German power metal band "GRAVE DIGGER" has released the new video “Home At Last”. The song appears at the band’s new album,“Clash Of The Gods”, which will be released on August 31 in Europe and September 4 in North America through Napalm Records. A six-song mini-CD, "Home At Last", will precede the full-length effort on July 27 in Europe and August 7 in North America. GRAVE DIGGER's new CD was recorded at Principal Studios in Münster, Germany.

“Clash Of The Gods” track listing:

01. Charon
02. God Of Terror
03. Hell Dog
04. Medusa
05. Clash Of The Gods
06. Death Angel & The Grave Digger
07. Walls Of Sorrow
08. Call Of The Sirens
09. Warriors Revenge
10. With The Wind
11. Home At Last

Bonus tracks on digibook version:
12. Saints Of The Broken Souls 13. Zurück Nach Haus ("Home At Last" German version)

"Home At Last" track listing:

01. Home At Last
02. Rage Of The Savage Beast (non-album track)
03. Metal Will Never Die (non-album track)
04. Ballad Of A Hangman (live in Wacken 2010)
05. Excalibur (live in Wacken 2010)
06. Heavy Metal Breakdown (live in Wacken 2010)

An Opus filled with Gods, Heroes and Legends. Power Metal Hymns ! First 100 Orders will receive a FREE EXCLUSIVE GRAVE DIGGER Clash Of The Gods Cover Woven Patch ( 10 x 10 cm ) EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE VIA THE NAPALM RECORDS MAILORDER AND ONLINE STORE. The highly acclaimed predecessor "The Clans Will Rise Again" was dedicated to the sheer mystique and the proud people of Scotland, but on their latest album, GRAVE DIGGER enters the legendary realm of Ancient Greek and its gods and creatures. The lyrics of "Clash of the Gods" pay tribute to the legendary Medusa, Odysseus, Hades and Kerberos amongst others. These tales are clad in sweeping Power Metal compositions filled with powerful riffing and catchy choruses. The songs range from fast and driving double bass tracks, anthemic mid tempo compositions up to rousing and simply beautiful Power Metal ballads. Crowned by Chris Boltendahl's charismatic vocals, the new album offers everything a true Metal heart desires! The magnificent artwork provides the finishing touches and together with the compositions, brings the legendary figures of Ancient Greek to life. "Clash of the Gods" is an unbelievable compact and energy driven opus and will grant GRAVE DIGGER themselves a warm welcome into the pantheon of the gods!

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LTD Digipack + Patch: http://tiny.cc/gravedigger-digipack
CD + Patch: http://tiny.cc/gravedigger-cd

Grave Digger

Genre(s)

Heavy/Power Metal

Lyrical theme(s)

Horror, War, Mythology, European history, Metal

Origin Formed in Current label Status

Germany (Gladbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia) 1980 Napalm Records Active

Current line-up

Chris Boltendahl - Vocals (1980-1986, 1991-) (Bass 1980-1983) (Digger, Hawaii (Deu), The Fyredogs)

Axel "Ironfinger" Ritt - Guitars, Backing Vocals (2010-) (previously live 2009) (Domain (Deu), Kingdom (Deu), Wise Man)

Jens Becker - Bass (1997-) (Running Wild, X-Wild, Zillion (Deu))

Stefan Arnold - Drums (1996-) (Capricorn (Deu), Grinder (Deu), Wallop, X-Mas Project)

Hans Peter ''H.P.'' Katzenburg - Keyboards (1998-)

Former/past member(s)

Guitars:

Peter Masson (1980-1986)

Uwe Lulis (1986, 1991-2000) (Rebellion (Deu), Hawaii (Deu), Digger, Brutal Godz)

Manni Schmidt (2000-2009) (Rage, Jack Of Hearts)

Thilo Hermann (2008-2009) (Faithful Breath, Glenmore, Holy Moses (Deu), Risk, Running Wild, Höllenhunde)

Bass:

Martin Gerlitzki (1983)

Willi Lackman (1983-1984)

René ''T-Bone'' Teichgräber (1984)

C.F. Brank (1985-1987) (S.A.D.O.)

Tomi Göttlich (1991-1997) (Iron Breed, Exray, Rebellion (Deu), Asgard (Deu))

Drums:

Lutz Schmelzer (1980)

Philip Seibel (1981-1983) (R.I.P. 5th April 2003, heart attack)

Albert Eckardt (1983-1987)

Peter Breitenbach (1991-1993) (Warhead (Deu))

Jörg Michael (1993-1994) (Living Death (Deu), Rage, Saxon, Stratovarius, Running Wild, Mekong Delta, Unleashed Power, Surgeon (Deu), Tom Angelripper, House of Spirits, Kaledon, Glenmore, Beto Vázquez Infinity, Axel Rudi Pell, Der Riß, Headhunter (Deu), Soulslide, Avenger (Deu), X-Mas Project, V2)

Frank Ulrich (1994-1995) (Living Death (Deu), X-Wild, Mendacious Messiah, Attack (Deu))

Additional notes

Grave Digger are one of the early German Accept-derived classic/speed metal bands, along with Running Wild, Helloween, Sinner (Deu), Cutty Sark, and Rage. The only original member who is still in the band is vocalist Chris Boltendahl.

After three albums, Grave Digger decided to change their name into Digger

Discography

Demo Demo, 1982

Born Again Demo, 1983

Shoot Her Down Single, 1984

Heavy Metal Breakdown Full-length, 1984

Witch Hunter Full-length, 1985

War Games Full-length, 1986

Return of the Reaper Demo, 1991

For Promotion Only EP, 1992

The Best of the Eighties Best of/Compilation, 1993

The Reaper Full-length, 1993

Symphony of Death EP, 1994

Heart of Darkness Full-length, 1995

Rebellion Single, 1996

Tunes of War Full-length, 1996

The Dark of the Sun EP, 1997

The Battle of Bannockburn Single, 1998

Knights of the Cross Full-length, 1998

The Round Table (Forever) Single, 1999

Excalibur Full-length, 1999

The Grave Digger Full-length, 2001

Die Definitiv Biografie Best of/Compilation, 2002

The History - Part One Best of/Compilation, 2002

Tunes of Wacken DVD, 2002

Tunes of Wacken Live album, 2002

The Middle Ages Trilogy Boxed set, 2002

Masterpieces Best of/Compilation, 2002

Lost Tunes from the Vault Best of/Compilation, 2003

Rheingold Full-length, 2003

The Last Supper Full-length, 2005

Das Hörbuch Best of/Compilation, 2005

25 To Live DVD, 2005

25 To Live Live album, 2005

Silent Revolution Single, 2006

Yesterday EP, 2006

Liberty or Death Full-length, 2007

Pray Single, 2008

Ballads of a Hangman Full-length, 2009

The Hangman Box Boxed set, 2009

The Clans Will Rise Again Full-length, 2010

metal-archives

The beginnings of Grave Digger date back to 1980. After various appearances at small festivals, the band, comprising Chris Boltendahl, Peter Masson, Willi Lackmann and Albert Eckardt, recorded a song for the compilation album “Rock from Hell” in 1983. A year later, Grave Digger released their debut album “Heavy Metal Breakdown”.

They released their second album “Witch Hunter” in 1985. After this album was completed, Eckardt left the band; he was replaced by C.F. Brank. 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. Thereafter, Peter Masson gave way to Uwe Lulis; in 1987 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 neither fans nor the masses. 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, who had been the drummers for Rage and Running Wild, released a comeback record, “The Reaper”. The title song returned to the true roots of Grave Digger. In the same year, the album “Best of the Eighties” was released and comprised a quasi Best-of-Album of their earlier songs.

The album “Symphony of Death” followed in 1994. In the meantime, Grave Digger, now with a new drummer, Frank Ullrich, toured Germany, playing as the supporting act for Manowar. In 1995, the album “Heart of Darkness” was released—a very dark album influenced by the early works of Annihilator.

In 1996, Stefan Arnold became the band's new drummer. This year also marked the release of the concept album “Tunes of War”, which dealt with the early history of Scotland. The album was part one of the Middle Ages Trilogy. The second album, “Knights of the Cross”, with Jens Becker on bass, was completed in 1997 and was about the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The third and final part of the trilogy, “Excalibur”, completed in 1999, explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Shortly after the release of “Excalibur”, 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 on the 2001 Nuclear Blast release “The Grave Digger”. The works of Edgar Allan Poe served as an inspiration for the lyrics of the album. Their first live album, “Tunes of Wacken”, was released in 2002. It was coupled with the release of their first DVD, “Wacken Open Air”. About a year later, the next concept album followed. “Rheingold” centered around the opera “Der Ring der Nibelungen” by Richard Wagner.

After the successful Rheingold-Tour with Symphorce and Wizard as supporting acts, the band recorded a new album, “The Last Supper”. Several journalists hailed it as the best since “Tunes of War” or “Heavy Metal Breakdown”. For the cover artwork, the band turned to artist Gyula Havanscak. The album was released in January 2005. Less than a month later, the band embarked on a tour with Stormhammer and Astral Doors.

October 2005 saw the release of a live DVD recording of the Last Supper Tour and the Sao Paulo concert. The title, “25 to Live”, commemorates the band's 25th anniversary.

In early 2006, Grave Digger signed a deal with the Spanish label Locomotive Records. The single “Yesterday” was released on 29 September including a re-recorded version of the title track. As a special bonus, a live DVD was also included.

January 12, 2007 saw the release of “Liberty or Death” 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 (ex-Running Wild) became the second guitarist.

After finishing the songwriting process for the band's latest album, Grave Digger entered Principal Studio in Munster to record the new songs under the guidance of the Resetti brothers, who have provided them with a sound so forceful and fresh like never before. Furthermore, Grave Digger split with Locomotive making way for a worldwide record deal with Napalm Records.

With the release of the MCD “Pray”, the legendary power metal institution delivers a taste of what is to come on their forthcoming album "Ballads of a Hangman" to be released on 09 Jan 2009. To make the wait bearable, the men around screamer Chris Boltendahl have assembled a genuine metallic package. Hellbent metalheads will be pleased to not only find three non-album tracks, but also the title track "Pray" as an exclusive extended version of the original to be featured on the upcoming longplayer. The direction the band takes is clear: Back to the roots including a killer version of Motörhead's all time classic "Overkill".