Author: Peter Podbrežnik
Artist: Grave Digger
Label: Napalm Records
Release: 2018
Runtime: 45:31
Rating: 3/5
The champions of Teutonic metal Grave Digger, under the thunderous, authoritarian leadership of Chris Boltendahl, didn’t exactly wow anyone with their previous studio album, »Healed By Metal« (2017), which introduced new keyboardist Marcus Kniep to the fans, and it wasn’t the first time that happened to them. It seems that ever since guitarist Axel Ritt joined in 2009, Grave Digger have swung wildly when it comes to the quality of their studio output. Plenty of people, even among their loyal followers, grabbed their heads when they heard that a new album, titled »The Living Dead«, was coming just next year, because ‘rushed’ decisions like that, 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 to the letdown that was its pale predecessor. This time around it’s a much more cohesive and solidly structured effort with mostly classic Grave Digger sonic shades, and without the sonic experiments that were way too offensive for longtime fans, while Boltendahl’s lyrics are the by now expected ‘mish-mash’ of creepy horror themes, anti-war cries, and clichéd, 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 this much pomp way earlier, especially given the all-around commercial appeal of zombies of one kind or another in pop culture. The only bigger sonic experiment beyond the usual expectations sits at the very end of the album, and even that turns out surprisingly fun. There are no ballads on »The Living Dead«, which stirs up mixed feelings, since Grave Digger are among the few power metal acts who can boast mostly quality (power) ballads.
At times it seems like »The Living Dead« wants to revive the magic of the classic Grave Digger albums dominated by ‘horror’ themes, such as »The Reaper« (1993), »Heart of Darkness« (1995) and »The Grave Digger« (2001), but the atmosphere of most of the material here is only rarely truly dark, let alone creepy. On top of that, there’s plenty to nitpick about Kniep’s symphonic arrangements, which are nowhere near the level of his mustachioed predecessor H.P. Katzenburg, who was a true keyboard master by comparison. At the same time, the keyboards are pushed way too far into the background in the album’s production. 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 a bit more creative, distinctive soloing.
The opening ‘gravedigger’ assault on the reanimated corpses, »Fear of the Living Dead«, is almost a classic power metal Grave Digger effort; there’s Boltendahl’s trademark thunderous croak, there are cranked-up guitar passages, double-bass-pedal pummeling and an epic chorus. Solid, but Boltendahl and his ‘gravediggers’ have made far more interesting openers 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 formal, uninspired guitar solo is not in short supply. With better symphonic arrangements, this one could stylistically have slotted onto something like »Rheingold« (2003).
»When Death Passes By« bets mostly on the fastest possible rhythm section and the turbo drive of chopped-up guitar passages, but the chorus comes off 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 one of the better ones on the album. »The Power of Metal« is weighed down by a clichéd, rabble-rousing lyric made purely to further pump up metal crowds at gigs. Apart from 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« with just the right blend of dark and epic atmosphere and a touch of mysterious, creepy drama, which once marked 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 clichéd lyrics, is closer to hard rock than metal. »Insane Pain«, yet another very average effort, relies mainly 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«. With its Balkan ‘oompah, let’s go together’ rhythms and keyboard-made string arrangements, it recalls a dance of drunken fiddlers from the south of the former common country. The drunken whoops 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 totally classic sonic punch and a vocally in-top-form Boltendahl, so it’s sure to please all the longtime fans. A bit ironic for a bonus track, but it definitely ranks among the best things on this album.
With »The Living Dead«, Boltendahl hasn’t handed fans yet another pig in a poke, but his ‘gravediggers’ still aren’t in the kind of form that promises anything more than a solid-to-average effort, one 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 meanwhile made it 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 the next trip to the studio may not end in a negative result after all.
Lineup
Chris Boltendahl – vocals
Axel Ritt – guitar
Jens Becker – bass
Stefan Arnold – drums
Marcus Kniep – keyboards
Production
Grave Digger
Tracklist
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)
