Grave Digger Rock & Indie 11 Items

"Rheingold", originally released in 2003, was the 11th studio album of the German metal showcase band around Chris Boltendahl. A concept album based on the lyrics of Richard Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung".

Grave Digger are one of the most enduring and respected bands devoted to classic and true HM, with a long discography spanning over 35 years. The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. In 1983, they released their debut album "Heavy Metal Breakdown", followed by their second album "Witch Hunter" in 1985. Festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed before the release of the third album "War Games" in January 1986, all on Noise Records. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, under which they released the album "Stronger Than Ever". This album had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger, and it was not accepted by fans. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987. However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later in Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, "The Reaper", returning to the true Heavy Metal roots of Grave Digger. "Symphony Of Death" was released in 1994, with the same line-up as "The Reaper". Then there's "Heart of Darkness" (1995), "Tunes of War" (1996), "Knights of the Cross" (1998), and "Excalibur" (1999), all with the same powerful lineup except for the drummers, Frank Ullrich first and then Stefan Arnold (Capricorn). In 2001, Uwe Lulis left the band and was replaced by Manni Schmidt (Rage); with this line-up they recorded the obscure "Grave Digger" (2001), the epic "Rheingold" (2003), then "Last Supper" (2005) and "Liberty or Death" (2006), both albums not completely appreciated by fans. "Ballads of a Hangman" (2009) is maybe their best with Manni on axe, and it’s also the last, before he is replaced by Axel Ritt.

With a long discography in over 35 years of career, Grave Digger are one of the most longeval and appreciated band devoted to classic and true HM. The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. In 1983 they released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, second album “Witch Hunter” in 1985. Festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, all on Noise Records. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger and it was not accepted by fans. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987. However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later in Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true Heavy Metal roots of Grave Digger. “Symphony Of Death” is released in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. Then other great albums follow such as "Heart of Darkness" (1995), "Tunes of War" (1996), "Knights of the Cross" (1998), "Excalibur" (1999), all with the same powerful lineup except for the drummers, Frank Ullrich first and Stefan Arnold (Capricorn) then. "Tunes of Wacken" is the band's first official live, recorded in 2002, completely focused on the previous albums before "Grave Digger" released in 2001, which features Manni Schmidt (Rage) on guitar instead of Uwe Lulis. Kindly licensed by Sony Music, available for the very first time on vinyl, remastered by Patrick W. Engel.

The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. After various appearances at small festivals, the band recorded a song for the compilation album “Rock From Hell” in 1983. A year later, Grave Digger released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”, second album “Witch Hunter” in 1985. Then some changes happened in the line-up. Further festival appearances, a tour as the supporting act for Helloween, and a triple headlining tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween, followed before the release of the third album “War Games” in January 1986, still on Noise Records, as the previous ones. Then Uwe Lulis on guitar joined the band in 1987 and the band's name was changed to Digger, the name under which they released the album “Stronger Than Ever”. This album hardly had anything in common with the earlier music of Grave Digger. It was more an attempt to reach the masses with mainstream rock like that of Bon Jovi or Van Halen. The album flopped, as it was not readily accepted by fans nor the mainstream. As a result, Chris Boltendahl declared the break-up of the band at the end of 1987. However, the band partially reformed in 1991. Chris Boltendahl and Uwe Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael (Rage, later in Running Wild, Stratovarius), released a comeback record, “The Reaper”, returning to the true roots of Grave Digger. “Symphony Of Death” followed in 1994, with the same line-up of “The Reaper”. In the meantime, Grave Digger, now with new drummer, Frank Ullrich, toured Germany, playing as the supporting act for Manowar. In 1995, the album “Heart Of Darkness” was released, considered one of the best of the band. In 1996, Stefan Arnold became the new drummer. This year also marked the release of the concept album “Tunes Of War”, which dealt with the early history of Scotland. The second album, “Knights Of The Cross”, with Jens Becker (Running Wild) on bass, was completed in 1997 and was about the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The third and final part of the middle-age trilogy, “Excalibur” (1999), explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Shortly after the band embarked on a world tour and was joined by keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg, who later became a permanent bandmember. In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated their 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they performed a sold-out concert at the Zeche in Bochum. This concert marked a defining chapter in the band's history, as Uwe Lulis left the band shortly before the show due to both personal and business-related differences. A replacement was found in ex-Rage guitarist Manni Schmidt, who first appears in “The Grave Digger” (2001) with lyrics of the album inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's books. Their first live album, “Tunes Of Wacken”, was released in 2002. About a year later new album followed, entitled “Rheingold” inspired on the opera “Der Ring Der Nibelungen” by Richard Wagner. After the successful Rheingold-Tour the band recorded a new album, “The Last Supper” (2005). All these last 4 albums were released under Nuclear Blast. 2007 saw the release of “Liberty Or Death” (on Locomotive Records) and later that year, Grave Digger performed at the legendary Wacken Open Air. In October, a new member joined the Grave Digger family, Thilo Hermann (Running Wild) became the second guitarist. Grave Digger split with Locomotive, dealing with Napalm Records. “Ballads Of A Hangman” was released in the summer of 2009 entering the charts in Austria and Switzerland, it reached number 31 in the German Media Control Charts. Fueled by the tremendous feedback, they embarked on an extensive tour, also playing selected shows at numerous European festivals. Due to personal and musical differences, both guitarists Thilo Hermann and Manni Schmidt left the band, prior to entering the studio. Axel Ritt took over all guitar duties on “The Clans Will Rise Again.” With lyrics returning to the Scottish Highlands. To mark their 30th anniversary, Grave Digger invited many guests on stage at the Wacken Open Air 2010 to join in the celebration. The amazing reaction of the fans and the outstanding chemistry of those involved led to the fantastic double package “Ballad Of Mary” and “The Clans Are Still Marching”. On their latest album “Clash of the Titans”, Grave Digger entered the legendary realm of Ancient Greek and its gods and creatures. After this release the band recorded, always for Napalm Records, 3 more albums "Return of the Reaper", "Healed by Metal", "The Living Dead" and "Exhumation, The Early Years" compilation.The new recording is planned for 2020. With this long discography in over 35 years of career, Grave Digger shows to be one of the most longeval and appreciated band devoted to classic and old school HM.

High Roller Records, reissue 2023, doublemint vinyl, ltd 400, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover, insert printed on uncoated paper, poster, Transfer, audio restoration and mastering by Patrick W. Engel at Temple OF Disharmony in March 2023. Cutting by SST Germany on Neumann machines for optimal quality on all levels... The ultimate audiophile reissue of this German Metal classic!