Review: Grave Digger - Return of the Reaper | |||||||
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Return of the Reaper | |||||||
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Label: Napalm Records Year released: 2014 Duration: 43:24 Tracks: 12 Genre: Power Metal Rating: Review online: November 30, 2014 Reviewed by: MetalMike |
Readers' Rating How do you rate this release? Rated 4.16/5 (83.16%) (19 Votes)
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Review | |||||||
If you've heard one Grave Digger album then you already have a pretty good idea of what you're going to get when you start spinning the venerable band's 16th full-length album, Return of the Reaper, at least in terms of sound. Germanic Power Metal, mostly free of keyboards, that motors along and seeks to bowl over any and all in its path is what founder Chris Boltendahl and company are all about and that formula, which has served them well since 1984's Heavy Metal Breakdown is still doing its job. I have to admit this new one is superior to the last few (going back to The Clans Will Rise Again) in that it is faster, heavier and the songwriting is much tighter. While there certainly nothing new about tracks like "Resurrection Day," "Grave Desecrator" or the rowdy "Dia De Los Muertos," I'll be damned if I wasn't tapping my foot and singing along with the choruses. I even had to do a double-take when "Tattooed Rider" began since Grave Digger has lovingly recreated the opening guitar synth and drum riffs from Priest's "Turbo Lover." If crunchy, Germanic Power Metal à la Gamma Ray or Iron Fire floats your boat, and you somehow don't already know about Boltendahl and crew, Return of the Reaper is the first of many Grave Digger albums you'll want to add to your collection. |
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