GRAVE DIGGER play Grove of Anaheim Nov. 21; press photo
Coming out of the birth of German power metal, Grave Digger, consisting of original member Chris Boltendahl (vocals) and members Axel Ritt (guitars), Jens Becker (bass), Hans Peter Katzenburg (keyboards) and Stefan Arnold (drums), will make their first U.S. tour appearance, hitting the City National Grove of Anaheim on Nov. 21.
Grave Digger not only creates the progressive power metal riffs from the 80’s, but recreates the sound with demonic undertones and a modern twist on their classics in their newest release Exhumation– the early years.
“We have some bass, guitar, keys and vocals, and that’s it. It’s honest music, what we are doing,” Boltendahl said. “It’s a pureness, what can I say?”
With Chris “Reaper” Boltendahl leading the clan, there has yet to be a halt in their musical success. Even among lineup changes the band has maintained a diehard fan base in and out of their European stomping grounds.
“We recorded the old songs in a new style, because you can’t buy the old records anymore — our idea was to make a kind of ‘Best Of’ with new recorded versions,” Boltendahl said.
The semi-new album consists of fan favorites, such as “Heavy Metal Breakdown,” one of those must-play songs that amp up the crowd and guarantee a “metal invasion,” and “We Wanna Rock You,” an anthem to the German metal era.
“I think my favorite old-new song is ‘Headbanging Man’ because it’s a really classic tune and represents everything the band is standing for,” Boltendahl said.
Even with a new lineup, the band holds true to the origins of power metal, using the fast-paced drive of the 80’s and the epic pieces and choruses of today.
“I like the aggressive stuff from the old songs, but this is 30 years later, and I like the way we do it now,” he said. “I think the metal scene is now bigger than 30 years ago. Nowadays there are so many bands on the market I can’t count them anymore.”
Grave Digger, having only done a few select shows in the U.S. in places such as New York and Phoenix, is anxious to see the reaction of the American crowd versus a European crowd.
“It’s the first real tour for us in the states and Canada. We have no real experience in the American market, so we’re going in to some surprise mood when we come over.”
Boltendahl is confident that, even among a new crowd, Grave Digger is ready to impress and definitely will be increasing their clan size.
“From the moment we start to the moment we play the last song, it’s 120 percent Grave Digger with a lot of energy. We are all old now — we are all around 50 — but I think we have more energy now than when we started. We are all healthy and focused on presenting good music.”