Excalibur

Excalibur
Gravedigger
Nuclear Blast
(74321-68595-2)

Grave Digger has been around since the early 1980s and has forged album after album of traditional heavy metal. While their sound has not progressed much over the years, their ability to create albums which focus on their strenghts has. Excalibur, based on the legend of King Arthur, is certainly not groundbreaking, but shows a band doing what they do best.

Fast paced all the way through, this album provides an aural assault on the senses. Opening with a beautiful Celtic melody, complete with flute nd acoustic guitar, each song on Excalibur features the band's interpretation of various stories from the King Arthur tale.

For example, the slow song "The Spell" tells the story of Nimue, who betrays Merlin and manages to cast a life-long spell on him, effectively turning him into stone. The song's melody is melancholy and desperate as Merlin realizes that he has been tricked. Trickery is also uncovered in "Mordred's Song," which tells the tale of Mordred, Arthur's nephew who lusts after his kingdom. This song "shreds" from beginning to end and features a fantastic guitar solo midway hrough.

Unfortunately, Grave Digger is a band that has both the ability to draw and repel potential fans. Lead singer Chris Bottendahl possesses a rather growly voice that only a mother could love, but I suggest looking beyond it, for this album contains the workings of an excellent band. Guitarist Uwe Lulis is fantastic, creating metallic chainsaw riffs that are both clean and catchy.
Excalibur is a fun album with strong, cutting tracks. No disappoinments here; just solid medieval metal.

— Daniel Dees