German heavy metal legends GRAVE DIGGER return with a brand-new studio album: “Faces of Pain” will be released on January 15, 2027 via Reaper Entertainment. The striking cover artwork was created by Uwe Jarling.
For more than four decades, GRAVE DIGGER have been one of the defining forces of German heavy metal. From classics such as Heavy Metal Breakdown and Tunes of War to the immortal anthem “Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)”, the band around frontman Chris Boltendahl have played a major role in shaping the sound of German heavy metal.
Following the straightforward old-school approach of their 45th-anniversary album Bone Collector, GRAVE DIGGER are now ready for the next chapter. “Faces of Pain” consistently continues down this path, presenting the band as energetic, uncompromising and diverse as ever.
Chris Boltendahl comments:
“The time has finally come: With our new album Faces of Pain, we are opening the next furious chapter. This record is filled with an incredible amount of heart, sweat and pure passion. How can the result best be described?
What lies behind us was an extraordinary creative effort. In particular, my collaboration with Tobias Kersting on guitar has grown incredibly strong and developed into a deeply rooted creative partnership. His riffs, my lyrics and our shared vision unleashed an incredible dynamic. The result is a mature yet highly explosive late-career work that uncompromisingly combines all the classic trademarks our fans have loved for decades.
Faces of Pain shows us at our most diverse in a long time. Grave Digger consistently follow their very own style – a style we have shaped ourselves over the years. The remarkable thing is that we never copy ourselves for a single second, yet every song and every note unmistakably carries the band’s typical, mighty sound. Get ready for a true metal monster!”
Razor-sharp riffs, massive choruses and Chris Boltendahl’s unmistakably rough vocals form the foundation of the album. Fast-paced heavy metal bangers such as “Faces of Pain” and “Satan’s Tango” meet riff-driven mid-tempo anthems including “The Number”, “Legends Never Die” and “When The World Is Calling You”. With “Dead Sun” and “Say Hello To The Devil”, the band also reveals a particularly heavy and dark side.
More than 45 years after their formation, GRAVE DIGGER are clearly nowhere near ready to call it a day. Faces of Pain is an album full of energy and classic heavy metal – firmly rooted in the band’s history, yet with its sights set firmly on the future.
The album was produced by Chris Boltendahl at Graveyard Studios in Senden, Germany. The cover artwork was created by Uwe Jarling.
Starting in January 2027, GRAVE DIGGER will also bring the new material to the stage. On the “Legends Never Die Tour”, fans can experience the unbroken live power of this German heavy metal institution.
LEGENDS NEVER DIE TOUR
GRAVE DIGGER
MOTORJESUS
WARWOLF
14.01.2027: Siegburg – Kubana Live Club
15.01.2027: Münster – Sputnikhalle
16.01.2027: Andernach – JUZ Live Club
21.01.2027: Nürnberg – Hirsch
22.01.2027: Memmingen – Kaminwerk
23.01.2027: München – Backstage
24.01.2027: (CH) Pratteln – Z7 Konzertfabrik
28.01.2027: Aschaffenburg – Colos-Saal
29.01.2027: Mannheim – Capitol
30.01.2027: Leipzig – Hellraiser
04.02.2027: Berlin – Hole 44
05.02.2027: Hamburg – Markthalle
06.02.2027: Hannover – MusikZentrum
12.02.2027: Markneukirchen – Musikhalle
13.02.2027: Bochum – RuhrCongress
Tickets: tinyurl.com/grave-digger-live
photo by Iro Kalligeri (@irokalligeriphotography)
