When the press release states “the band is back to their roots” I can’t believe it, even if I deadly want to, sorry. In most cases it’s just an advertisement plot that doesn’t work. Even if the band will make an effort and write some music, similar to what they did in the past, it will be just a pale copy of their youth. Yes, it can be good, but the new “old” music, compared to the real old one will always lose.
Anyway, now the German heavy metal legends Grave Digger declare they are “back to the roots” with their new album Bone Collector. Quite doubtful statement for the band, which celebrates its 45th anniversary this year and has more than 20 albums but the news about new guitarist Tobias Kersting gave some hope for some changes, especially after a bunch of albums that were pretty same, to be honest. Tobias replaced the long-time member Axel Ritt in 2023.
Let’s start from the things that are not present on this album. First of all, there are no keyboards here; Marcus Kniep deals with drumming only. And there are no bold experiments like “Zombie Dance”. It was funny and well-made but such thing you can make only once. Otherwise it would be inappropriate and wrong. I’m sure that Chris Boltendahl, the only original member of Grave Digger understands it like no one else. But what is plenty at Bone Collector is metal: heavy metal, speed metal, sometimes even with little steps to some thrash metal territory. Compared to their previous works it is heavy AF.
The opening self-titled track hits you right in the face with pummeling drums, great bass and sick, heavy riff. Chris’ vocal is gruff and maybe not what it was 45 years ago, yet it still powerful. The next one “The Reach, The Poor, The Dying” increases pace, turning music into crushing speed metal (is it only me who automatically sing “money for nothing and chicks for free” instead of “death for free”?) “Killing Is My Pleasure” is also a fast pace banger with melodic and catchy chorus. And “The Devil’s Serenade” sounds like totally 80s song with inherent hooks, melodies and even guitar solo, but the riffing reminded me of the early Accept. At the same time, in “Forever Evil & Buried Alive” some Motörhead vibes present as well, reminding me personally the great Inferno album. Chris’ tries to sing in style of Lemmy (well, more or less.)
“Mirror Of Hate” gives a little break from the heaviness, providing good melodies in choruses and sinister riffs in verses. Chris lows his vocal as much as possible here to fit it to the song and it almost can be felt that it’s already hard for him to hit such notes. “Made Of Madness” also starts deceptively slow, with acoustic riff and melodic bass line but in 30 seconds this track turns into a vortex of speed metal riffs, potent drumming and great bass from Jens Becker.
To sum things up: Bone Collector is not the announced “back to the roots” thing but it’s closer to their initial sound and Grave Digger became faster, heavier and grittier on this album just like it should be. It’s pretty straightforward, classic metal from 80s and this is probably the best Grave Digger‘s albums for the last couple of years. It’s not a masterpiece, it has some apparent fillers, but those fans, who were disappointed with some last albums should definitely listen to it.
Bone Collector will be released on January, 17th via RPM ROAR.
P.S. I also wanted to say a word or two in defense of the album cover but after I checked the band’s previous covers to refresh memory, I won’t say anything. The cover is bad, poorly AI-generated work. Even original Heavy Metal Breakdown album art was way better. I don’t know how such horrible cover was released and prefer just not to look at it.
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