Origin: Germany  
Genres: Power Metal
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Last update/review: September 1, 2022

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 (ex-Digger)

Tobias Kersting

guitars (ex-Orden Ogan)

Jens Becker

bass (ex-Running Wild, ex-X-Wild)

Marcus Kniep

keyboards/drums

Former Members/Guests

Peter Masson

guitars

Uwe Lulis

guitars (Accept, ex-Digger, ex-Rebellion)

Manni Schmidt

guitars (ex-Rage)

Thilo Herrmann

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

Axel Ritt

guitars

Willi Lackmann

bass

C.F. Brank

bass (ex-Digger)

Tomi Göttlich

bass (Rebellion)

H.P. Katzenburg

keyboards

Albert Eckardt

drums (ex-Digger)

Jörg Michael

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

Frank Ullrich

drums (ex-Living Death, ex-X-Wild)

Stefan Arnold

drums (ex-Capricorn, ex-Grinder, ex-Wallop)


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


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


Symphony Of Death  EP
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
1995 Readers' Album #50



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
1996 Readers' Album #71



The Dark Of The Sun  EP
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
1998 Readers' Album #75



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
1999 Readers' Album #67



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
2002 Readers' Album #88



Tunes Of Wacken  VIDEO
2002 GUN


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
2003 Readers' Album #45



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
2005 Readers' Album #48



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  VIDEO
2005 Nuclear Blast


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
2007 Readers' Album #87



Pray  EP
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
2009 Readers' Album #39



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
2010 Readers' Album #59



The Clans Are Still Marching  VIDEO
2011 Napalm


Home At Last  EP
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)
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold


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
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold
2012 Readers' Album #46



Return Of The Reaper  
2014 Napalm
  1. Return Of The Reaper
  2. Hell Funeral
  3. War God
  4. Tattooed Rider
  5. Resurrection Day
  6. Season Of The Witch
  7. Road Rage Killer
  8. Dia De Los Muertos
  9. Satan's Host
  10. Grave Desecrator
  11. Death Smiles At All Of Us
  12. Nothing To Believe
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • H.P. Katzenburg
  • Stefan Arnold
2014 Readers' Album #39



Exhumation (The Early Years)  
2015 Napalm
  1. Headbanging Man
  2. Fire in Your Eyes
  3. Witch Hunter
  4. Shoot Her Down
  5. Stand Up and Rock
  6. Heavy Metal Breakdown
  7. Enola Gay - Drop the Bomb
  8. Get Away
  9. We Wanna Rock You
  10. Playing Fools
  11. Here I Stand
  12. Tyrant
  13. Paradise
  14. My Private Morning Hell
  15. Young and Dangerous
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • Stefan Arnold


Healed By Metal  
2017 Napalm
  1. Healed By Metal
  2. When Night Falls
  3. Lawbreaker
  4. Forever Free
  5. Call For War
  6. Ten Commandments Of Metal
  7. The Hangman's Eye
  8. Kill Ritual
  9. Hallelujah
  10. Laughing With The Dead
  11. Kingdom Of The Night (digipak bonus)
  12. Bucket List (digipak bonus)
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • Marcus Kniep
  • Stefan Arnold
2017 Readers' Album #46



The Living Dead  
2018 Napalm
  1. Fear of the Living Dead
  2. Blade of the Immortal
  3. When Death Passes By
  4. Shadow of the Warrior
  5. The Power of Metal
  6. Hymn of the Damned
  7. What War Left Behind
  8. Fist in Your Face
  9. Insane Pain
  10. Zombie Dance
  11. Glory or Grave
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • Marcus Kniep
  • Stefan Arnold


Fields Of Blood  
2020 Napalm
  1. The Clansman's Journey
  2. All for the Kingdom
  3. Lions of the Sea
  4. Freedom
  5. The Heart of Scotland
  6. Thousand Tears
  7. Union of the Crown
  8. My Final Fight
  9. Gathering of the Clans
  10. Barbarian
  11. Fields of Blood
  12. Requiem for the Fallen
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • Marcus Kniep


Symbol Of Eternity  
2022 Rock Of Angels
  1. The Siege of Akkon
  2. Battle Cry
  3. Hell Is My Purgatory
  4. King of the Kings
  5. Symbol of Eternity
  6. Saladin
  7. Nights of Jerusalem
  8. Heart of a Warrior
  9. Grace of God
  10. Sky of Swords
  11. Holy Warfare
  12. The Last Crusade
  13. Hellas Hellas (Vasilis Papakonstantinou cover)
  • Chris Boltendahl
  • Axel Ritt
  • Jens Becker
  • Marcus Kniep



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