Band : Grave Digger
Album title : Pray
Label : Napalm
Distributor : Rough Trade
Release date : 28/11/2008
Release : (4-track) EP-CD

Anyone still need an introduction to this German Heavy/ Power Metal institution? Well, in that case just look up their band biography on Wikipedia (go to google, enter “grave digger (band) wikipedia”, et voilà). In short, they’ve been around since 1980, brought their debut album Heavy Metal Revolution in 1985, and have since brought us 11 more studio albums (the most recent being last year’s Liberty Or Death, review by yours truly posted 10/01/2007), two live ones, and a total of 5 compilations. Over the years the band has gone through several line-up changes, the current one only comprising singer Chris Boltendahl as the only remaining founder member [the other members now being guitarist Matti Schmit (ex-Rage, joined in 2000 as replacemet for long-time colaborator Uwe Lulis), bassist Jens Becker (joined in ’97), keyboardist Hans Peter Katzenburg (joined for the 1999 world tour, and stayed on), drummer Stefan Arnold (1996) and since last year Grave Digger has been working with a second guitarist in te person of one Thilo Hermann]. If you’re looking for audio material, check out either the band’s own website, or their page on MySpace!

All I have to say about this 4-track EP, is that it’s the precursor for the upcoming album Ballads Of A Hangman, which has an expected release date of January 9, 2009 on their new label. Besides the EP’s title track (which is culled from that album and shows the band in its usual musical environment) there’s three tracks exclusive to the EP, starting off with a cover of Motörhead’s “Overkill”, which stays quite close to the original. Of course, Boltendahl’s hoarse voice lends itself rather perfectly to the task! The ensuing “My Blood Will Live Forever”, can be described as anthemic, and will surely be greated with singalongs by the German audiences! Finally, “When The Sun Goes Down” finds some truly great guitarwork being played.

A short introduction to the upcoming album, and with the exclusive tracks, I’m certain the band’s (mostly German) fans will jump to the occasion to get themselves this collection piece!

85/100

Tony.