365 Days of Metal: Reaper on the Scottish Highlands

Day 32

Grave Digger - The Clans Will Rise Again

Band Origin: Gladbeck, Germany
Genre: Power Metal
Label: Napalm
Running Time: 57 minutes
Release Date: October 1, 2010

Best Part: Bagpiped laced ballads - 'nuff said.

Favorite Tracks: Coming Home, Rebels, Valley of Tears, and Watch Me Die

Grade: 3.5

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The Clans Will Rise Again in 20 words or less:

A classic German power metal outfit returns to play ballads of war in the Scottish Highlands.

The Band:

Grave Digger was one of the early speed/power metal acts that emerged in the early 80's in Germany, amidst early European power metal defining acts such as Blind Guardian and Helloween. In 1987, after releasing three albums, the band decided to rename themselves Digger and released a fourth album entitled Stronger Than Ever, which was meant to push them more into the mainstream by appealing more to the masses. This venture would end up flopping and sending longtime fans running in droves, forcing bassist and vocalist Chris Bottendahl to disband the group. In 1991, Bottendahl would reunite with guitarist Uwe Lulis and add a new bassist and drummer, and would end up releasing the fourth record under the Grave Digger title in 1993, bringing the band back to its original roots. Bottendahl is now the only original member of Grave Digger, but the band has released a total of fifteen records over their history and continue to represent the power metal scene that they helped build.

Grave Digger's other releases include: Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984), Witch Hunter (1985), War Games (1986), The Reaper (1993), Heart of Darkness (1995), Tunes of War (1996), Knights of the Cross (1998), Excalibur (1999), The Grave Digger (2001), Rheingold (2003), The Last Supper (2005), Liberty or Death (2007), and Ballads of a Hangman (2009)

Jay's Take on The Clans Will Rise Again:

Grave Digger's 1996 album, Tunes of War was a concept album centered in Scotland, focusing on their struggles for independence from England between the 11th and 18th century. The Clans Will Rise Again is not a concept album, but returns to the Scottish Highlands as quasi-sequel to their previous work. Grave Digger experienced somewhat of a slump following their 2003 release Rheingold after years of relatively good performances since their return in 1993. The Clans Will Rise Again continues where their previous release, Ballads of a Hangman left off, bringing Grave Digger back to strong form again. Alex Ritt, the newest guitarist to join Grave Digger brings in some fresh riffs and solid guitar solos throughout the record, to really give that heavy, powerful feel to the record. Bottendahl's vocals are slightly held back from past performances, keeping his range lower and gruff than, and nearly no use of higher pitched screams, however the backing vocals filling in the choir effect on the choruses more than makes up for the absence of other elements. The Clans Will Rise Again is a solid outing from a classic power metal band.

Sample of the Day:



- J