Customer Reviews

Excalibur

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just recently got into this band. Grave Digger has always been one of those band's I'd heard of, but never really heard. Now I'm kicking myself for not listening to them sooner. This is power metal, but not your typical style. The vocalist definetly breaks the predictable mold and comes across with something very different. Gruff, deep, and powerful, I think he's what really makes the band. Of course the nasty, ultra-heavy distortion doesn't hurt matters and makes the songs very catchy and headbangable. If you like heavy, dark power acts like Nevermore or Eidolon this is an absolute must. Also worth noting is the entirely different take from the norm on the 'big chorus'. Grave Digger manages to use this with maximum effect and without the cheese factor of bands like Blind Guardian. The choruses tend to be deep and menacing with an evil chant quality to them. Don't waste anymore time. Buy this NOW.

_Excalibur_ -- "The Story of King Arthur and the Round Table : A metal opus in twelve parts" -- is a terrific medieval concept album, detailing the epic saga in full and put together with a surprising amount of class. Close to being an exceptional disc, only a struggling vocal performance held it back from getting an even higher score. The music, containing just enough orchestral and operatic touches, also features some great melodies and guitar riffs, and is met perfectly with ambitious, story-telling lyrics. The songs as a whole I felt were very strong, my favorite of them being the Therion-like "Morgane LeFay", an almost unexpected jewel. The vocals are a bit too rough for my usual tastes, but I found their distinctness to be a little refreshing and in some places, I must say, they worked very well here. Perhaps because it gives that "knight in battle" kind of impression. In other places, however, it doesn't seem to fit at all -- like in the ballady love song "Emerald Eyes" and the heavy metal love song "Lancelot". Here it just sounds like a sick Muppet trying to sound emotional. The vocalist just doesn't have the range, it seems. Not much you can do though when the entire concept for the album comes from the lead singer himself. In some places, however, the band seemed to employ vocals from outside sources (either that or Boltendahl has a side he needs to show more often -- I believe it is someone else though). It would have been nice if they would have gone that route a little more often, in my opinion.

Hello, I am surprised I am the one first reviewing it, alas...Well listen to this u will realize what is call heavy riffs, melody, very very catchy, and the bonus track is worth every penny. This album I thing very similar or better than last album. If u r a passionate heavy metal maniac buy this, else your collection is incomplete...........

I'm gonna get right to the point here.....if you've never experienced power-metal before, or might have heard some power-metal bands & thought "I guess this stuff is OK," let me tell you something... Grave Digger is 1 of the VERY FEW rare exceptions! This was the 2nd Grave Digger CD I purchased & it completely blew me away!!! In fact, out of all of the European power-metal bands I listen to (Hammerfall, Metalium, Brainstorm, Afterworld, etc.) Grave Digger is at the top of the list for me next to Brainstorm! These guys are just all out heavy from the beginning w/ no signs of letting up on this masterpiece!! If you want further proof---also listen to their albums 'Rheingold,' 'The Grave Digger,' & 'The Last Supper.' Metal at it's finest!!

Grave Digger really rised to another level in this record. It contains the tale of Arthur ( a weak choie of plot, in my humble opinion, because a lot of bands already recorded albuns with this theme ). The result is astonishing, since the marvellous introduction. Of course the singer's voice is sometimes annoying, below the level of the rest of the band, but he's the soul of the band ( go figure ...) ANyway, a very good metal album.

Grave Digger doesn't pull any punches. Their guitar riffs are firmly planted in '80s conventions, but their sound is heavy and crushing with '90s production values. The heaviness approaches Nevermore proportions on the latest release, "Excalibur." Nevertheless, the songwriting is not as good as on their best release to date, "Tunes of War." Like "Tunes" and their previous release "Knights of the Cross," "Excalibur" is a concept album, based on Malory's "Morte d'Arthur."

This album is big on big gang choruses and relentless riffage. I sort of wish that the lead singer had used his shrill "Miss Piggy" squeal more often on this album, and that the songs were a little less predictable. For those reasons, I considered giving this album a 3, but I'll settle for a low 4. Incidentally, the bonus track, "Parcival," is indeed worthwhile, one of the better tracks on the CD.

First off, I normally do not listen to heavy metal music. But when I heard this CD, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised and happy that I bought it. You can actually understand most of the lyrics and the music is well done. It is more like a rock opera to me because it does closely follow the Arthurian legends. And each song tells a story, the songs themselves are intelligently written. And some of the lyrics are even quite romantic. My only misgiving on this CD is that the lead singer should really sing more on the album rather than scream.

IT's a mystery how Boltendahl can compose so great and sing so bad !!! This CD its very good, a brave try by Grave Digger inr ecording a conceptual album, following almost exclusively the movie "EXCALIBUR". The result was terrific, an atuthentic power metal that is not boring. ( a rare fact ). Congratulations, German boys !

grave digger definitely knows how to pull metal from a stone and its metal rings true. for more italian metal bands, check out labyrinth, lacuna coil, and white skull.

when i got this album i knew almost right away that i was hearing something great. i felt like i was hearing "...and justice for all" or "reign in blood" for the first time. the first time i heard those something just clicked in my head and i knew these albums were the real deal. excalibur has this same quality to it. the music this guy makes with his voice is really awe inspiring.