Grave Digger released some of the finest Power Metal ever with their Middle Ages trilogy, followed by a non-concept album, The
Grave Digger; also of high standard. Now they are back with Rheingold.
This time around the concept is based on the opera,
The Ring Of The Nibelungs by Wagner. So warriors, dragons, gods and other mythological elements are the lyrical foundation. It's not a overwhelming concept but still interesting to some degree. The lyrics fit the musical direction, but I find them a bit simple.
I had expected a lot of epic and symphonic music, but the style is in fact very down to earth and straight ahead Power Metal, with a few atmospheric passages here and there.
Here are some comments for some selected tracks.
Rheingold is a very traditional
Grave Digger track. A straight-ahead rhythm section focused on a tight guitar riff. The chorus is one of the best on the record; with a bombastic edge and a powerful energy. The grooving bass displays some great details, making things a bit more interesting.
The melodic guitar lead section fits perfect into the overall flow of the track, summing up a nice beginning to the album.
Sword has a really Heavy rhythm guitar riff, and the minor lead elements are nicely fitted in. The chorus is a bit long and not really very melodic. The song has a tight groove; especially the drums are played very slow and hard, combined nicely with the supporting bass.
Liar is a short and very standard track. I don't really think it has much exiting to offer, the rhythm is basic, the chorus average and the tempo a one-way street road. It's well played but it's just not that exciting. The album has some tracks that go in that direction; I miss a more atmospheric and epic feel in those songs.
A critical aspect about the album (and in
Liar) is that some riffs come a bit close to each other and they are not being especially innovative or fantastic.
In
Twilight Of The Gods some of the more symphonic and bombastic elements are incorporated and this helps make it the album's best track. The acoustic slow middle section sounds really great, the vocals are melodic and the atmosphere enchanting. The keyboard accounts for some epic elements, and seen as a whole the different elements are nicely fitted together.
Musically the band delivers the goods. Chris' vocals are as always raw and powerful; but he could with success have used his more melodic abilities a bit more. The guitar riffs are a very dominant element and sometimes the riffs work great, other times they take up just a little too much of the attention. The really heavy fundament the riffs make is a positive aspect. The bass is another great thing on Rheingold, very detailed and powerful, nicely balanced with the drum-section that is typical, right in your face forceful Power Metal, and with some cool details here and there.
The keys are a varied instrument that creates some great underlying atmospheres, that give some songs more depth; it could have been more incorporated though.
The album runs in at only 45 minutes and I would have liked a couple tracks more. The overall sound is well produced, nicely balanced and with the right amount of depth.
My high expectations have not been fully meet, but anyway the album is still well played Power Metal, that is above average, not that it can match many of the later albums.
Seen as whole the album has a pretty simple approach that lacks some variation, still a lot of energy and grooving tunes are produced making this a good album overall.
Written by
Tommy Sunday, May 25, 2003
Show all reviews by TommyRatingsTommy: 6.5/10Members: No members have rated this album yet.
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