Grave Digger

Biography

Grave Digger is a German heavy metal band that was first formed in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl and Peter Masson. Emerging from the 1980s German heavy/power/speed metal scene, they are considered part of the scene's "big four" alongside Helloween, Rage and Running Wild.

Early years and split (1980–1990)

After various appearances at small festivals, the band recorded two songs for the compilation album Rock from Hell in 1983. A year later, Grave Digger, now comprising Chris Boltendahl (vocals), Peter Masson (guitar), Willi Lackmann (bass) and Albert Eckardt (drums), released their debut album Heavy Metal Breakdown×Heavy Metal Breakdown1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Headbanging Man3:37A2Heavy Metal Breakdown3:42A3Back From the War5:35A4Yesterday5:06B1We Wanna Rock You4:18B2Legion of the Lost4:54B3Tyrant3:18B42000 Lightyears From Home2:54B5Heart Attack3:16.
In 1985, with Lackmann having left the band, they recorded and released their second album Witch Hunter×Witch Hunter1985 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracks1Witch Hunter4:252Night Drifter3:103Get Ready for Power5:054Love Is a Game5:445Get Away2:596Fight for Freedom3:547School's Out2:428Friends of Mine5:239Here I Stand4:50. Only after the album was completed, a replacement on bass was found in the form of C.F. Brank. Further festival appearances followed, a tour with Helloween as special guest and, finally, their third album War Games×War Games1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Keep on Rocking3:20A2Heaven Can Wait3:33A3Fire in Your Eyes3:45A4Let Your Heads Roll4:06A5Love Is Breaking My Heart4:06B1Paradise4:13B2(Enola Gay) Drop the Bomb3:25B3Fallout4:54B4Playin' Fools3:56B5The End2:31 in January 1986. To promote this album, a triple headline tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed. Thereafter, Peter Masson gave way to Uwe Lulis; in 1987 the band's name was changed to Digger, the name under which they released the album Stronger Than Ever×Stronger Than Ever1986 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracksA1Wanna Get Close4:34A2Don't Leave Me Lonely4:20A3Stronger Than Ever4:32A4Moonriders3:43A5Lay It On3:03B1I Don't Need Your Love4:20B2Listen to the Music3:39B3Stay Till the Morning3:51B4Stand Up and Rock3:58B5Shadows of the Past2:55. The album flopped, as it was not accepted by fans or the masses. As a result, Boltendahl declared at the end of 1987, the breakup of the band. Boltendahl and Lulis started performing under a different band name, Hawaii, in 1988.

Reformation and Middle Ages Trilogy (1991–1999)

In 1991, Grave Digger was partially reformed. Boltendahl and Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael, who had been the drummer for Rage and Running Wild, released a comeback record called The Reaper in 1993. This album was a return to the true roots of Grave Digger. In the same year, the album The Best of the Eighties×The Best of the Eighties1993 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 17 tracks1Heavy Metal Breakdown3:432Shoot Her Down3:403Get Away3:004Paradise4:135(Enola Gay) Drop the Bomb3:276Back From the War5:357Witch Hunter4:248Keep on Rockin'3:0592000 Lightyears From Home2:5510Heaven Can Wait3:3311Headbanging Man3:1012Night Drifter3:1113We Wanna Rock You3:3914Yesterday5:0715Don't Kill the Children3:1816Tears of Blood2:3917Girls of Rock 'n' Roll3:41 was released. It represented a quasi Best-of-Album of their earlier songs.
An EP titled Symphony of Death×Symphony of Death1993 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 7 tracks1Intro0:572Symphony of Death4:273Back to the Roots4:284House of Horror3:375Shout It Out3:106World of Fools5:057Wild and Dangerous2:46 followed in 1994. In the interim, Grave Digger, now with a new drummer, Frank Ullrich, toured Germany, playing as the warm-up act for Manowar. In 1995, the album Heart of Darkness×Heart of Darkness3 April 1995 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Tears of Madness2:102Shadowmaker5:403The Grave Dancer5:024Demon’s Day7:305Warchild6:106Heart of Darkness11:567Hate4:248Circle of Witches7:449Black Death5:4110My Life5:0811Dolphin’s Cry6:01 appeared. It was a very dark album with many influences from the early works of Annihilator.
In 1996, Stefan Arnold became the band's new drummer. This year also marked the release of the concept album Tunes of War×Tunes of War16 September 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Brave2:232Scotland United4:363The Dark of the Sun4:334William Wallace (Braveheart)5:015The Bruce6:586The Battle of Flodden4:067The Ballad of Mary (Queen of Scots)4:598The Truth3:519Cry for Freedom (James the VI)3:1710Killing Time2:5211Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)4:0512Culloden Muir4:0813The Fall of the Brave1:56, which dealt with the history of Scotland. This album was the first part of the Middle Ages Trilogy×The Middle Ages Trilogy2004 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 42 tracks · 3 discsDisc 11The Brave2:232Scotland United4:353The Dark of the Sun4:334William Wallace (Braveheart)5:015The Bruce (The Lion King)6:586The Battle of Flodden4:067The Ballad of Mary (Queen of Scots)4:598The Truth3:519Cry for Freedom (James the VI)3:1710Killing Time2:5211Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)4:0512Culledon Muir4:0813The Fall of the Brave1:5614Heavy Metal Breakdown4:3115Witchhunter3:1416Headbanging Man3:55Disc 21Deus lo vult2:292Knights of the Cross4:353Monks of War3:394Heroes of This Time4:105Fanatic Assassins3:406Lionheart4:347The Keeper of the Holy Grail5:578Inquisition3:489Baphomet4:1210Over the Sea3:5211The Curse of Jacques4:5312The Battle of Bannockburn6:4213Children of the Grave4:26Disc 31The Secrets of Merlin2:392Pendragon4:213Excalibur4:454The Round Table (Forever)5:105Morgane Le Fay5:166The Spell4:397Tristan's Fate3:398Lancelot4:469Mordred's Song4:0010The Final War4:0311Emerald Eyes4:0412Avalon5:5013Parcival4:59. The second album, Knights of the Cross×Knights of the Cross18 May 1998 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Deus lo vult2:292Knights of the Cross4:353Monks of War3:394Heroes of This Time4:105Fanatic Assassins3:406Lionheart4:347The Keeper of the Holy Grail5:578Inquisition3:489Baphomet4:1210Over the Sea3:5211The Curse of Jacques4:5312The Battle of Bannockburn6:4213Children of the Grave4:26, with Jens Becker as bass guitarist, was released in 1998 and was about the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The final part of the trilogy finished in 1999 with Excalibur. This album explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Shortly after, a tour soon followed through with keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg, who later became a permanent band member.

The Grave Digger and Rheingold (2000–2004)

In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated their 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they performed at a sell-out concert at the Zeche in Bochum. Many of the band's most popular songs were played alongside other less well-known ones. There were also a number of different supporting acts appearing with Grave Digger. This concert also marked a defining chapter in the band's history, as Uwe Lulis left a short while before the concert because of personal and business reasons. Lulis finally called his new band Rebellion.
A replacement, in the form of the ex-Rage guitarist, Manni Schmidt, was found. Along with him and the new record label Nuclear Blast, the album The Grave Digger×The Grave Digger22 October 2001 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Son of Evil5:052The Grave Digger5:063Raven4:364Scythe of Time5:155Spirits of the Dead3:566The House5:447King Pest4:088Sacred Fire4:119Funeral Procession5:4610Haunted Palace4:1311Silence7:1412Black Cat3:5113Starlight4:13, appeared in 2001. The works of Edgar Allan Poe served as an inspiration for the lyrics of the new album. Their first live album, Tunes of Wacken, appeared in 2002. This was coupled with the release of their first DVD of the same name. The next album Rheingold×Rheingold21 May 2003 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Ring1:492Rheingold4:013Valhalla3:484Giants4:375Maidens of War5:486Sword5:037Dragon4:078Liar2:469Murderer5:3710Twilight of the Gods6:4211Hero6:3412Goodbye4:18 was released on 26 May 2003, which centered on the opera Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner. They embarked on a tour in support of the album into early 2004.

The Last Supper and Ballads of a Hangman (2005–2009)

After the successful Rheingold Tour, the band recorded another album, The Last Supper×The Last Supper17 January 2005 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Passion1:202The Last Supper5:403Desert Rose4:204Grave in the No Man’s Land4:115Hell to Pay3:486Soul Savior4:107Crucified7:008Divided Cross3:549The Night Before3:3010Black Widows4:2211Hundred Days4:1612Always and Eternally5:28, which was released on 17 January 2005. The artwork was first revealed in November 2004 which received positive feedback. A number of fans were disappointed by the artwork because of the motive. The band issued a statement saying that the cover isn't a message of the Devil and not against Christians, but a representation of a depressive Jesus Christ at his last days before his death. Unlike their previous albums, The Last Supper was not a concept album, despite several songs about the last days of Jesus. A few journalists described the album as the best since Tunes of War×Tunes of War16 September 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Brave2:232Scotland United4:363The Dark of the Sun4:334William Wallace (Braveheart)5:015The Bruce6:586The Battle of Flodden4:067The Ballad of Mary (Queen of Scots)4:598The Truth3:519Cry for Freedom (James the VI)3:1710Killing Time2:5211Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)4:0512Culloden Muir4:0813The Fall of the Brave1:56 or Heavy Metal Breakdown×Heavy Metal Breakdown1984 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 9 tracksA1Headbanging Man3:37A2Heavy Metal Breakdown3:42A3Back From the War5:35A4Yesterday5:06B1We Wanna Rock You4:18B2Legion of the Lost4:54B3Tyrant3:18B42000 Lightyears From Home2:54B5Heart Attack3:16. According to the band, it contains "more metal, more passion and more power" than the group's previous efforts. Less than a month later, the band began a tour with Stormhammer and Astral Doors in Andernach, the birthplace of Manni Schmidt.
October 2005 saw the release of a live DVD titled 25 to Live, which was recorded live in São Paulo, commemorating the band's 25th anniversary.
In December 2006, a number of release parties was announced for the band's follow-up album, Liberty or Death×Liberty or Death12 January 2007 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Liberty or Death6:332Ocean of Blood4:123Highland Tears6:164The Terrible One4:095Until the Last King Died5:476March of the Innocent5:567Silent Revolution6:258Shadowland6:269Forecourt to Hell5:0310Massada5:5911Ship of Hope5:05, which was released on 12 January 2007. A Double-Headline Tour together with Therion followed, beginning 17 January 2007 in Essen. Grave Digger played at Wacken Open Air in August 2007.
In late February 2008, Grave Digger began writing new material. In mid-August, they entered Principal studios with additional guitarist Thilo Hermann to record their 13th studio album entitled Ballads of a Hangman×Ballads of a Hangman9 January 2009 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Gallows Pole0:522Ballad of a Hangman4:473Hell of Disillusion3:564Sorrow of the Dead3:265Grave of the Addicted3:346Lonely the Innocence Dies5:457Into the War3:328The Shadow of Your Soul4:159Funeral for a Fallen Angel4:3210Stormrider3:1711Pray3:3712Jailbreak4:04, which was released on 9 January 2009 under their new label Napalm Records. It was their first album with twin guitars.
In February 2009, the band parted ways with Thilo Hermann due to the built up excitement of a second guitarist and with the free space on stage and musical aspects that was observed by every old band member independently. Naturally, this makes no sense. In early October, Manni Schmidt left the band due to ongoing disagreements with Chris Boltendahl.

The Clans Will Rise Again and The Living Dead (2010–2018)

On 12 January 2010, Schmidt was replaced by Domain guitarist Axel Ritt after performing temporarily during the remaining dates of the band's previous tour. On 1 October 2010, Grave Digger released the album The Clans Will Rise Again×The Clans Will Rise Again1 October 2010 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Days of Revenge (intro)1:582Paid in Blood3:583Hammer of the Scots4:014Highland Farewell4:085The Clans Will Rise Again5:016Rebels4:417Valley of Tears4:098Execution4:469Whom the Gods Love Die Young6:1210Spider3:1911The Piper McLeod0:4912Coming Home4:2313When Rain Turns to Blood6:1414Watch Me Die3:54 in Europe, with a North American release following soon after. The band members explain that it is a loose sequel of the 1996 album Tunes of War×Tunes of War16 September 1996 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Brave2:232Scotland United4:363The Dark of the Sun4:334William Wallace (Braveheart)5:015The Bruce6:586The Battle of Flodden4:067The Ballad of Mary (Queen of Scots)4:598The Truth3:519Cry for Freedom (James the VI)3:1710Killing Time2:5211Rebellion (The Clans Are Marching)4:0512Culloden Muir4:0813The Fall of the Brave1:56, "but this time not a concept album about the Scottish history, rather a work about Scotland, its mysticism and its people." On 11 September 2011, a video for the song "Highland Farewell" was made available for streaming.
On 27 July 2012, the band released an EP entitled Home at Last×Home at Last27 July 2012 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Home at Last4:012Rage of the Savage Beast (non album track)4:093Metal Will Never Die (non album track)3:414Ballad of a Hangman (live Wacken 2010)4:405Excalibur (live Wacken 2010)5:066Heavy Metal Breakdown (live Wacken 2010)7:21 with the album Clash of the Gods×Clash of the Gods31 August 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Charon (Fährmann des Todes)2:202God of Terror4:203Hell Dog4:284Medusa5:395Clash of the Gods4:546Death Angel & The Grave Digger4:237Walls of Sorrow4:448Call of the Sirens5:319Warriors Revenge4:0110...With the Wind0:4911Home at Last3:5712Saints of the Broken Souls5:2613Home at Last (German version)4:01 following on 31 August 2012. They performed a handful of shows in the UK and Europe from early to late 2012 and then toured throughout 2013 in Europe and a few shows in Brazil in support of the album.
In February 2014, the band began recording their next album titled Return of the Reaper×Return of the Reaper11 July 2014 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Return of the Reaper1:162Hell Funeral3:013War God3:464Tattooed Rider4:035Resurrection Day2:586Season of the Witch5:047Road Rage Killer3:188Grave Desecrator4:229Satan's Host2:5610Dia de los Muertos4:1511Death Smiles at All of Us3:5212Nothing to Believe4:33, which was released on 11 July 2014, with later release dates elsewhere. In November 2014, keyboardist H.P. Katzenburg left the band in order to spend more time on outside projects. He was replaced by new member Marcus Kniep, who would continue performing as The Reaper.
In October 2015, Exhumation – The Early Years was released, which contains re-recorded versions of the band's "absolute classics with a dynamic and powerful sound of 2015," according to a press release.
In June 2016, Grave Digger entered the studio to begin working on their next album entitled Healed by Metal×Healed by Metal11 January 2017 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Healed by Metal3:452When Night Falls3:563Lawbreaker3:074Free Forever3:235Call for War3:216Ten Commandments of Metal3:277The Hangman’s Eye3:078Kill Ritual3:439Hallelujah3:3010Laughing With the Dead5:1711Kingdom of the Night4:0712Bucket List3:0213Brave, Young & Innocent4:20, which was released on 13 January 2017. They embarked on a tour with Blind Guardian as the support act on the second leg North American tour supporting the album Beyond the Red Mirror.
In March 2018, the band returned to the studio to record their nineteenth album The Living Dead×The Living Dead14 September 2018 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Fear of the Living Dead5:312Blade of the Immortal4:073When Death Passes By3:524Shadow of the Warrior4:335The Power of Metal3:526Hymn of the Damned5:307What War Left Behind3:308Fist in Your Face3:249Insane Pain3:0510Zombie Dance3:4611Glory or Grave4:21, which was released on 14 September 2018, with a European tour taking place in January 2019. On 25 June 2018, longtime drummer Stefan Arnold departed the band. He was replaced by Marcus Kniep.

Fields of Blood, Symbol of Eternity, Bone Collector and Faces of Pain (2020–present)

Grave Digger's twentieth album Fields of Blood×Fields of Blood29 May 2020 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1The Clansman’s Journey1:272All for the Kingdom4:123Lions of the Sea3:594Freedom4:545The Heart of Scotland5:206Thousand Tears4:587Union of the Crown3:598My Final Fight4:109Gathering of the Clans3:5710Barbarian3:4411Fields of Blood10:1212Requiem for the Fallen3:00 was released on 29 May 2020, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary. The follow-up album Symbol of Eternity×Symbol of Eternity26 August 2022 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1The Siege of Akkon1:032Battle Cry3:533Hell Is My Purgatory3:544King of the Kings4:445Symbol of Eternity5:196Saladin0:377Nights of Jerusalem4:408Heart of a Warrior3:479Grace of God4:2410Sky of Swords4:1611Holy Warfare3:4412The Last Crusade5:2113Hellas Hellas4:01 was released on 26 August 2022. On 10 September 2023, the band announced the departure of guitarist Axel Ritt. He was replaced with former Orden Ogan guitarist Tobias Kersting. The 22nd studio album Bone Collector×Bone Collector17 January 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1Bone Collector4:192The Rich, the Poor, the Dying3:253Kingdom of Skulls3:464The Devils Serenade4:015Killing Is My Pleasure (The Iceman)3:306Mirror of Hate4:427Riders of Doom4:558Made of Madness3:599Graveyard Kings4:1310Forever Evil & Buried Alive3:3411Whispers of the Damned (The Banality of Evil)6:16 was released on 17 January 2025 in celebration of the band's 45th anniversary. A music video for the single "Kingdom of Skulls×Kingdom of Skulls11 October 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Kingdom of Skulls3:46" was released on 11 October 2024. A standalone single from the album's recording sessions titled Bark to Hell×Bark to Hell27 June 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Bark to Hell4:35 was released on 27 June 2025. Their next studio album, Faces of Pain×Faces of Pain15 January 2027 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1The Gate0:292Faces of Pain3:353Satan's Tango4:024The Number3:435Legends Never Die3:426Hell to the King3:367Dead Sun5:348The Grave That Should Not Be4:379When the World Is Calling You4:0810Soul Reaper4:1311Say Hello to the Devil5:31, is due for release on 15 January 2027.

Band members

Current

Chris Boltendahl — vocals (1980–present), bass (1980–1983, 1984, 1985)
Jens Becker — bass (1997–present)
Marcus "Gravey" Kniep — drums (2018–present), keyboards (2014–present)
Tobias "Tobi" Kersting — guitars (2023–present)