Excalibur (Excalibur - Grave Digger)

Member Name: Frankingsteins

Product:	Excalibur - Grave Digger
Date:	14/07/08 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Mature perfection of the Grave Digger style.

Disadvantages: Not as frantic or adventurous as some earlier offerings.

After the somewhat weak middle instalment 'Knights of the Cross,' the conclusion of Grave Digger's roughly-defined 'Middle Ages trilogy' is much improved, combining the new power metal elements more satisfyingly with the band's speed metal foundations, boasting a crunchier and heavier production and essentially perfecting the band's sound. The limited range of styles on offer is far from new, each song being more or less directly traceable to the band's past works, but they're all carried off with flair and a newfound maturity.

The album's story chronicles the life of the mythical King Arthur from birth to death, and the music is always fitting to the lyrics, from the explosive opening 'Pendragon' to the great power ballad 'Morgane Le Fay' and heavily orchestral 'Emerald Eyes,' and for the first time the volume of the instruments actually begins to eclipse the more exaggerated vocals of Chris Boltendahl's singing, making this potentially less alienating to newcomers.

1. The Secrets of Merlin
2. Pendragon
3. Excalibur
4. The Round Table (Forever)
5. Morgane Le Fay
6. The Spell
7. Tristan's Fate
8. Lancelot
9. Mordred's Song
10. The Final War
11. Emerald Eyes
12. Avalon

Summary: Grave Digger's ninth album (1999).