release date: September 14, 2018
label: Napalm Records
album length: 45:31
production: Grave Digger
rating: 7 / 10
Teutonic metal champions Grave Digger, under the thunderous, authoritarian leadership of Chris Boltendahl, completely failed to wow fans with their previous studio album, »Healed By Metal« (2017), which introduced new keyboardist Marcus Kniep, and it wasn’t the first time that had happened to them. It seems Grave Digger have swung wildly in the quality of their studio output ever since guitarist Axel Ritt joined in 2009. Plenty of people, even among their loyal fans, clutched their heads at the news that a new album called »The Living Dead« would be out the very next year, because these kinds of ‘rushed’ decisions, at least in their case, usually don’t bring anything good.
To the delight of longtime fans, »The Living Dead« does mark a noticeable step up, especially compared with the letdown that was its pale predecessor. This time it’s a much more cohesive, solidly structured effort with mostly classic Grave Digger sonic shades and none of the sonic experiments that longtime fans found way too offensive, while Boltendahl’s lyrics are the expected mishmash of creepy horror themes, anti-war cries and cliché, metal-rousing calls to arms.
Even though this isn’t a concept album, it’s a bit odd that the ‘gravediggers’ didn’t tackle the living-dead theme with such pomp much earlier, especially given the all-round commercial appeal of zombies of one kind or another in pop culture. The only sonic experiment that goes beyond the usual expectations sits right at the end of the album, and even that comes off surprisingly fun. There are no ballads on »The Living Dead«, which stirs up mixed feelings, since Grave Digger are among the few power metal outfits that can boast mostly quality (power) ballads.
At times »The Living Dead« seems to want to revive the magic of the classic Grave Digger albums where ‘horror’ themes reigned, like »The Reaper« (1993), »Heart of Darkness« (1995) and »The Grave Digger« (2001), but the atmosphere on most of its tracks is only rarely truly dark, let alone creepy. There’s also plenty to criticize in Kniep’s symphonic arrangements, which are nowhere near the level of his mustachioed predecessor H.P. Katzenburg, who, side by side, was a real keyboard master. On top of that, the keyboards are pushed way too far into the background in the production of this album. Ritt’s guitar approach still divides some fans today. On one hand he tries almost too hard to imitate his predecessors, on the other we miss some more creative, distinctive solos.
The opening ‘gravedigger’ charge on the freshly revived corpses, »Fear of the Living Dead«, is almost a classic power metal Grave Digger effort; there’s Boltendahl’s trademark thunderous growl, the cranked-up guitar passages, the double bass pedal hammering and an epic chorus. Solid, but Boltendahl and his ‘gravediggers’ have made far more interesting opening tracks in the past. »Blade of the Immortal« also follows the well-worn recipe, meaning no experimental shake-ups, peaking in an epic, multi-voiced chorus that most resembles a Viking anthem, while a rather stiff, uninspired guitar solo is there too. With better symphonic arrangements, this one could have fit stylistically on something like »Rheingold« (2003).
»When Death Passes By« bets mostly on the fastest possible tempo from the rhythm section and a turbo drive of chopped-up guitar passages, but the chorus comes out pretty uninspired. »Shadow of the Warrior« opens with a rousing, multi-voiced chant, while Ritt, short on inspiration, occasionally borrows a few guitar ideas straight from Iron Maiden. The epic chorus of this one is nonetheless among the better ones on the album. »The Power of Metal« is weighed down by a cliché, rousing lyric built purely to hype up metal concert crowds. Except for the generic chorus, it’s a track that could easily have turned up on a classic Grave Digger album from the nineties.
»Hymn of the Damned« is one of the very few tracks on »The Living Dead« that has just the right mix of dark and epic atmosphere with a touch of mysterious, creepy drama, which once distinguished some of this band’s best albums. »What War Left Behind« is probably the most boring track on the album, while »Fist in Your Face«, with its unbelievably cliché lyrics, is almost closer to hard rock than metal. »Insane Pain«, another very average effort, relies mostly on speed and aggression, while Ritt’s guitar solo may even be the most inventive one on the whole album.
The closing ‘gravedigger’ dance, »Zombie Dance«, is easily the most refreshing and fun track on »The Living Dead«, and with its Balkan ‘hopa-cupa, you and me together’ rhythms and string arrangements made on keyboards, it recalls a dance of drunken fiddlers from the south of the former shared country. The drunken shouts are followed by Boltendahl’s beastly call to a zombie dance. It might not even be too much of a stretch to call it: ‘Grave Digger meets Bijelo Dugme’. The bonus track »Glory or Grave« is a very decent composition with a completely classic sonic punch and a Boltendahl in terrific vocal spirits, so it’s sure to please all the longtime fans. Somewhat ironic for a bonus track, but it definitely ranks among the best tracks on this album.
Boltendahl hasn’t handed fans another pig in a poke with »The Living Dead«, but his ‘gravediggers’ still aren’t in the kind of form that promises anything beyond a solid-to-average effort that stays firmly in the shadow of their classic albums. In terms of quality, »The Living Dead« slots right into the middle, the average, of Grave Digger’s discography so far. It was also their last album with longtime drummer Stefan Arnold, who has since been written into Boltendahl’s black book. In his typical, controversial style, Chris simply stuck Marcus Kniep behind the drums, so the future of the ‘gravediggers’ once again doesn’t look all that rosy, but Boltendahl definitely loves black more than pink, so maybe the next trip into the studio won’t end in a negative result after all.
author: Peter Podbrežnik
Track list:
1. Fear of the Living Dead (5:31)
2. Blade of the Immortal (4:07)
3. When Death Passes By (3:52)
4. Shadow of the Warrior (4:33)
5. The Power of Metal (3:52)
6. Hymn of the Damned (5:30)
7. What War Left Behind (3:30)
8. Fist in Your Face (3:24)
9. Insane Pain (3:05)
10. Zombie Dance (3:46)
11. Glory or Grave (bonus track) (4:21)
Musicians:
Chris Boltendahl – vocals
Axel Ritt – guitar
Jens Becker – bass
Stefan Arnold – drums
Marcus Kniep – keyboards
