Grave Digger’s output of the past decade or so has ranged from mildly enjoyable to rather underwhelming. By no means can any of these albums be labeled “bad”, but given the choice between anything they’ve done since 2014’s Return of the Reaper or their ’90s/’00s power metal renaissance period, and even their ’80s speed metal heyday for that matter, the choice is obvious. This observation was reinforced upon the release of 2022’s Symbol of Eternity: A musical follow up to the brilliant Knights of the Cross (1998) that just fell short. Needless to say, when I got the first wave of press emails for their latest affair, Bone Collector, my expectations were low.
However, it became apparent leading up to the release of Bone Collector that this wasn’t just any new Grave Digger album. No, this was Grave Digger’s 45th anniversary album, celebrating four and a half decades of Teutonic metal excellence. When you think of the amount of bands who have come and gone in that space of time, it makes founder Chris Boltendahl’s vision and dedication all the more admirable. Even if euro power metal isn’t your thing, and it wasn’t mine until the last 5 or so years, you have to hand it to him for not just pioneering the movement, but remaining a driving force within for so long.
With that being said, Bone Collector is NOT a euro power metal album. It’s a blatant throwback to the band’s early headbanging days, drawing heavily from the well of Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984), Witch Hunter (1985), and War Games (1986). It’s also the shot in the arm this band needed, from both a writing and musical perspective. I’m not sure if it’s Boltendahl’s embrace of denim and leather-clad nostalgia, the addition of Orden Ogan’s Tobias Kersting on guitars, or some otherworldly third factor, but Bone Collector is a refreshing breath of heavy metal air, basking in the glory of all things old school, no frills, and true.
Speed freaks will be more than pleased by ragers like the opening title track, “The Rich, the Poor, the Dying”, and “Made of Madness”. Ferocious cuts like “Killing is My Pleasure” and “Forever Evil and Buried Alive” pack a punch as well with their up-tempo attack. Amidst these stone cold headbangers are feelgood Teutonic metal anthems like “The Devil’s Serenade”, “Kingdom of Skulls”, and “Graveyard Kings”, which embody the “less is more” ethos. As charming as Grave Digger can make triumphant choirs, ambitious storylines, and bagpipes sound, what’s needed here is in your face power chords and the burning spirit of yesteryear. Grave Digger nails both, at times channeling the “traditional ’80s metal with a modern production and heft” approach popularized by Priest and Accept as of late.
Save for a closing Wacken metal ballad in “Whispers of the Damned”, which sounds more characteristic of one of Grave Digger’s power metal outings than a release of this nature, Bone Collector is a hit parade of classic Teutonic steel. It’s loud and proud, unabashedly raw and retro in the best way possible. And while it doesn’t scratch the primal brilliance of Heavy Metal Breakdown, it’s sure cool to hear that Boltendahl still has that fire burning in him after all these years. Here’s to another 45 years of Grave Digger, long may these legends reign!
7 out of 10
Label: RPM ROAR
Genre: Heavy Metal
For fans of: Running Wild, Accept, Judas Priest
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