Jolly Roger Rock & Indie 17 Items

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.

Il Rovescio della Medaglia was born in Rome in 1970 from an idea of guitarist Enzo Vita, then Stefano Urso on bass, Gino Campoli on drums and singer Pino Ballarini joined the band. Unlike many prog-rock bands of the time (pfm, Banco del Mutuo Soccorso, Orme, Osanna,...), they chose not have a keyboard player, aiming to offer so a straight-hard rock sound with a strong live impact. Showing great skills with their instruments, they played live at many festivals in in Italy. In 1971 they signed a deal with major RCA to record their first album entitled “La Bibbia”. Recorded live in only one day (!) it’s a “rock bomb” and immediately a triumph among critics and audiences. In 1972 they recorded their second album entitled “Io come Io”, inspired by Hegel's philosophy. Then they started to tour (also outside Italy) and play live with their “rare” huge music-equipment, infact at the time owning more than 10 thousand watts of power was thing reserved to few groups. At their shows people was hit by a sonic avalanche! In 1973, Luis Enriquez Bacalov, famous orchestra conductor and composer of many motion-soundtracks (won a Oscar with Troisi's “Il Postino”) contacted the band to propose to work together on a new album that would have melt rock to symphonic music. For Bacalov it was the third experience like this, after the previous successes with New Trolls (“Concerto Grosso”) and Osanna (“Milano Calibro 9”). The result of this cooperation was the album "Contaminazione". It’s considered a milestone of the italian progressive rock, taking inspiration from by J.S. Bach’s preludes and fugues while lyrics tell the alleged theme of a Scottish son not recognized by the great Austrian composer. It was a worldwide success, so high that RCA company also released an english language version with the title “Contamination”. To present live the new album Il Rovescio della Medaglia recruited a keyboard player, Franco Di Sabatino. Unfortunately later their truck with all the precious equipment is stolen and even if the most famous bands of the time organized a concert to help them, at the “Piper” in Rome, the band feels the blow: the singer left and after a new single, they decided to quit. Founder Enzo Vita began his career as session-man collaborating with many Italian artists and in 2011 gave new life to the band releasing a new album “Microstorie” with Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth, New Trolls,…) on vocals. In 2016 it’s time for another new album, entitled “Tribal Domestic” (with major Sony) back to a progressive and symphonic rock sound as the first album “La Bibbia”. Featuring Chris Catena on vocals with the help of the first singer Pino Ballarini and many international session-musicians. In 2017 Enzo Vita contacted bassist Andrea Castelli (Shabby Trick, Silver Horses, Mantra, Cappanera…) to form also a live-band to bring on stages once again their music. From this collaboration they release "Contaminazione 2.0" (Jolly Roger Records 2020) recorded live in San Galgano and totally focused on their album "Contaminazione" and now "La Bibbia - 50th Anniversary" (completely re-recorded) to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the debut; the record gave at the time the "Italians Black Sabbath" nickname to the band: for fans of the genre it can be considered the first Italian Hard Rock album for its original heavy sound, so dark and powerful thanks also to the excellent skills of the musicians.

Today, Jolly Roger Records announce the release of Witchwood’s highly anticipated third album, "Before the Winter". In 2014, from the ashes of the Buttered Bacon Biscuits, Witchwood were born. Buttered Bacon Biscuits released a self-produced CD in 2010, titled From the Solitary Woods (available on CD and LP from Jolly Roger in 2017), and positively reviewed by many Italian and foreign music magazines and websites. They played many gigs around Italy, also supporting important bands like Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, and Bud Spencer Blues Explosion among others.

Depressive Age's early years in the late '80s (known as Blackout) were quite hard, even for rock & roll's toughest standards. The East German group made a daring escape across the border in 1987, but lead singer Jan Lubitzki was caught and went in jail for a year, before joining his bandmates, guitarists Jochen Klemp and Jingo Grigoleit, bassist Tim Schallenberg, and drummer Norbert Drescher, in the West. In 1992, the progressive metal ensemble released their debut, amazing album, "First Depression", followed in 1993 by "Lying in Wait" and in 1994 by "Symbols for the Blue Times", all on G.U.N. label. Especially last album moved more into original and audacious sound. Before their last recording "Electric Scum" (1996 – G.U.N.) guitarist Grigoleit left the band. Then, sadly, they shortenend their name to D-Age and slowly disappeared.

Depressive Age's early years in the late '80s (known as Blackout) were quite hard, even for rock & roll's toughest standards. The East German group made a daring escape across the border in 1987, but lead singer Jan Lubitzki was caught and went in jail for a year, before joining his bandmates, guitarists Jochen Klemp and Jingo Grigoleit, bassist Tim Schallenberg, and drummer Norbert Drescher, in the West. In 1992, the progressive metal ensemble released their debut, amazing album, "First Depression", followed in 1993 by "Lying in Wait" and in 1994 by "Symbols for the Blue Times", all on G.U.N. label. Especially last album moved more into original and audacious sound. Before their las recording "Electric Scum" (1996 – G.U.N.) guitarist Grigoleit left the band. Then, sadly, they shortenend their name to D-Age and slowly disappeared. Available again on vinyl and on Cd formats, previous prints sold out since years and hard to find nowadays.

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.