Origin: Germany
Genres: Power Metal
official site

Grave Digger  


Grave Digger is one of a quartet of German bands that have been at the forefront of the German power metal field since the eighties, alongside Helloween, Running Wild, and Rage. Like the other three, Grave Digger was initially signed to Noise Records and was instrumental in the rise of that label, and like both Running Wild and Rage, have endured multiple lineup changes surrounding their front man, that man here being Chris Boltendahl. And like the other three, Grave Digger have released a slew of classic German power metal albums, with no signs of slowing down.

Current Members

Chris Boltendahl

vocals (Digger)

Axel Ritt

guitars

Jens Becker

bass (Running Wild, X-Wild)

H.P. Katzenburg

keyboards

Stefan Arnold

drums (Capricorn, Grinder, Wallop)

Former Members/Guests

Peter Masson

guitars

Uwe Lulis

guitars (Digger, Rebellion)

Manni Schmidt

guitars (Rage)

Thilo Herrmann

guitars (Faithful Breath, Holy Moses, Risk, Running Wild)

Willi Lackmann

bass

C.F. Brank

bass (Digger)

Tomi Göttlich

bass (Rebellion)

Albert Eckardt

drums (Digger)

Jörg Michael

drums (Headhunter, House Of Spirits, Mekong Delta, Axel Rudi Pell, Rage, Running Wild, Saxon, Schwarzarbeit, Stratovarius, Unleashed Power)

Frank Ullrich

drums (Living Death, X-Wild)


Discography


Heavy Metal Breakdown 
1984 Noise
  1. Headbanging Man
  2. Heavy Metal Breakdown
  3. Back From The War
  4. Yesterday
  5. We Wanna Rock You
  6. Legion of The Lost
  7. Tyrant
  8. 2000 Light Years From Home
  9. Heart Attack
  10. Twilight Of The Gods
  11. Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)
  12. The Grave Digger
  13. Rheingold
  14. The Round Table (Forever)
  15. Heavy Metal Breakdown
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Peter Masson
  • Willi Lackmann
  • Albert Eckardt

Reviews:   Metal Forces 


Witch Hunter 
1985 Noise
  1. Witch Hunter
  2. Night Drifter
  3. Get Ready For Power
  4. Love is a Game
  5. Get Away
  6. Fight For Freedom
  7. School's Out
  8. Friends of Mine
  9. Here I Stand
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Peter Masson
  • Willi Lackmann
  • Albert Eckardt



War Games 
1986 Noise
  1. Keep On Rockin'
  2. Heaven Can Wait
  3. Fire In Your Eyes
  4. Let Your Heads Roll
  5. Love Is Breaking My Heart
  6. Paradise
  7. (Enola Gay) Drop The Bomb
  8. Fallout
  9. Playing Fools
  10. The End
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Peter Masson
  • C.F. Brank
  • Albert Eckardt



The Reaper 
1993 GUN
  1. The Reaper
  2. Ride On
  3. Shadow Of A Moonless Night
  4. Lay Your Game (And Kill)
  5. Wedding Day
  6. Spy Of Man's On
  7. Under My Flag
  8. Fight The Fight
  9. Legion Of The Lost (Part II)
  10. And The Devil Plays Piano
  11. Ruler Mr. H
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Tomi Göttlich
  • Jörg Michael



(EP) Symphony Of Death 
1993 GUN
  1. Intro
  2. Symphony of Death
  3. Back to the Roots
  4. House of Horror
  5. Shout It Out
  6. World of Fools
  7. Wild And Dangerous
  8. Sin City (japanese bonus)
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Tomi Göttlich
  • Jörg Michael



Best Of The Eighties 
1994 Noise
  1. Heavy Metal Breakdown
  2. Shoot Her Down
  3. Get Away
  4. Paradise
  5. (Enola Gay) Drop The Bomb
  6. Back From The War
  7. Witch Hunter
  8. Keep On Rockin'
  9. 2000 Light Years From Home
  10. Heaven Can Wait
  11. Headbanging Man
  12. Night Drifter
  13. We Wanna Rock You
  14. Yesterday
  15. Don't Kill The Children
  16. Tears Of Blood
  17. Girls Of Rock'N'Roll



Heart Of Darkness 
1995 GUN
  1. Tears of Madness
  2. Shadowmaker
  3. The Grave Dancer
  4. Demon's Day
  5. Warchild
  6. Heart of Darkness
  7. Hate
  8. Circle of Witches
  9. Black Death
  10. My Life
  11. Dolphin's Cry
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Tomi Göttlich
  • Frank Ullrich



Tunes Of War 
1996 GUN
  1. The Brave (Intro)
  2. Scotland United
  3. The Dark of the Sun
  4. William Wallace (Braveheart)
  5. The Bruce
  6. The Battle of Flodden
  7. The Ballad of Mary (Queen of Scots)
  8. The Truth
  9. Cry For Freedom (James the VI)
  10. Killing Time
  11. Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)
  12. Culledon Muir
  13. The Fall of the Brave (Outro)
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Tomi Göttlich
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


(EP) The Dark Of The Sun 
1997 GUN
  1. Rebellion - Live In Athens
  2. The Dark Of The Sun
  3. HM Breakdown
  4. Witchhunter
  5. Headbanging Man
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Tomi Göttlich
  • Stefan Arnold



Knights Of The Cross 
1998 GUN
  1. Deus to vult
  2. Knight of the Cross
  3. Monks of war
  4. Heroes of this time
  5. Fanatic Assassins
  6. Lionheart
  7. Keeper of the Holy Grail
  8. Inquisition
  9. Baphomet
  10. Over the sea
  11. The curse of Jacques
  12. Battle of Bannockburn
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Jens Becker
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


Excalibur 
1999 GUN
  1. The Secrets of Merlin
  2. Pendragon
  3. Excalibur
  4. The Round Table (Forever)
  5. Morgane Le Fay
  6. The Spell
  7. Tristan's Fate
  8. Lancelot
  9. Mordred's Song
  10. The Final War
  11. Emerald Eyes
  12. Avalon
  13. Parcival
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Uwe Lulis
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Metal Observer 


The Gravedigger 
2001 Nuclear Blast
  1. Son Of Evil
  2. The Grave Digger
  3. Raven
  4. Scythe Of Time
  5. Spirits Of The Dead
  6. The House
  7. King Pest
  8. Sacred Fire
  9. Funeral Procession
  10. Haunted House
  11. Silence
  12. Starlight
  13. Running Free
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold



Tunes Of Wacken  LIVE
2002 GUN
  1. Intro
  2. Scotland United
  3. The Dark Of The Sun
  4. The Reaper
  5. The Roundtable
  6. Excalibur
  7. Circle Of Witches
  8. The Ballad Of Mary (Queen Of Scots)
  9. Lionheart
  10. Morgane Le Fay
  11. Knights Of The Cross
  12. Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)
  13. Heavy Metal Breakdown
  14. CD Tunes Of War
  15. CD Knights Of The Cross
  16. CD Excalibur
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold



Tunes Of Wacken 
2002 GUN

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


The Middle Ages Trilogy  BOXED SET
2002 GUN



Rheingold 
2003 Nuclear Blast
  1. The Ring
  2. Rheingold
  3. Valhalla
  4. Giants
  5. Maidens Of War
  6. Sword
  7. Drgon
  8. Liar
  9. Murderer
  10. Twilight Of The Gods
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


The Last Supper 
2005 Nuclear Blast
  1. Passion
  2. The Last Supper
  3. Desert Rose
  4. Grave In The No Man's Land
  5. Hell To Pay
  6. Soul Savior
  7. Crucified
  8. Divided Cross
  9. The Night Before
  10. Black Widows
  11. Hundred Days
  12. Always And Eternally
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


25 To Live  LIVE
2005 Nuclear Blast
  1. Passion (Intro)
  2. The Last Supper
  3. Desert Rose
  4. The Grave Dancer
  5. Shoot Her Down
  6. The Reaper
  7. Paradise
  8. Excalibur
  9. The House
  10. Circle Of Witches
  11. Valhalla
  12. Son Of Evil
  13. The Battle Of Bannockburn
  14. The Curse Of Jacques
  15. Grave In The No Man's Land
  16. Yesterday
  17. Morgane Le Fay
  18. Symphony Of Death
  19. Witch Hunter
  20. The Dark Of The Sun
  21. Knights Of The Cross
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold



25 To Live 
2005 Nuclear Blast

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal 


Liberty Or Death 
2007 Nuclear Blast
  1. Liberty or Death
  2. Ocean of Blood
  3. Highland Tears
  4. The Terrible One
  5. Until the last King died
  6. March of the Innocent
  7. Silent Revolution
  8. Shadowland
  9. Forecourt to Hell
  10. Massada
  11. Ship of Hope
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


(EP) Pray 
2008 Napalm
  1. Pray
  2. Overkill
  3. My Blood Will Live Forever
  4. When The Sun Goes Down
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold



Ballads Of A Hangman 
2009 Napalm
  1. The Gallows Pole
  2. Ballad Of A Hangman
  3. Hell Of Disillusion
  4. Sorrow Of The Dead
  5. Grave Of The Addicted
  6. Lonely The Innocent Dies
  7. Into The War
  8. The Shadow Of Your Soul
  9. Funeral For A Fallen Angel
  10. Stormrider
  11. Pray
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Manni Schmidt
  • Thilo Herrmann
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer 


The Clans Will Rise Again 
2010 Napalm
  1. Days Of Revenge
  2. Paid In Blood
  3. Hammer Of The Scots
  4. Highland Farewell
  5. The Clans Will Rise Again
  6. Rebels
  7. Valley Of Tears
  8. Execution
  9. Whom The Gods Love Die Young
  10. Spider
  11. The Piper Mcleod
  12. Coming Home
  13. When Rain Turns To Blood
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold

Reviews:   Blabbermouth  Chronicles Of Chaos  Sea Of Tranquility  Lords Of Metal  Metal Observer  Angry Metal Guy 


The Clans Are Still Marching 
2011 Napalm

Reviews:   Lords Of Metal 


Home At Last 
2012 Napalm
  1. Home At Last
  2. Rage Of The Savage Beast
  3. Metal Will Never Die
  4. Ballad Of A Hangman (live in Wacken 2010)
  5. Excalibur (live in Wacken 2010)
  6. Heavy Metal Breakdown (live in Wacken 2010)



Clash Of The Gods 
2012 Napalm
  1. Charon
  2. God Of Terror
  3. Hell Dog
  4. Medusa
  5. Clash Of The Gods
  6. Death Angel & The Grave Digger
  7. Walls Of Sorrow
  8. Call Of The Sirens
  9. Warriors Revenge
  10. With The Wind
  11. Home At Last


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