Mob Rules have been kicking around for some two decades now and even though they are labelled as power metal, they've never been your typical Helloween or Stratovarius clone, having carved out their own, distinct style. So, if you've heard and liked any of their previous works, you'll be happy to find here the same familiar sound this bunch have been creating since forming back in 1994. Big choruses, catchy hooklines, cool guitar harmonies, recognisable vocals and symphonic backgrounds used in well thought-out moderation, all add up to a top-quality release. But the strongest point of "Beast Reborn" is the song-writing. "Ghost of a Chance", a fast and catchy tune, works well as an opener; we've got an orchestral intro in "Shores Ahead", Maiden-inspired opening riff in "Children's Crusade" and some progressive touches in the mid-paced "Way Back Home"; "War of Currents" begins slowly and then gains speed being more of an epic and complex song overall, as is "Revenant of the Sea" with its acoustic guitar intro and heavy riffs Tony Iommi would gladly approve. I suppose the singer Klaus Dirks is the brain behind it all, keeping the band alive as the only remaining member from the original line-up, so kudos to the guy, as apart from one tune, no fillers have been detected. I'd get rid of the album-closing ballad, which is, to put it brutally, just boring, but other than that, the set seems well balanced and nothing has been overdone here (as is the case with so many modern power metal releases, that sound totally overproduced). So, thumbs up! Mob Rules have been playing in the premier league for years now, have just added another excellent release to their catalogue and definitely deserve more recognition.
