Artist: Grave Digger
Label: Nuclear Blast
Release Date: 4/4/00
Average Rating: 4
Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album
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Title: Excalibur Artist: Grave Digger Label: Nuclear Blast Release Date: 4/4/00 |
There are currently 2 Reader Reviews of this album.
Average Rating: 4 Go to Judgment Committee Reviews of this Album |
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Submitted by Jason P Sorens on 7/4/00:
As usual, I find myself in disagreement with Abyss especially regarding a power metal album. Grave Digger is German power metal to be sure, and rather traditional in the way they approach choruses, melodies, riffs, and so on. In fact, many of this stuff is a throwback to 80s power metal. But there are some things to be said in favor of Grave Digger. Tunes of War was an incredible, poignant album which is a must for any metal fan who also enjoys Scottish history (or am I the only one?) Excalibur doesn't shine quite so brightly, with no songs at the level of "William Wallace" or "Culloden Muir." But the guitar sound is just bone-crushingly heavy throughout, almost approaching Nevermore proportions. This is no Dragon-Lies-Bleeding/Ancient-Forest-of-Elves/Rise-and-Fall fairies 'n' rainbows power metal ("not there's anything wrong with that!" --Seinfeld); this is fist-pumping, beer-swilling, attempt-vainly-to-bang-your-head-in-time German ubermensch metal. There's just enough variation in the riffs and so on to make some of the songs distinct and interesting, and thus what we have overall is a nice package. The gang choruses get a little grating (and are more prominent than on Tunes of War), and the songwriting doesn't get extra points for originality, to be sure. But this ain't half bad, and even someone jaded of "the same old thing" like me can give this a high grade. This is a high-3, low-4 kind of album (guess I'll go ahead and give it 4).
Submitted by Stephen Chong on 4/21/00:
Grave Digger regain all their heaviness which was missing at times from their still excellent release, Knights of the Cross. Chris Boltendahl is still roaring like an angry lion over that stomping German power metal. At times his roar is simply too much, as in "Emerald Eyes." Why he chose to growl over this as opposed to his wonderful sound on other previous slow numbers, like the stirring "The Curse of Jacques" (from KotC) must be questioned. With this latest theme album we are treated to stories centered around King Arthur. The sword and sorcery stuff may be overdone in this genre but thematically fits the GD boys perfectly. Fans of the medieval type power metal should eat this up. The only sticking point will be the vocals. For some they will be a treat and add that extra aggression (though the guitar sound is very strong), but those looking for Kiske clones must look elsewhere.Boltendahl, when he is rough, seems more throaty than ever in that Udo-like sound. But if metal fans have no problems with Udo in his more rough moments then they might find favour with these over the top vocals.
Plenty of barnstorming metal without any detuned nonsense. If you don't want to hear big choruses stay away. The extra exotic touches from Subway To Sally members just gives it that edge to make it something special inside the European power metal genre, if not outside it. This is Grave Digger and they are epic metal and damn proud of it. The digi-pack version is worth getting for the mighty "Parcival" which should have been included in all versions, it's so damn good. I have to deduct a skull, using this rating system, for the vocals on "Emerald Eyes" but add half a skull. The bottom line is, if you don't like Euro power metal and in particular the German kind, this won't change your mind. But if you dig Demons & Wizards, Blind Guardian, White Skull, Running Wild and U.D.O. give Excalibur a chance. Myself, I think it's fine stuff.
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