GRAVE DIGGER
Bone Collector
RPM-ROAR Records
GRAVE DIGGER is a German speed/power metal institution that evolved over time to include grandiose concept albums featuring choirs and orchestration in their discography. Even considering these forays, the core of the band/s style has always remained riff-heavy and aggressive on their fast material and the crunching midtempo tracks that touch on doom metal (for example, the unsurprisingly titled "Riders of Doom" on their latest).
Speaking of, Bone Collector is the sound of an invigorated GRAVE DIGGER that has foregone the concepts, choirs, keyboards and orchestration to hearken back to older works such as The Grave Digger and Rheingold - while simultaneously staying grounded in the present and taking the intensity up a notch. There are a few elements that could be considered "modern", including quick nods to death metal (vocals on "Mirror of Hate") and some strong rhythmic motifs and dissonant stabbing chords (the lyric video for "The Bone Collector"), but even so, everything remains well within the realm of classic metal guitar practice and the GRAVE DIGGER template.
Bone Collector is uniformly strong, heavy and vicious; quite a feat for a band already known more for bludgeoning than subtlety. Everything is focused and compact - with the exception of the six-minute album closer "Whispers of the Damned" (the only song even resembling a ballad with some clean guitars in the verses), the previous 10 tracks are all under four or five minutes. This really works in the band's favor, as there's a lot to be said for making the point and getting out. "Kingdom of Skulls" is an official video that opens with a great bass and drum intro and pummels into submission throughout. "The Devil's Serenade" video showcases their midtempo and more melodic side, and the "Killing Is My Pleasure" visualizer is another heavy riffing, double-bass stomper with a sing-along chorus, as is the "The Rich, The Poor, The Dying" and its social commentary.
Chris Boltendahl delivers his typical Lemmy-style baritone with an extra dose of venom. No one is going to mistake him for Dio, but he deserves his due as the frontman, leader and driving force of the band who has guided them through the decades. Chris also produced, mixed and mastered the record at his Graveyard Studios in Cologne, Germany, and ostensibly gets credit for the back-to-basics direction. The production and attitude are darker and grittier compared to previous recent efforts, and there is a chainsaw grind in the guitars that creates a distinct sonic signature that is appropriate for Bone Collector.
Kudos to new guitarist Tobias Kersting for injecting his energy and ideas into the band; he's a proficient player and solid addition to GRAVE DIGGER. His rhythms are tight and his leads are melodic and tasteful with a bit of flash -although more restraint with the wah pedal might have allowed his solos to retain more character. Also, it's incumbent that the rhythm section of longtime bassist Jens Becker and drummer Marcus Kniep receive their due, as they tackle the difficult task of supporting these crushing numbers with a sense of groove and feel.
When all is said and done, Bone Collector is a worthy statement that delivers everything you want from GRAVE DIGGER at a high level. Hopefully this renaissance will carry them through as many more albums and tours that they decide to embark upon.
4.4 Out Of 5.0 Scythes
