Rich’s Rapidfire Recommendations – bite-sized metal morsels to let you know about albums that have grabbed Rich Davenport by the ears, that we hope you’ll enjoy too! ROCK ON!

Band: MOB RULES
Album: Timekeeper – 20th Anniversary Box
Release date: October 10th, 2014
Label: SPV / Steamhammer

See the complete tracklisting below.

MOB RULES – Timekeeper – 20th Anniversary Box (SPV Records): “Timekeeper” is an object lesson in how to put together a first-class box set. To mark their 20th anniversary, Mob Rules have issued a comprehensive package that not only has plenty of new musical and visual delights for die-hard fans who already have all their albums, but also offers a perfect time capsule for anyone who hasn’t yet discovered the band. And if you enjoy classic-era Iron Maiden, Queensryche and Dio, then this set has the potential to rock your world! Mob Rules manage to distil their influences into an individual identity that’s heavy, tuneful, and possessed of world class levels of vocal and instrumental prowess. “Timekeeper” contains a new single, “My Kingdom Come”, a straight-up “best of” disc, and then another “Mob Rules & Friends” disc of additional songs from their catalogue, re-cut with guest spots from a cast of Metal heavyweights including Udo Dirkschneider (U.D.O.), Herman Frank (Panzer, ex Accept), Amanda Somerville, Rage, Axxis, and more, and it’s a clear testament to the band’s consistent ability to write great material that not one song is repeated over the course of these two cds. They also pay tribute to a duo of legendary bands who inspired them, with covers of UFOs “Lights Out” and Rainbow’s “Run with the Wolf”, making a fine job of this pair of classics.

There’s also a DVD, “Mob Rules Over America”, which captures the band’s set at the Progpower USA festival in 2011, and it shows that they’re a live act well worth catching in the flesh. The energetic show is filmed by multiple cameras, and again “quality” is the word that springs to mind, both in relation to the band’s performance, and to the way it’s been recorded and edited for this release. The DVD also has 5 promo clips, and a bonus section called “The Roadmob Bootlegs”, with a mix of camcorder footage of songs, tour travelogue segments, and recording session outtakes, plus more pro-shot material from performances dating back to 2004. An extensive, full-colour booklet tops things off, providing a comprehensive account of the Mob Rules saga to date. If all of the above wasn’t enough, “Timekeeper” is available at a bargain price. Very highly recommended!

More information at http://www.mobrules.de

*TIMEKEEPER -TRACKLISTING*

*DISC 1: THE BEST*

Temple Fanfare
Pilot of Earth
Black Rain
Cannibal Nation
Astral Hand
Close My Eyes
Dead Man`s Face
Among The Gods
In The Land Of Wind And Rain
Hollowed Be Thy Name
Last Farewell
Ice And Fire
Lord Of Madness (Live)
With Sparrows
Rain Song (Live)

*DISC 2: FRIENDS*

Insurgeria (new recording, w/ Udo Dirkschneider & Marco Wriedt)
Celebration Day (new recording, w/ Bernhard Weiß)
Lights Out (new recording, w/ Peter Knorn)
End Of All Days (new recording, w/ Amanda Somerville & Corvin Bahn)
Broken (new Track)
All Above The Atmosphere (new recording, w/ Herbie Langhans & Herman Frank)
Coast To Coast (new recording, w/ Michael Ehré, Stephan Lill & Chity Somapala)
How The Gypsy Was Born (remastered, w/ Peavy Wagner)
Run With The Wolf (new recording, w/ Sascha Paeth)
My Kingdom Come (new Track, Orchestral Version, w/ Corvin Bahn)

*DISC 3: SINGLE *

My Kingdom Come (new Track)
Meet You In Heaven (Live at Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven, 2004, prev. unreleased)

*DISC 4: DVD *

Children Of The Flames
Trial By Fire
Astral Hand
Unholy War
Ashes To Ashes
Fuel To The Fire
Veil Of Death
Last Farewell
In The Land Of Wind And Rain
Black Rain
Hollowed Be Thy Name

*The Official Videos:*

1. Lost
2. Ice and Fire
3. Astral Hand
4. Last Farewell
5. Black Rain

*Bonus:*

*- The Roadmob Bootlegs:*

1.)    Tele Box Fool – Live @ Rockfabrik Nuremberg (2013)
2.)    Ethnolution Tour „The Scandinavian Chapter“ (2007)
3.)    The Magic Circle Files (2007)
4.)    The Glance Of Fame (unofficial Clip)
5.)    Cannibal Nation Drumrecording Outtakes
6.)    Invitation Time (Live @ Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven, 2004)
7.)    Meet You In Heaven (Live @ Pumpwerk, Wilhelmshaven, 2004)