GRAVE DIGGER SET 2017 STANDARD HIGH WITH 'HEALED BY METAL'
Grave Digger: 'Healed By Metal'
Released: Friday 13th January 2017 (Napalm Records) 5th January 2017
Words: Steve Göldby
Grave Digger have set the 2017 bar high with the first significant release of the year and the verdict from Great Britain is a resounding and uncompromising "Hallelujah!"
The Reaper's party is open and the Clans are marching to the tunes of 'Healed By Metal', ten slabs of Heavy Metal gold, executed in the way only Grave Digger can. There's no bullshit here, just pure no-frills Metal and it sure as hell will heal your soul.
"I'm walking on water, change water to wine
I am the healer, I send you a sign..."
The first Friday 13th of the year is a lucky one for all lovers of classic Metal because Chris Boltendahl and his Metal brethren have not only set the standard for the year ahead, but hoisted their own banner higher than ever before as well.
We premiered 'Call To War' here on MetalTalk back in December and the reaction to this rousing tune was exceptional and when you hear the rest of the album, you'll see that Grave Digger have produced one of their greatest pieces of work ever.
'Healed By Metal' is stuffed full of chunky riffs and stirring choruses, all of which will create a big impact on the road this year and add something extra to an already wholesome back catalogue. These new tunes of war will take their rightful place in Grave Digger's armoury and sit proudly side by side with older compositions and become esteemed in their own right over time.
This is the German Metal Titans' nineteenth studio album (1986s 'Stronger Than Ever' was released under the name Digger) and frontman Chris told us in late September when 'Healed By Metal' was first announced: "We're stronger, heavier and more Metal than ever," and 'Healed By Metal' backs up his words totally.
"Killing is so beautiful, dying is no miracle..."
The production on 'Healed By Metal' is absolutely outstanding and 'Free Forever' is a great example of that and a mere thirty-seven years since their formation, the Recklinghausen wrecking crew have really shown their contemporaries how to do it here.
The songs are suberbly strong as it is, Chris' voice is on top, top form but with this outstanding production, everything is enhanced even further, making 'Healed For Metal' irresistible in every way.
"The spirit of king will never die
On wings of freedom he rides the sky
He wants to live, now or never
His legacy will be free forever"
The album title comes from a time a few years ago when Grave Digger played in a large amphitheater in Moscow's Gorky Park. There was a hospital beside the theater and at the end of the festival, Chris said to his tour manager: "Hey, Richard, what do you think? Are these people in the hospital completely bored now? They've listened to Heavy Metal all day and they're all ill."
Richard pointed out to Chris that all the people in the hospital were now healed by Metal. Chris thought it was a genius title and the rest is history. Or it will be on Friday 13th January 2017.
"Sparks fly high when steel meets steel, we send them straight to Hell
Spirit of the grave with us, we take our last farewell..."
Chris recently said: "We’re an entertainment band. We're not political. We don't have a special message for the people. We just like to go on stage and rock with the crowd."
Hier kommen die zehn Gebote des Metal!
'Healed By Metal' can be ordered from Amazon right here.
Here's the tracklist for 'Healed By Metal':
Healed By Metal
When Night Falls
Lawbreaker
Free Forever
Call For War
Ten Commandments Of Metal
The Hangman's Eye
Kill Ritual
Hallelujah
Laughing With The Dead
Grave Digger on tour 2017:
13th January: DE - Peine, Black Hand Inn
14th January: DE - Coesfeld, Fabrik
19th January: DE - Berlin, Columbia Theater
20th January: DE - Geiselwind, Eventzentrum Music Hall
21st January: DE - Glauchau, Alte Spinnerei
22nd January: DE - Ludwigsburg, Rockfabrik
27th January: CH - Pratteln, Z7
28th January: AT - Graz, Explosiv
2nd-6th February: US - 70,000 Tons Of Metal, Ft Lauderdale
10th February: DE - Hamburg, Markthalle
11th February: DE - Bochum, Zeche
16th February: DE - München, Backstage
17th February: DE - Memmingen, Kaminwerk
18th February: DE - Andernach, Juz-Live-Club
7th June: SE - Sweden Rock Festival, Sölvesborg
18th June: BE - Graspop Metal Meeting, Dessel
2nd July: IT - Battlefield Metal Fest, Milano
8th July: DE - Rock Harz Festival, Ballenstedt
4th August: DE - Wacken Open Air
right here
