• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Grave Digger have quite an obsession with the United Kingdom, this time focusing on Scotland. It's been a while since I last reviewed a Grave Digger – nine years – and in that period they've slowly been moving away from barebones Heavy Metal and toward Power Metal. The Clans Will Rise Again is quite Power Metal-ish, though of course Grave Digger take on the genre is more aggressive and heavier than "your average Power Metal band." No pussified stuff here, folks.

These guys have a thing for catchy, anthemic metal and this album is no exception. Right after the first listen I already had a few songs stuck in my head, just replaying over and over. Even though Chris Boltendahl doesn't have the best voice out there (personally I've always liked his style), his gruffy, powerful vocal melodies just have a way of sticking out and that's often how I'll recognize a song from these guys.

Bagpipes and other folk-ish instruments are used on this album, no surprise here, but it's really the guitars that drive things here, with powerful, catchy riffs and swirling solos that just beg you to break out the air guitar and join in the fun. As has been the case for many "modern era" Grave Digger, amidst the hard-hitting rockers and metal anthems they throw in some power ballads – musically quite alright and this time around I find that Chris does a better job with the vocals (he's usually not all that great on the "quiet stuff", compared to the speedier, heavier songs.)

30 years after the band's formation, The Clans Will Rise Again shows Grave Digger still in very good form, delivering a mature, powerful and diverse album. I've rarely been disappointed by this band and sure hope they'll at it for years to come.