Grave Digger - Exhumation: The Early Years

Grave Digger date back to a time that is very fond to me. Having cut my teeth on early 80's metal as a kid, especially the kind of material coming out of Europe, Grave Digger have a sound very near and dear to my heart. Germany metal - ah so sweet. Grave Digger got their start in 1980, coming up through the ranks with other great German metal bands like Accept, Running Wild, Rage, Sinner, and early Helloween, and  are not only still going strong today, but are often ranked as one of the top German metal bands around. Following up last year's amazing release "Return of the Reaper" this 2015 release finds the band joining the ranks of the numerous other bands who have done a re-record project of this nature.

Exhumed - The Early Years finds the band breathing new life into some of their early classics and sets the stage for what is to come in 2016 with the inclusion of two new tracks. The title track from their iconic debut 'Heavy Metal Breakdown', as well as “Headbanging Man” were some the first anthems showcased in their groundbreaking new era of Metal, and now they can be heard anew. Charismatic front-man Chris Boltendahl, core and figurehead of the band since the very beginning left his mark with his unique vocal style on each and every release since. 


Focusing beyond their debut and subsequent hit albums like 'Witch Hunter' and 'War Games', we are also given new takes on classic favorites such as “Shoot Her Down” the unforgettable opening track from the first Grave Digger demo from 1982! Also included is “Stand Up And Rock” from 1987's 'Stronger Than Ever', which was released under the cross-over attempted band name “Digger” (now a rare and highly sought after edition). And as mentioned, this release includes "My Private Hell Morning" and "Young And Dangerous" two bonus tracks and the first new songs since last year's 'Return Of The Reaper.'

As expected, the newly recorded version of these classics sound amazing. For die-hard fans who grew up with the originals, it may a bit of time to get used to the remakes, but in the end they represent amazing work from an amazing band, and bring these great classics in updated fashion to a new generation of metal fans.

While metal feels all but dead in The U.S. of A., metalheads like me rejoice that we can still get plenty of the medicine we need from overseas like this, and are ever thankful that record labels still keep a stead stream of it coming to us. Be sure to pick up this - yet another spectacular release - from one of metal's best.

Tracklist:

1. Headbanging Man
2. Fire in the Eyes
3. Witch Hunter
4. Shoot Her Down
5. Stand Up and Rock
6. Heavy Metal Breakdown
7. Ebola Gray - Drop the Bomb
8. Get Away
9. We Wanna Rock You
10. Playinh Fools
11. Here I Stand
12. Tyrant
13. Paradise 
14. My Private Morning Hell (Bonus Track)
15. Young And Dangerous (Bonus Track)