MOB RULES

First listening to this EP I wasn’t sure if I liked it. In the two of three original songs here (the two others being an instrumental and an edited version of the first track which can get annoying when you realise you’ve listened to what is essentially the same song three times in a row) they wield their power metal in such a way they wouldn’t be out of place on one of Metal Hammer’s Battle Metal compilations. Whilst I don’t have a problem with Battle Metal it was only after I got over that it’s that before I really started to appreciate this fully and not just treat it as another band flogging an old horse; it’s definitely a “grower”. Main track ‘Astral Hand’ is a powerful song, reminding me heavily of the work of Italian metallers Thy Majestie, it never dulls down and even when it slows down for the end of the guitar solo you don’t feel it’s lost any pace. Later track ‘Man on the Run’ is very much in the same vain style-wise, a bit less in-your-face and more melodic but still fun to listen to, with another great guitar solo. Whilst vocalist Klaus Dirk’s high pitched wailing and the perfect synergy of overlapping guitars from Matthias Mineur and Sven Lüdge bring epic to the table, the one who really beefs it up is keyboardist Sascha Onnen. The keyboards luckily are more than a background ambiance unlike many other bands and yet they never completely take over either, creating an emotional and “full” sound. Final song ‘Hold on (2009)’ is a much quieter acoustic guitar reworking of a piano track of the same name from their 2000 album ‘Temple of Two Suns’. Unfortunately it doesn’t really compare to its preceding version, whilst sung with emotion it seems to lack the power of the original but I can see how a dedicated fan would like to hear this version too. With only two real songs of note here it drags the EP down somewhat but considering those two songs it’s definitely worth a listen although I’d personally recommend getting the full album.

LABEL:

FORMAT:

AFM Records

EP

ASTRAL HAND

Review by Nicholas Dishington

RUNNING TIME:

21:28

RELEASE DATE:

9th Oct 2009

TRACK LISTING

1) Astral Hand (album version)
2) Astral Hand (edit version)
3) Astral Hand (instrumental)
4) Man on the Run
5) Hold On (2009)

COUNTRY OF ORIGIN:

Germany

"Whilst vocalist Klaus Dirk’s high pitched wailing and the perfect synergy of overlapping guitars from Matthias Mineur and Sven Lüdge bring epic to the table, the one who really beefs it up is keyboardist Sascha Onnen."