Grave Digger Album: “Rheingold [Japan Bonus Track]”

I think the title of my review speaks for itself. This is one of the best CDs in my collection. I agree with the last reviewer. This has not been a good year for real metal lovers. I can't get into Power Metal and Metallica has gone crazy on me. The only good thing left out there is Black Label Society. Well, Grave Digger definitely lifted my spirits. I checked their web site and a their new release is just about ready to go. Can't wait.

It's getting ridiculous how good of a metal band this is. I mean huge riff upon huge riff built upon big soccer-holler choruses. Fast/ slow dynamics, crazy-man vocals, clean vocals (just a few), Lord of the Ring-type mythos, and just plain insane heaviness. Now go get this freakin' album! I didn't think "The Grave Digger" could be topped, but it be. Oh what a glorious noise it be! -David J Newman 2003

For me personally, 2004 has not been a great year for metal new releases. Apart from some great moments on the "Glorious Burden" by Iced Earth & "3rd Wish" by Feinstein, nothing else I've bought has measured up.

Out of desperation, and the reason I say this is that I've seen GD cd's in the past but I could not stand the name and wrote this group off as a Black Metal band, I reluctanly purchsed Rheingold. Well, to my utmost surprise, this is a great band that knows how to play true classic power heavy metal.

The guitarist is great (rhythm & lead), Drummer is very solid, bass is good and the singer takes a little getting used to but sounds quite good here.

This is hard driving metal and reminds me of some Iced Earth, Old Metalica, classic Judas Priest and of all bands, Accept.

Best crunching tracks here are Rheingold, Valhala, Giants & Twilight of the Gods.

This CD is highly recommended for those of you who require a refresher in Classic Metal.

This being my first Grave Digger purchase, I am pleasantly surprised at how well they execute their brand of metal. Nice heavy riffing, gruff vocals far superior to all that laryngitis death metal crap. This band seems better than other German bands I have heard. Sorry I didn't hear them sooner!

As originally written (by me) on RoyalCarnage.com:

If you were to ask a random music fan in the U.S. who GRAVE DIGGER was, chances are they'd tell you it was a monster truck.

Most people simply don't realize that GRAVE DIGGER is a metal institution, and they've just released their 11th studio effort, Rheingold. Wisely deciding to return to writing concept albums, the new one is based on a Richard Wagner opera titled "The Ring Of The Nibelungs," and is about the ancient Germanic peoples and viking hordes! So right, away, bonus points awarded for the topic (alright, I confess, I'm a Nordic mythology geek, sue me). But the proof would have to be in the proverbial pudding. The best story in the world set to putrid music would still be putrid music. So, the music had big expectations to live up to.

I'm pleased to confirm that not only does the music suffice; it's a veritable treasure trove of crunchy, tasty riffs and huge sing-a-long choruses. It's pump your fist metal, the kind you turn WAY ...up, edging your speakers perilously close to the danger zone. Much of the heavier, guitar-driven metal feel of the album is due to Manni Schmidt being more comfortable in the band; it sounds as if he's been given the reigns to shred away on the six-string. And shred he does. With liberal soloing throughout, Rheingold is a guitar-lover's dream.

Beginning somewhat ominously with "The Ring," the story/album quickly launches into one of the strongest, most deliciously headbanging songs, the title track. Featuring a classic, GRAVE DIGGER trademark chorus - i.e. HUGE and catchy - and a ripping, twisting riff, the medieval story is in full swing. With nary a breath to take, GRAVE DIGGER then runs through big piledriving metal anthem after metal anthem. Though the song titles are almost deliriously silly and unoriginal ("Giants," "Valhalla," "Sword," "Dragon"?), the band sounds as if they're having fun churning out real metal. And since when was real metal about anything other than having some fun? One of the coolest components of the album is that each of the 10 songs incorporates a small piece of music inspired directly by Wagner's opera, which only adds to the epic, mystical feel of the album. Beyond that, Rheingold at its core is a true metal album, would you expect anything less from GRAVE DIGGER?

If there is one piece of criticism I'd like to point out, it's that the guitar sound is far from original. While played extremely well and often prone to inducing dangerous levels of headbanging, some of the guitar riffs and licks sound almost lifted off JUDAS PRIEST'S Painkiller album! I dare you to not hear a significant PRIEST feel to the guitar playing! But I want to make sure that by no means does this take away from the overall enjoyment of the album. I mean, if you produce comparisons to one of metal's most widely respected records, then take a bow! If this is the direction they're now to find themselves heading, their next effort will be monumental, provided the lineup remains the same. All in all, Rheingold is a fine album and more than worthy enough to carry the GRAVE DIGGER name. I'll even go as far as to raise my hand and proclaim that this new one is every bit as strong as their classic medieval trilogy from the mid-1990s. Not only will Rheingold satisfy and please their loyal legion of followers, but will serve to bring many new listeners to the fold. Recommended!