing", and other bits like that show this is basically for collectors only, hence why it's on Rhino Handmade at only 5000 copies and not on Rhino's main label at your local store in millions.

But all this shouldn't be stopping you from trying to find a copy, but now it's gonna be a little harder and more expensive to do so. Thanks to Amazon's "New & Used" section or perhaps EBay, this album is still listed for purchase by independent sellers who knew this would sell-out fast, so if you really want it, thank these people for offering it to ya still, even if their prices are somewhat, well, insane. But who knows, since this release was Rhino Handmade's quickest selling out title in their history, maybe it will be re-released in that dreamed about "Black Box II" CD Box Set we Sabbath fans have been demanding. Stranger things have happened....especially to Sabbath! Thanks for reading!

P.S.: If you look at the images section on the page's above left side, you'll see my CD booklet back cover explaining the position of the actual numbering on each disc created. The notes explain how you found it and where. Enjoy and thanks again!

What Live-Evil should have been.......2007-05-21

This limited edition disc was recorded at a series of shows at London's Hammersmith Odeon in December 1981 and January of 1982.A few months ago I looked up the Rhino Records website for information about the Dio Years disc and signed up to purchase this disc for $19.99 plus $7.00 s/h. Boy, was I glad I did.This is the recording that should have been released instead of the poorly mixed "Live Evil" back in 1982.
The thing that jumps out at you is the power and volume of Vinnie Appice's drumming.I saw the Mob Rules tour in L.A. in 1982 and Appice's drums were so loud I could feel the bass drum in my bone marrow.
This starts out with a kickass version of "Neon Knights" with Tony Iommi's excellent guitar work.
"N.I.B" is next. I dont really like Dio's interpretation of the old Ozzy numbers.His endless oohing and aahing during Iommi's leads gets on my nerves. When Iommi is shredding you don't need Dio constantly crooning "my, my, my" over the solo.As far as the straight lyric style of the song itself, it just doesn't need such melodramatics.
"Children Of The Sea". Very good version as Dio sounds strong and the band hammers it out.Appice's drums are so awesome. He had to have been at the top of his game on this tour.
"Country Girl". Never heard this one live before as they had eliminated it from the set by the time I saw them.Sounds bassically the same as the studio version except for a slightly different guitar solo.
"Black Sabbath". This is ,in my opinion, the Ozzy era song that Dio sounded best on.He kept the melodramatics to a minimum and didn't try to change it. Iommi's guitar intro has a creepy feel to it and he shreds on the solo at the end.
"War Pigs". This is an awesome version if you can get past Dio's melodramatics during the opening chords. Geezer Butler's Bass and Appice's drums really drive this song home. Iommi plays a completely different solo on the lead break than the studio version.Dio sounds weird on it but he is belting it out at full power.
'Slipping Away". Quick vehicle for Appice's edited drum solo.
"Iron Man". Played at sludge speed with Appice's fills and rolls sounding great.Iommi's riff never sounded heavier.Dio sounds alright but I get the feeling he didn't really like this song that much.
"The Mob Rules". Excellent high energy version. Iommi really rips on this.
"Heaven and Hell". Album and tour's showcase.Sounds edited due to time constraints.Excellent guitar solo by Iommi ina jazzy vein.Dio sound great but the audience participation part sounds weak due to the fact that the crowd noise is so low. Soundboard recording, no doubt.
"Paranoid". Necessary song I guess. Unfortunately for Dio, it would be like somebody other than Robert Plant singing Stairway To Heaven. He does his best but he just engages in needless melodramatics when he should just sing the tune.Don't get me wrong, Istill like it. You just can't ignore the inevitable comparisons.
"Children of the Grave". Real good version as Iommi's bone crunching riff destroys everything in its way.Dio sounds good on this one as he presents a straightforward delivery.
All in all a great recording capturing this line up at the peak of its powers.All audience banter and song introductions are not present due to time constraints which is not a bad thing bercause Dio was not a "I'm a regular guy, party animal dude just like you" kind of performer anyway.His song introductions were always kept short and dignified. The opposite of Ozzy.
It's a shame that only 5000 of these discs are in print because it would probably sell a lot more than that. I'm just glad I got one.

I'm sure its a great disc.......2007-05-08

But thanks to the jerks at Rhino Handmade I'll never own it. They only made 5,000 copies and won't press anymore. This disc now goes for 90 dollars on average on Ebay which i refuse to pay. I suggest writing Rhino Handmade on their website and tell them how screwed up they are.

Average customer rating:

Mob Rules the Melodic Metal World
This Mob-THEY RULE....

Hollowed Be Thy Name
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Steamhammer Us [Spv]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Progressive Metal | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

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Among The Gods
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ASIN: B00006I62N
Release Date: 2002-10-15

Tracks:

Hollowed Be Thy Name
The Speed Of Life
(In The Land Of) Wind And Rain
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How The Gypsy Was Born
All Above The Atmosphere
Lord Of Madness
A.D.C.O.E.
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Album Description

2002 album features guest musicians Peavy Wagner (Rage) and Roland Grapow (Ex-Helloween). Steamhammer.

Customer Reviews:

Mob Rules the Melodic Metal World.......2003-11-14

Mob Rules is a German sextet consisting of Klaus Dirks on vocals, Matthias Mineur and Oliver Fuhlhage on guitar, Sascha Onnen on keyboards, Arved Mannott and Thorsten Plorin on bass. I suppose if I was going to compare Mob Rules to any band it would have to be Styx. Dirk's voice is like a cross between Dennis De Young and Tommy Shaw and the whole band harmonizes very nicely, thank you. Additionally the music has that Styx feel and let me tell you the music is wonderful.

I had heard of Mob Rules almost a year ago. I had heard they were a Power Metal and that they were really good. Let me tell you, there are a lot of Power metal bands that are really, really good, so I filed Mob Rules away in my memory bank for future recall.

Well, about three months ago I decided to pop for their debut album, Savage Land. First of all it's not Power Metal, in fact it's barely heavy metal, in fact it's really Melodic Metal with so many hooks that you could hang a curtain. I'll tell you what, I popped my arm out of the socket patting myself on the back. I sometimes buy albums strictly on a hunch, having never heard them and I'll admit I've gotten some stinkers but generally my hunches pay off and when they do it's like hitting a big pot in poker. I've probably written a forth of my reviews on such albums.

Ok, let's move on, Savage Land was a winner so it stood to reason that their latest album, Hallowed be thy Name would be a winner too and it is, in spades, a royal flush!

Ok, so it's not you're kind of music but how do you know? If you've ever liked anything by Styx, Triumph, Asia, Megadeth, Shadow Gallery or even Bon Jovi, this could be for you. I am reminded of the saying, You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink. Well Mob Rules is the water and YOU are the horse. If you don't drink, you're only part horse.

Similar Bands:

Sonata Arctica, Edguy, Shadow Gallery, Styx, Kamelot

This Mob-THEY RULE...........2002-11-27

I just purchased the brand new MOB RULES Disc called Hallowed Be Thy Name.If you like melodic metal,this is a treat.These guys are good.There is alot of bands out there that you never here about,but thanks to the internet,we can find good bands like this.This is definatly a band to hear.If only we could see them live.This is good, BUY IT.................

Average customer rating:

"The place where your dreams are rising"
This Mob Rules !!
Mob!!! Really?
Amazon

Ethnolution A.D.
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Steamhammer Us [Spv]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Release Date: 2007-02-20

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Ethnolution A.D.
Veil Of Death
The Last Farewell
Day And A Lifetime
River Of Pain
Ain't The One
New Horizon
With Sparrows
Better Morning

Album Description

Germany's Mob Rules were formed in 1994 with the mission to become a true power within the growing melodic power metal scene. Mission accomplished, as the band has since released several high-quality albums and have grown in popularity with each and every project undertaken. While touring across Europe numerous times has earned them the respect of the metal world, America holds its greatest potential for Mob Rules, especially given the current success of band such as Dragonforce and the career-rekindling of bands like Iron Maiden.

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.

The time for Mob Rules is now!

Customer Reviews:

"The place where your dreams are rising".......2007-07-21

4.5 stars. I am pleased to announce my presence as a brand new fan of Mob Rules. After listening to this exemplarly dose of Melodic Power Metal for the first time I immediately checked out their back catalog and bought two more albums. While I'm not in awe of the album, as a 5-star rating would suggest, I am extremely pleased with the strong songwriting, superb production value, and a fine lead vocal performance. Power Metal, in particular, must have a good lead singer to be pulled off properly. The rest of the band have created a magnificent balance of fluid arrangements where they do indeed sound like a clockwork machine of professionalism personified. All this coated with a shimmering production sheen and I was instantly sold. A few speedier songs scattered about would have elevated the album to another level. As it stands, most of the songs here are mid-tempo Melodic Power Metal spiced with flashes of brilliance. Highly recommended.

This Mob Rules !!.......2007-07-12

I just heard of this band in 2006. I bought Among The Gods and loved it. This one is a close second but a little mellower. They play German power metal with quality keyboards and catchy melodies. That's not to say they are a lightweight band. Rather they mix it up with some heavy power songs and some more melodic ballads. Their compositions are well thought out and arranged. The singer has a good voice with plenty of range. Give them a try if you like Masterplan,Silent Force,Jorn Lande,or melodic metal in general.

Mob!!! Really?.......2007-06-25

I had always steered clear of Mob Rules because I thought that with a name like that they were a bunch of thugs hacking away at their instruments. Then I saw the cover for Etholution A.D. and decided to give them a chance. Yes, I do sometimes buy CDs on an impulse if I like the artwork. Don't laugh. I got some of my best albums that way, admittedly along with a few about which the less said, the better. Anyway, once home I started listening with clenched teeth, ready for the worst. I needn't have worried. This is delightful, inventive melodic metal with symphonic touches, and with the healthy energy of power metal. This is music that grows on you. I find myself going back to it over and over again. Clearly these guys know what they're doing. The singer's voice is a bit weak in the upper range and he strains it, but that's the only fault in a captivating album. With music like this Mob Rules ought to call themselves something with gardens or rivers in it. That way they'd have a larger fan base.

Amazon.......2007-06-11

I would like to listen to more samples so I can then buy this album and rate it but, due to Amazons pathetic sample of only the opening track; how does one even get an idea of what the CD contains??

Average customer rating:

Heavy Metal Voodoo
Mob Rules - Another Necessary Metal Album To Own
Better Than Heaven and Hell!!!
A solid follow-up
Not as good as Heaven And Hell, but still excellent

The Mob Rules
Black Sabbath
Manufacturer: Sanctuary UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Heaven And Hell
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ASIN: B0002XMF4Y
Release Date: 2004-11-01

Tracks:

Turn Up the Night
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Sign of the Southern Cross
E5150
Mob Rules
Country Girl
Slipping Away
Falling off the Edge of the World
Over and Over

Album Description

1996 reissue on Castle of their top 30 1981 album for WarnerBrothers, remastered from the original master tapes & withfaithfully restored artwork. Nine tracks, including 'The MobRules', 'E5150', 'Falling Off The Edge Of The World' and'The Sign Of The Southern Cross'.

Album Details

Digitally Remastered Version of Black Sab's 1981 Studio Album. Rereleased in 1996; Includes Original Album Notes, Images and Track Sequence. Ronnie James Dio Handles the Lead Vocals on all Tracks Including 'sign of the Southern Cross', 'voodoo' and Six More. 'e5150' is a Sinister, Synth-driven Instrumental. Hindsight Essay by Hugh Gilmour.

Customer Reviews:

Heavy Metal Voodoo.......2006-06-22

It was 1981 and Dio had already proven himself a fine replacement for Ozzy with 'Heaven and Hell' ( Ozzy who? ) The old-school Sabbath fans who,at first,dismissed Dio as a second-rate fill-in, quickly changed their tune. 'Mob Rules' was then released and it continued turning on a younger fan base to the mighty Sabbath sound. With an evil Satanic album cover and creepy songs like 'Sign of the Southern Cross' and 'Voodoo', this album spawned another huge hit for Sabbath. Is it as good or better than 'Heaven and Hell'? That's a tough question. It's always hard to follow-up a 'perfect album.' ( Dio's own words )
'E-5150', a bizarre synthesized instrumental blows away Van Halen's wimp-rock album with the same name. The title track screams into rock history and burns a hole into your memory of this amazing and twisted album. Some fans say if you look real close at the bottom of the vinyl album art, you can see "Ozzy" written in blood! Anything is possible listening to this pounding, unrelenting and classic heavy metal album. What's different about this one? Well, that's easy: Vinnie Appice is the new drummer ( replacing Bill Ward, who quit after losing both of his parents in a short ammount of time) and he's amazing. Returning as Producer is Martin Birch. Recorded in L.A. at the Record Plant. ( This album does have a cool L.A. feel to it, or maybe that was just the joint I was smoking at the time) Iommi's riffs are one-of-a-kind and throw you back as each song hits the speakers. This UK import has outstanding liner notes and color photos from the Mob Rules Tour. Also, the remastered sound makes the vinyl sound like a trash can. This, and 'Heaven and Hell' are must-haves for the true Sabbath or Dio fan.

Mob Rules - Another Necessary Metal Album To Own.......2005-10-11

This landmark album by Black Sabbath is the very peak of their collaboration with legendary singer Ronnie James Dio. While "Heaven and Hell" is an excellent album for many reasons, I've always seen it as the album where Sabbath worked Dio into the mix and found a new sound post-Ozzy. On "Mob Rules" we get a Sabbath that has fully reinvented itself for the 80's with an album that sets a standard that the next generation of metal bands would have to gauge themselves against.

Despite my love of Bill Ward's work with Sabbath, drummer Vinny Appice is a fitting replacement on this album. His drumming style seems to bring out the very best basswork from Geezer Butler and the heaviest riffs from guitarist Tony Iommi. Under the expert hand of legendary producer Martin Birch, Black Sabbath's power and technical prowess are underlined on "Mob Rules," especially on such tracks as "Falling Off The Edge of the World," "Slipping Away" and the upbeat radio hit "Turn Up The Night." There isn't a bad track on this album, and Dio's lyrical musings are actually quite good, even when put up against the canon of Geezer's lyrics during the Ozzy years.

If you like hard rock or heavy metal, "Mob Rules" is a necessary addition to your album collection. Make sure you pick up the re-mastered edition. And get yourself a copy of the animated stoner rocker movie Heavy Metal so you can see the songs "E5150" and "Mob Rules" used very effectively as part of the soundtrack.

Better Than Heaven and Hell!!!.......2005-09-05

Heavier and darker than Heaven and Hell, and generally a better album. Amazing musicianship by the guys as well as stellar production by Martin Birch, metal's best producer. Buy it now or forever be sad.

A solid follow-up.......2005-02-17

This isn't quite Heaven and Hell, but it's still worth checking out.
Turn Up The Night, Voodoo, Sign of the Southern Cross and Falling Off The Edge Of The World are all as strong as anything of H&H.
The real dud here is the E5150/Mob Rules combo. The version of Mob Rules on the Heavy Metal soundtrack is 100 times better. It has a greater energy than this version. The production sucks the life right out of this one.
Still, the rest of the material succeeds.....

Not as good as Heaven And Hell, but still excellent.......2004-05-27

Mob Rules (1981.) Black Sabbath's tenth album.

Many fans of Black Sabbath, and possibly the band members themselves, must have thought that Ozzy's departing the band would have ruined them for sure. Obviously, many fans instantly rejected the incarnations the band that lacked Ozzy. But those fans of the band who had open minds quickly discovered that Ronnie James Dio was a great vocalist, and that he was every bit as talented as Ozzy was - a point he beautifully demonstrated in his last band, Rainbow, and on his first album with Sabbath, Heaven And Hell. For the second album with Dio, drummer Bill Ward left the band. He was replaced by new drummer Vinnie Appice (brother of the legendary Carmine Appice, of Vanilla Fudge and Cactus fame.) How does the band's second effort with Dio, Mob Rules, measure up? Read on and find out.

Is Mob Rules as good as Heaven And Hell? Not in my eyes, although there are many fans of the band that would beg to differ. I think that this is an EXCELLENT album, but Heaven And Hell is a masterpiece of unparalleled quality. Still, Mob Rules is no slouch in the quality department. Turn Up The Night is the kind of fast-paced hard rock you'd expect Ronnie James Dio to shell out. In all his years of music, Dio has proven that he can do songs like this better than just about everyone else out there. He'd continue to prove this point tirelessly in his solo career, which was just around the corner. Another excellent rocker present is Voodoo, on which Tony Iommi shells out some damn fine riffs - but would you expect anything less from this guy? But, by far, the masterpiece of this album is the lengthy and melodic Sign Of The Southern Cross. With their reputation as the "first real metal band", it's not surprising that fans overlook the stuff that isn't as heavy. And that's a real shame. I pity the people that overlook this stuff; it's some of the band's best material. And, of course, who could overlook the awesome title track? The title track on a Sabbath album is, more often than not, one of its best tracks of all, and on Mob Rules, there's no exception to the rule. You may be wondering why I only gave the album four stars instead of five. The answer is simple. Some of the songs just fall below Sabbath's usual standard. For example, E5150 is just weird electronic stuff - WAY out of character for Sabbath. Likewise, the last few tracks on the album, while good, aren't up to the quality of some of the masterpieces the band has released over the years. In the end this is a solid album, though.

THE TEXT IN THIS PARAGRAPH REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO THE WARNER BROS. AMERICAN REISSUE OF THE ALBUM. Warner Bros. did a fine job remastering and rereleasing the Black Sabbath catalogue, as did they several other artists. Unfortunately, they didn't really do anything outside of improving the sound quality. You don't get expanded liner notes, interviews, bonus tracks, or anything. It's kind of a disappointment, but it doesn't change my views on the album itself.

No, Mob Rules isn't as good as Heaven And Hell. But, of course, what is? Through and through, though, this is a solid album. Following its release, the band would release a live album entitled Live Evil, but a dispute over its mixing would lead to Ronnie James Dio and Vinnie Appice leaving the band to start up Dio's solo band. Drummer Bill Ward would return, and the band would recruit new vocalist Ian Gillan of Deep Purple fame. Should you buy Mob Rules? For lack of a better word, yes.

Temple of Two Suns
Average customer rating:

A welcome change from most other power metal!

not special at all

Temple of Two Suns
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Lmp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Savage Land

Hollowed Be Thy Name

Among The Gods

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Heart & Anger

ASIN: B000051XV1
Release Date: 2000-12-12

Tracks:

The Temple Fanfare
Pilot Of Earth
Outer Space
Celebration Day (Sun Serenade Opus I)
Flag Of Life (Sun Serenade Opus II)
Unknown Man
Hold On
Evolution's Falling
Inside The Fire
Eyes Of All Young
Hold On (Reprise)

Customer Reviews:

A welcome change from most other power metal!.......2002-10-28

Mob Rules makes some very interesting music. They are not so caught up in the speedy runs, unintelligible lyrics, and hyper-drumming like most other German power metal merchants. Most of their second studio album is mid-paced and melodic. Vocals are very smooth (no screeching or histrionics) and the guitar/keyboard interplay is quite satisfying. Songs are thoughtful and well-crafted! Mob rules clearly knows how to create a higher, self-aware form of heavy music! -David Newman

not special at all.......2001-04-04

This band is a copy of all other bad, generic, power metal. I really don't think this band is good at all.

Average customer rating:

Among The Gods
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Steamhammer
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B0001XTJ4E
Release Date: 2004-05-18

Tracks:

Black Rain
Hydrophobia
Invitation Time
The Miracle Dancer
Among The Gods
New World Symphony
Ship Of Fools
Seven Seas
Meet You In Heaven
Arabia

Tracks:

Black Rain (Video 2004)
Black Rain (Video: Director's Cut 2004)
End Of All Days (Wacken Road Show 2003)
Battlefield Control (Unreleased 2002)
All In A Time (Unreleased Demo 1999)
When I Bleed (Savatage cover)
Interviews
Making Of

Album Description

Four regular albums in five years, tours with Savatage, Helloween, Rage, Company of Snakes, Ivory Tower, the Wacken Road Show 2003 plus countless gigs with Rhapsody, Doro, Scorpions, Symphony X and Silent Force in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, France, Austria and Switzerland: Mob Rules are currently one of Europe's most industrious metal acts. Their current release, Among The Gods, proves once more that their greatest strengths lie in their constancy and determination - after all the band still operate in their original line-up. A rare exception, not only in our fast-moving times in general, but particularly in the metal genre, which has frequently been referred to as a "travelling circus with an ever-changing line-up". Vocalist Klaus Dirks hits the nail on the head when he says: "Others only preach the fairytale of loyalty and honesty, we actually live this philosophy". Special Limited Edition comes with enhanced bonus disc featuring videos, live footage, unreleased tracks, interviews and the Making Of.

Album Description

Limited edition of the progressive metal act's 2004 album includes a bonus disc with six tracks, 'Black Rain' (video clip 2004, director's cut video clip 2004), 'End Of All Days' (video clip Wacken Road Show 2003), 'Battlefield Control' (unreleased outtak

Average customer rating:

Awesome metal band

Among The Gods
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Steamhammer
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Hollowed Be Thy Name
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Godspeed

ASIN: B00020QZN4
Release Date: 2004-05-24

Tracks:

Black Rain
Hydrophobia
Invitation Time
The Miracle Dancer
Among The Gods
New World Symphony
Ship Of Fools
Seven Seas
Meet You In Heaven
Arabia

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

Awesome metal band.......2004-09-09

The first time i saw the name of these band i was't interested because i thought a band with this name must sound terrible. But man i was so wrong these band is amazing one of my alltime favorite bands the singer has a super beautiful voice and the songs are so great "Black rain" is one of my alltime favorite songs and you can watch the amazing "video" at their web site. Olso their new cd is amazing..If your looking for a great power metal band check these band..

Average customer rating:

Good starter album.
power metal at it's finest
Mob Rules!

Savage Land
Mob Rules
Manufacturer: Lmp
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Temple of Two Suns
Hollowed Be Thy Name
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ASIN: B00004C4NH
Release Date: 2000-02-22

Tracks:

Prologue
Insurgeria
Rain Song
Hold Back The Light
Secret Signs
Savage Land Part I (Strangers In Time)
Savage Land Part II (Pianista)
Savage Land Part III (No Reason Why)
Coast To Coast
Blaze Of First Warning
Pray For Sunlight
Down In Nowhere Land
End Of All Days

Customer Reviews:

Good starter album........2003-01-08

THis is a really good debut for Mob Rules. They're incredibly melodic, these guys are great. I first found out about them, and thought they were some sort of Black sabbath knock off, then i heard Secret Signs and Rain Song,and i knew these guys were serious. They're probably the most melodic band i've heard in a long time. It's incredible, the chorus to The Rain Song and some of the other stuff, like Down In Nowhere Land is great too, this is a really solid disc, you should buy it if you like the melodic end of metal music. By the way, check out their newest one Hollowed Be Thy Name, (Once again, you think 'name stealing!' but then once you hear it, it's proof these guys are great original artists)

power metal at it's finest.......2001-03-11

This album is one of the best i've ever heard. The riffs are great, and the choruses rock. If you like melodic power metal then this is a great album to get. My favorite song is Rain Song. I hope this review helps.

Mob Rules!.......2000-04-08

a great album. if you like powermetal, this album is for you!

Average customer rating:

Just another sabbath tribute in my book, I just don't think its that spectacular
Melissa ROCKS!!! Does Ozzy better than Ozzy!!!
Good performances, but too much of a carbon copy.
Melissa Auf der Maur Rules!
Awesome

Live in Los Angeles
Hand of Doom
Manufacturer: Idaho Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Auf der Maur
United Abominations
Libertad
Era Vulgaris
WKRP in Cincinnati - The Complete First Season

ASIN: B00006FSUI
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Album Description

Perhaps the most high-powered tribute band in the history of rock, Hand of Doom is the supergroup side project of Melissa Auf Der Maur (Auf De Maur, Hole, Smashing Pumpkins). Formed in homage to the mighty Black Sabbath, Hand of Doom (which features Auf Der Maur doing her first real turn on lead vocals) recorded their debut live on LA's Sunset Strip during now-legendary shows at the Whisky, Troubadour and Spaceland.

Hand of Doom gives their own high-energy spin to such Sabbath milestones as "Paranoid" and "War Pigs," while adding contemporary touches like turntables, a DJ and - in the role of Ronnie James Dio - guest lead vocals by Nick Oliveri of Queens of the Stone Age!

Customer Reviews:

Just another sabbath tribute in my book, I just don't think its that spectacular.......2006-10-20

I myst be in the minority on this CD, but I did not think it was anything special. I picked it up about 4 years ago when it came out, seeing Jack osbourne's comments on the cover thinking, hey, it's cheep and it might be good. Well, it's ok, but nothing to write home about. Yes, It's unique in the fact that a female, Mellisa Auf der Mauer does the vocals, which is cool, but I don't think its anything spectacular. I think the mastering makes it sound a bit rough, but otherwise, their unique vocals, and definitely are not Ozzy or anything close. The band sounds like it lacks something as well, I Think it may be the heaviness of the bass or the distortion on guitar is less, or maybe lighter strings, but it just didn't carry the heaviness that strikes me as sabbath, again, that could be the mastering as well. Prior reviewer's seem to give this group more credit in their tribute music than Toni Iommi for writing it, and the subsequent groups that Were labeled "black sabbath" after ozzy left. The live albums they put out with Dio and Tony Martin on vocals were as good as this and just a intense, but had the backing of Toni Iommi. I wouldn't go out of my way to purchace this CD, but the used price is nice here on Amazon, and it is a better tribute than many of the others. So if you collect tributes, this may be one for you.

Melissa ROCKS!!! Does Ozzy better than Ozzy!!!.......2004-11-08

I am not a huge fan of Black Sabbath by any stretch, but I am a huge fan of good metal done well. Melissa and company completely deliver, and I am impressed how these songs are made "fresh" after hearing the "tired" sounding original versions by Ozzy & co. I think that Melissa's performance alone makes this cd worth while, even though the band's performance is definately up to par. She keeps the Ozzy "schtik" up throughout, and it makes for an interesting listen. The set list granted is not very adventurous (I personally miss "Sweet Leaf" and "Sabbra Cadabbra"), but the only sub-standard moment is "The Mob Rules" towards the end, the one song where Melissa is nowhere to be found. Yes, I am a big fan of Melissa Auf Der Maur's work (Hole, live Smashing Pumpkins, and solo cd), this is absolutely no low point of hopefully a very long career! Cheers and "flash the metal" proudly while playing this cd loud!!!

Good performances, but too much of a carbon copy........2004-05-01

The recording is good, the instrumental players are skilled, and Melissa Auf der Maur's vocal performance contains enough attitude to compensate for its shaky pitch and lack of range.

So what's the problem? Like so many others (even the ever-inventive Faith No More) who have covered Black Sabbath songs, Hand of Doom has stayed entirely too true to the original arrangements and sounds. Black Sabbath is the kind of band that holds a mystical power over its acolytes and it's not surprising that musicians who love the band have a preconceived notion of how these songs should sound. But the tracks on Hand of Doom, though I enjoyed them, sound so close to the originals that I wondered why I didn't just put on the original band. Auf der Maur's female vocals make them minutely different, but I definitely wish Hand of Doom would have been more inventive and done different things with these iconic songs.

And another thing: Do we need to hear yet more renditions of "War Pigs", "Iron Man" and "Paranoid", three of the most legendary (and therefore most tired) songs in the metal canon? The track selection on this EP shows a lack of adventurousness, something Black Sabbath never lost sight of. I would have loved to hear less obvious cover choices such as "Megalomania", "Killing Yourself to Live", "Am I Going Insane (Radio)", "Supernaut", "Zero the Hero", "Trashed", "The Wizard", and "Cornucopia". Instead, we get the three staples from the Paranoid album, songs I wouldn't mind never hearing covered ever again.

Hand of Doom is not bad as music; it's just at a loss for something to say. Hearing a completely faithful cover band may be enjoyable as a live experience, but a record demands more. Why perform and record songs in exactly the same way as they've been done, and done quite well, 30 years ago? I'd definitely recommend Melissa Auf der Maur's idiosyncratic solo record in lieu of Hand of Doom.

Melissa Auf der Maur Rules!.......2004-02-17

The band sounds so much like original Sabbath it's scarey (the bulk of the material is from the Paranoid album); they've got the chops down to a tee. Just way too cool. Add the sexy scowl of Melissa Auf der Maur and you have a near masterpiece. Her vocals on top of this killer band can not be described by mere words. This is a must have for ANY Sabbath or metal fan.

Awesome.......2002-09-29

This is harcore stuff. Awesome vocals and extreme guitar playing. This CD is better than Sabbath's original stuff! This band is for real!

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