GRAVE DIGGER “The Forgotten Years” /CD/

Embroidered bordered woven patch.

100x25mm

Embroidered bordered woven patch.

100x25mm

For the first time on vinyl, the first mini-album by legendary German Heavy/Speed Metal band.
The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. In 1983, they released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, and the second album, “Witch Hunter”, in 1985. Festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, all on Noise Records. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger, and it was not accepted by fans. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987…
…However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true Heavy Metal roots of Grave Digger. While most fans look to The Reaper as the archetypical return to form release, that wasn't necessarily the case regarding Grave Digger. While it conclusively swept the infamous Digger debacle under the rug, it actually consisted largely of past material previously composed for the "Hawaii Demo Bottles And Four Coconuts." The form had already been returned to some years earlier, it just took the band several years to effectively regroup. Through "The Reaper", the band exorcized the few demons that remained, and effectively wiped the slate clean to usher in a new, grand period. To Grave Digger's credit, a bevy of quality material still remained locked in "The Reaper"'s vault, and they amalgamated the remaining past cuts with the first throes of the modern Grave Digger formula we are familiar with today to bring us "Symphony of Death". “Symphony Of Death” followed in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. As per it's place in the timeline, this obscure MLP bridges the incendiary Speed Metal architecture of "The Reaper" with the Epic, forward-thinking songwriting present on "Heart Of Darkness". Grave Digger's line-up around this period is certainly one to envy, as Michael is far and away the best technician on the kit that they have ever boasted amongst their nefarious ranks. Even without Becker, these guys have no problem shifting between riff-driven fist pounders to darker, more atmospheric romps that came to define the band proper.
This is one of the greatest MLPs ever. Fast, catchy, powerful, everything you'd want in German Speed Metal. Check it out for sure, if you're a fan of the genre, and if you're just getting into Grave Digger - this is the best place to start! Amazing piece of music, kindly licensed by Sony Music, available for the very first time on vinyl!
Limited to 150 copies Black Vinyl.
GUN Records/Sony Music Entertainment Italy spa/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 2021 (JRR-BB003R). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany. Second press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Intro 0:57
2. Symphony of Death 4:26
3. Back to the Roots 4:27
4. House of Horror 3:36
5. Shout It Out 3:09
6. World of Fools 5:05
7. Wild And Dangerous 2:45
Running time: 24:25 min.

Side B
1. Intro 0:57
2. Symphony of Death 4:26
3. Back to the Roots 4:27
4. House of Horror 3:36
5. Shout It Out 3:09
6. World of Fools 5:05
7. Wild And Dangerous 2:45
Running time: 24:25 min.

Total playing time: 48:50 min.

For the first time on vinyl, the first mini-album by legendary German Heavy/Speed Metal band.
The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. In 1983, they released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, and the second album, “Witch Hunter”, in 1985. Festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, all on Noise Records. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger, and it was not accepted by fans. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987…
…However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true Heavy Metal roots of Grave Digger. While most fans look to The Reaper as the archetypical return to form release, that wasn't necessarily the case regarding Grave Digger. While it conclusively swept the infamous Digger debacle under the rug, it actually consisted largely of past material previously composed for the "Hawaii Demo Bottles And Four Coconuts." The form had already been returned to some years earlier, it just took the band several years to effectively regroup. Through "The Reaper", the band exorcized the few demons that remained, and effectively wiped the slate clean to usher in a new, grand period. To Grave Digger's credit, a bevy of quality material still remained locked in "The Reaper"'s vault, and they amalgamated the remaining past cuts with the first throes of the modern Grave Digger formula we are familiar with today to bring us "Symphony of Death". “Symphony Of Death” followed in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. As per it's place in the timeline, this obscure MLP bridges the incendiary Speed Metal architecture of "The Reaper" with the Epic, forward-thinking songwriting present on "Heart Of Darkness". Grave Digger's line-up around this period is certainly one to envy, as Michael is far and away the best technician on the kit that they have ever boasted amongst their nefarious ranks. Even without Becker, these guys have no problem shifting between riff-driven fist pounders to darker, more atmospheric romps that came to define the band proper.
This is one of the greatest MLPs ever. Fast, catchy, powerful, everything you'd want in German Speed Metal. Check it out for sure, if you're a fan of the genre, and if you're just getting into Grave Digger - this is the best place to start! Amazing piece of music, kindly licensed by Sony Music, available for the very first time on vinyl!
Limited to 100 copies Yellow Vinyl.
GUN Records/Sony Music Entertainment Italy spa/Jolly Roger Records/Blackbeard, 2021 (JRR-BB003R). Made in Italy. Pressed in Germany. Second press.


Tracklist:

Side A
1. Intro 0:57
2. Symphony of Death 4:26
3. Back to the Roots 4:27
4. House of Horror 3:36
5. Shout It Out 3:09
6. World of Fools 5:05
7. Wild And Dangerous 2:45
Running time: 24:25 min.

Side B
1. Intro 0:57
2. Symphony of Death 4:26
3. Back to the Roots 4:27
4. House of Horror 3:36
5. Shout It Out 3:09
6. World of Fools 5:05
7. Wild And Dangerous 2:45
Running time: 24:25 min.

Total playing time: 48:50 min.

The thirteenth full-length studio album by legendary German Heavy/Power Metal band.
During their career, Grave Digger have made a lot of excellent albums and always sounded like traditional Heavy Metal, but still managed to variated their albums quite good. The almost Speed metal albums of the 80s, epic and melodic albums with big choirs on. But the bottom line in the music has always been and felt like nothing but true Heavy Metal, and it’s the same deal with this album.
This is the first Grave Digger album to feature two guitarists, the only one to feature Thilo Hermann, who co-wrote the album but was asked to leave soon after its release, and also the last one with Manni Schmidt, who left the band in October 2009, due to personal differences with Chris Boltendahl. The guys are spitting out classic, 80s Heavy Metal riffs throughout the whole album, and the sound of them guitars is pretty old-school too.
It is the best album this band has done since 2003’s “Rheingold”, and absolutely better than 1999’s “Excalibur”. Grave Digger still delivers, even if it’s quite far from their best album. Should please any fan of the genre!
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2009 (NPR 271). Made in Austria. Pressed in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. The Gallows Pole (Intro) 0:48
2. Ballad of a Hangman 4:45
3. Hell of Disillusion 3:56
4. Sorrow of the Dead 3:36
5. Grave of the Addicted 3:34
6. Lonely the Innocence Dies (ft. Veronica Freeman) 5:46
7. Into the War 3:32
8. The Shadow of Your Soul 4:15
9. Funeral for a Fallen Angel 4:31
10. Stormrider 3:17
11. Pray 3:36
Total playing time: 41:36 min.

The fourteenth full-length studio album by legendary German Heavy/Power Metal band.
Grave Digger’s name is already written in Gold in the book of Heavy Metal. Be it the German Metal band’s presence for more than 25 years, enough classic Metal hymns they’ve contributed to the majesty of our music or the non-stop quality of their honest Metallic releases, it’s no news the world of Heavy/Power Metal owes a lot to the clan surrounding the fine figure of Chris Boltendahl.
The first album to feature guitarist Axel Ritt (from Domain), "The Clans Will Rise Again" is a "loose sequel" to their "Tunes Of War" album (1996), but this time not a concept album about the Scottish history, rather a work about Scotland, its mysticism and its people. 
“The Clans Will Rise Again” smells like it’s going to turn out to be another moment of musical clarity for one of the godfathers of real Heavy/Speed Metal made in Germany and Central Europe in general. It’s classic post-“Tunes Of War” Speed/Heavy Metal with its epic/heroic moments, and you should certainly have no fear thinking of how shall Chris Boltendahl sing on this album. Chris is quite an experienced vocalist and has no difficulty in dressing each song with the harmonies needed, and it’s quite significant to mention here that he ties really well with some solo leads Axel delivers in certain parts.
It’s pretty much an even contest between this album and the last one, and in the case of both, arguably the best work put out by the band since the late 90s. The union of Grave Digger and Alex Ritt has a lot of potential for future fits of studio produced glory, and just as likely also a riveting live album.
In the absence of Running Wild and Metal Church from the dwindling ranks of 80s Power Metal mainstays, this is one of the few remnants that has basically maintained their sound and kept it free from modern influences. It has all the charm of a grand tail from the Highlands, and the bombastic bagpipes to match!
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2010 (NPR 349). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Days Of Revenge 1:58
2. Paid In Blood 3:57
3. Hammer Of The Scots 4:01
4. Highland Farewell 4:07
5. The Clans Will Rise Again 5:01
6. Rebels 4:40
7. Valley Of Tears 4:09
8. Execution 4:45
9. Whom The Gods Love Die Young 6:11
10. Spider 3:19
11. The Piper Mcleod 0:49
12. Coming Home 4:22
13. When Rain Turns To Blood 6:08
Total playing time: 53:27 min.

The fifteenth full-length studio album by legendary German Heavy/Power Metal band.
After exploring Scottish motifs on their last few albums, Grave Digger turned toward Ancient Greece on "Clash Of The Gods", an opus filled with Gods, heroes and legends. While the lyrics revolve around mythical figures such as Odysseus, Hades, and Medusa, the album's music eschews world music elements and sticks to the band's trademark Power Metal.
The tales are clad in sweeping Power Metal compositions, filled with powerful riffing and catchy choruses. The songs range from fast and driving double bass tracks, anthemic mid-tempo compositions, up to rousing and simply beautiful Power Metal ballads. Crowned by Chris Boltdendahl's charismatic vocals, the new album offers everything a true Metal heart desires!
The magnificent artwork provides the finishing touches and, together with the compositions, brings the legendary figures of Ancient Greek to life. "Clash Of The Gods" is an unbelievable compact and energy driven opus and will grant Grave Digger themselves a warm welcome into the pantheon of the gods!!
In Extremo frontman, Michael Rhein, guests on the album's first track, a spoken word intro called "Charon (Fährmann des Todes)".
Clash of the Gods entered the German charts at number 29.
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2012 (NPR 449). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Charon (Fährmann Des Todes) 2:19
2. God Of Terror 4:19
3. Hell Dog 4:27
4. Medusa 5:38
5. Clash Of The Gods 4:53
6. Death Angel & The Grave Digger 4:22
7. Walls Of Sorrow 4:43
8. Call Of The Sirens 5:30
9. Warriors Revenge 4:00
10. ...With The Wind 0:48
11. Home At Last 3:56
Total playing time: 44:55 min.

The seventeenth full-length studio album by legendary German Heavy/Speed Metal band.
Thirteen re-recorded songs from the three first albums of band's career, with modern elements, and without forgetting their roots in Traditional Heavy Metal. And two new songs added as well.
Tracks 1 to 4 and 6 to 13 are re-recorded songs from their first three albums and the "Shoot Her Down" EP.
Track 5 is a song from the Digger album "Stronger than Ever". As Grave Digger split up, the band members formed Digger and commercialized their sound. Although the band members are the same, this song does not belong to the official Grave Digger catalogue.
Tracks 14 and 15 are new songs.
Boltendahl’s voice is better than the early years because it’s lower than he was young and keeps unmistakable, like always. The riffs and solos made by Axel Ritt are better than Masson and would be a great progress when Ritt joined the band. They refreshed their melodies making it current, despite they’re old songs. Another important point is the technology (now, with money, a big label, and musical cutting edge-technology), that helped the band making these songs to sound better than the original.
As a stop-gap and fun way for the band to revisit their roots, "Exhumation (The Early Years)" works well. New fans would be wise to get this, not because Grave Digger's first three albums are anything particularly special, but because to fully appreciate their domination of the '90s (and later), you have to be conscious of their rough and ragged starting point! A nice way to stoke flames long-starved of attention, and give the better cuts from their infancy a chance to crack skulls once again!!
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2015 (NPR 626 DP). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Headbanging Man 3:31
2. Fire In Your Eyes 3:24
3. Witch Hunter 3:18
4. Shoot Her Down 3:32
5. Stand Up And Rock 3:07
6. Heavy Metal Breakdown 3:50
7. Enola Gay - Drop The Bomb 3:36
8. Get Away 3:04
9. We Wanna Rock You 4:14
10. Playing Fools 3:51
11. Here I Stand 4:44
12. Tyrant 3:29
13. Paradise 3:50
Bonus:
14. My Private Morning Hell 3:19
15. Young And Dangerous 4:34
Total playing time: 55:23 min.

The eighteenth full-length studio album by legendary German Heavy/Power Metal band.
This is the first album to feature new keyboardist Marcus Kniep as The Reaper since H.P. Katzenburg's departure in 2014.
The boys still sound fairly spry for their age and as always, you can imagine these songs going over pretty well live. At this point in their lengthy career, Grave Digger are writing from a template older than many of our readers, and though it makes for painfully familiar song craft, it still works to some extent. Cuts like “Lawbreaker” and “Free Forever” approximate a merger of "Painkiller" era Priest with recent U.D.O. material, and that’ll always get a little blood pumping in Metallic fossils. The same goes for straight-ahead mouth breathers like “Call for War” and “Hallelujah” which put the boot to you without subtlety in classic Teutonic style. Wisely, the band keeps the adrenaline level pretty high throughout, which is when they’re at their troglodyte best. The riffing is in-your-face, the solos are out of hand, and the songs hits like a sucker punch in church.
After 37 years of metallic rabble-rousing, neither time nor tide seem able to silence these grave robbing fiends. These Heavy Metal legends will snap your neck, all while healing you with epic melodies and anthems!
Napalm Records Handels GmbH, 2017 (NPR 696 DP). Made in Germany. First press.


Tracklist:
1. Healed By Metal 3:45    
2. When Night Falls 3:56
3. Lawbreaker 3:08
4. Free Forever 3:23
5. Call For War 3:21
6. Ten Commandments Of Metal 3:28
7. The Hangman's Eye 3:08
8. Kill Ritual 3:44
9. Hallelujah 3:31
10. Laughing With The Dead 5:17
Bonus:
11. Kingdom Of The Night 4:07
12. Bucket List 3:03
Total playing time: 43:51 min.