Grave Digger – Yesterday

Grave Digger
Yesterday
Locomotive Records
7.5/10




In essence, a single’s worth of new music with a bonus DVD containing a decent selection of Grave Digger faves filmed five years ago (including a strong performance of “Heavy Metal Breakdown”), the focus here is the Queen-style title track “Yesterday.”

First off, let’s say that devoted fans of this tenured act will likely find this EP of interest, if only for completist aspirations. Grave Digger has enjoyed a faithful following for many years and for good reason. As forerunners of the power metal scene, virtually anything this band does will be met with a modicum of respect from headbangers in sleeveless jean jackets worldwide.

An emotive version of the Led Zeppelin classic “No Quarter” scores big for its dramatic instrumentation, while Digger heads find a solid look back at the band’s prototype metal styling in “The Reaper’s Dance,” which is a capable anthem in its own right. Of the two versions of “Yesterday” to be found here, the second, orchestral version is more certainly more compelling. But one question needs to be asked in light of this follow-up to the band’s impressive previous full-length.

Is Grave Digger moving forward or simply revisiting their past glories? Most likely, the group’s next full-length will tell the tale.

In the meantime, this offering is a solid enough placeholder between full albums to be worthy of some degree of attention from the group’s loyal supporters.


© 2005 ERIN FOX – ALL RIGHTS RESERVED