Grave Digger – Bone Collector

Grave Digger
Bone Collector
Label: ROAR / Reigning Phoenix Music
Out: January 17^th, 2025
Playing time: 46:50

Back to the Roots or #gravediggeroldschool?

It’s right there in the first line of the press release. The list of recordings in forty-five years of band history is long, very long. I counted twenty-two studio albums including the current album ‘Bone Collector’. Plus countless EPs and singles. In addition, there are live albums and compilations. Grave Digger were founded in 1980 in the legendary ‘Dröhnschuppen’ in Gladbeck (North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany) and today they are one of the most important, consistent and influential Metal bands from Germany.

The title track ‘Bone Collector’ is right at the beginning. And it’s really tough stuff. Drums and guitar gallop in high-speed mode. Guitarist Tobias Kersting (ex-Ordan Ogan) goes hard at work here.  Singer Chris Boltendahl also starts his vocals with a rougher edge. ‘The Rich The Poor The Dying’ is already Speed Metal. The gravediggers don’t allow themselves a moment’s respite here either. ‘Kingdom Of Skulls’ starts rhythmically with drums and bass. Later it is only slightly slower but much more melodic. The refrain in particular invites you to sing along. ‘The Devils Serenade’ offers even more melody and a little less tempo. Tobias Kersting blasts out rhythmic riffs here. The refrain is also catchy. ‘Killing Is My Pleasure’ switches back to higher speeds with sometimes hectic-feeling riffs and whipping drums. The guitars fry on the Metal anthem ‘Mirror Of Hate’. Heavy riffs and calm yet raspy vocals dominate. One of the highlights on the album. Another highlight follows immediately afterwards. Heavy riffs also dominate the sound on the mid-tempo smasher ‘Riders Of Doom’. There is also a huge guitar solo. After a quiet start, ‘Made Of Madness’ really kicks off again. And towards the end there is another strong guitar solo. ‘Graveyard Kings’ is rhythmic again and is driven by powerful riffing. The alternation between high-speed and mid- to slightly up-tempo continues. Didn’t I tell you? ‘Forever Evil & Buried Alive’ switches back to high speed. The final song ‘Whispers Of The Damned’ is the longest song on the album at six and a quarter minutes. And a wonderful ballad. In my opinion, it’s the best song on the album.

‘Bone Collector’ is not necessarily Grave Digger’s best album. But a very good one. I’m particularly enthusiastic about the more melodic songs like ‘Mirror Of Hate’ or ‘Riders Of Doom’. Whereby ‘Whispers Of The Damned’ tops everything else. The hectic high-speed songs are not really my cup of tea. But that’s probably a matter of taste. All in all, however, the album is full of variety. Chris Boltendahl and his bandmates show that they are among the best that the German Metal scene has to offer.

Grave Digger – “Kingdom of Skulls: https://youtu.be/NmYPjHBCshk?si=6GI0wT5Ml56fehmj

Lineup:

Jens Becker – Bass
Tobias Kersting – Guitar
Chris Boltendahl – Vocals
Marcus Kniep – Drums

Track list:

• Bone Collector
• The Rich The Poor The Dying
• Kingdom Of Skulls
• The Devils Serenade
• Killing Is My Pleasure
• Mirror Of Hate
• Riders Of Doom
• Made Of Madness
• Graveyard Kings
• Forever Evil & Buried Alive
• Whispers Of The Damned