REVIEW: GRAVE DIGGER - THE GRAVE DIGGER

 

GRAVE DIGGER - THE GRAVE DIGGER (Nuclear Blast, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded and mixed at Principal Studios

Track List: 1- Son of Evil, 2- The Grave Digger, 3- Raven, 4- Scythe of Time, 5- Spirits of the Dead, 6- The House, 7- King Pest, 8- Sacred Fire, 9- Funeral Procession, 10- Haunted Palace, 11- Silence

I don´t know if it is for the new studio techniques or because the band decided to change their sound that when this band got reunited in 1993 they got heavier than they were in the eighties. In fact their music continued to be very similar but their sound is more in the front, better mixed. Now, year 2001, Grave Digger is back, this time with ex-Rage Manni Schmidt on guitar (he is risponsible of part of the music of the best Rage albums like "Perfect Man", "Secrets in a Weird World"). Here his guitar shines in a very similar context than in Rage....fronted by the vocals of Chris Boltendahl, Schmidt is allowed to do a lot of solos and interesting riffs. The main difference with the latest albums "Excalibur" or "Knights of the Cross" is that the lyrics and some atmospheres are darker this time, the first ones centered on Edgar Allan Poe´s writing instead of some medieval tale. Favorite tracks: "The Grave Digger", "Spirits of the Dead" and "King Pest". Contact: www.nuclearblast.de Distributes for Argentina: Icarus Recs: icarus@ba.net or icarusmusic@speedy.com.ar