One of the greatest representatives of Teutonic heavy metal, Grave Digger comes back with a new album, with a new guitarist, Tobias Kersting, in the line-up. I don’t know what we should expect from Grave Digger forty-five years since their formation, yet this is a back to the roots album. Grave Digger are going old-school and redefine their style, getting to the core and bringing back to their signature sound. You know, this is riff-based heavy metal, in the way it was brewed in the ‘80s, without keyboards, without concept lyrics, only with loud guitars, an anvil-like rhythm section and the characteristic voice of Chris Boltendahl, who has produced, mixed and mastered the album. No one knows better Grave Digger than Chris, and that’s why “Bone Collector” is so god-damn heavy, with a live feeling, multi-layered and grandiose. The return of Grave Digger is an inspired one, brimming with good song ideas, big refrains and crushing riffs. Kersting had done a perfect, jaw-dropping job with all his complex lead and rhythm guitar parts, better than any expectation. This album will rock your brains out with some fantastic songs like “Bone Collector”, “The Rich The Poor The Dying”, “Kingdom of Skulls”, “The Devils Serenade”, “Made of Madness” and “Whispers of the Damned” and some other good Grave Digger tunes will make you sing along and headbang! Generally, “Bone Collector” is a fine album of German heavy metal, with some serious guitar playing and the old, beloved finesse of Grave Digger. Old fashioned but not dated, Grave Digger are here and ready to take our skulls! And, oh my god, we can’t resist!
♦ 8/10
Dimitris Zacharopoulos