Power metal band Grave Digger have released a large catalogue of albums over the last 40 years, and now they’re adding to that catalogue with their latest release Bone Collector. Featuring some heavy hitting riffs, great drums, groovy basslines and gritty vocals. This band stands out from most other power metal bands by being darker and heavier, and this new release only cements that claim.
We start things off with the title track, Bone Collector, which comes in with a very eerie sounding intro before the whole band comes in and really kicks things off. Solid track, I really like the pre-chorus sections. This is followed up with The Rich The Poor The Dying. It has really cool lead guitar intro. Again I love the pre-chorus sections and the chord progression in the actual choruses are pretty great too. There’s a nice bit of wah action in the guitar solo and the song ends with the main riff coming back in for the outro.
We start things off with the title track, Bone Collector, which comes in with a very eerie sounding intro before the whole band comes in and really kicks things off. Solid track, I really like the pre-chorus sections. This is followed up with The Rich The Poor The Dying. It has really cool lead guitar intro. Again I love the pre-chorus sections and the chord progression in the actual choruses are pretty great too. There’s a nice bit of wah action in the guitar solo and the song ends with the main riff coming back in for the outro.
Kingdom Of Skulls is up next and this track starts off with a great bass and drums intro. The guitar riffs are really good and the verses are quite bouncy and energetic. There’s another great guitar solo and a faster drumming section with another little guitar solo for the outro. Track 4 is The Devils Serenade and this one is particularly groovy and chuggy. It features a fairly short but quite technical guitar solo. The guitars drop out for the lead-up to the final chorus before we get to the outro, where the lead guitar starts going a little bit crazy in the background.
Then we get to Killing Is My Pleasure. This track has a wicked main guitar riff, really good drumming, and again I really like the chord progression used in the chorus. Mirror Of Hate changes things up slightly, with some clean guitar in the verses and the outro and a really cool instrumental section before the guitar solo. My favourite track on the album is Riders Of Doom. This track has a very mean meaty riff, it’s much darker and heavier sounding than the rest of the album in my opinion, not that it’s all been sunshine and rainbows so far.
Made Of Madness is next. This track has some clean guitars in the intro. There’s some lovely sounding bass and things get crazy when the full band comes in. I really like the instrumental section after the second chorus. Coming to the last few tracks of the album, we get to track 9, Graveyard Kings. This track goes back to a similar style as the other tracks on the first half of the album.
Still quite beefy and heavy sounding, nice bit of guitar chugging along, but I do think the drums really do the heavy lifting with this track, I’m not saying that as a bad thing, I just couldn’t take my attention away from the drums while listening to this one. There’s a nice bit of duel guitars before the final chorus too which is always a win for me.
Forever Evil & Buried Alive is another thrasher, not much else needs to be said about it, it’s another banger! The album ends with Whispers Of The Damned. This one starts with some clean guitars in the intro, then there’s a short instrumental section with the full band before stripping things back and bringing in the clean guitars for the first verse. The second verse is a bit heavier with the addition of overdriven guitars taking over from the clean guitars of the previous verse.
During the first half of the guitar solo, we just get the lead guitar accompanied by bass and drums before the other guitars come in for the second half which helps this solo to stand out from the rest. The clean guitar comes back in for the bridge section before the final chorus. Then the lead guitar comes back in before the chuggy outro and the end of the album.
Grave Digger have done a fantastic job with this album, as I have previously said, I don’t listen to much power metal, but these guys stand out by sounding a lot darker and heavier than other power metal bands. They’ve got more of an attitude and a bit of edge to them which I quite enjoyed. They show no signs of slowing down or getting softer and that’s probably for the best, they do what they do well, and I hope they keep doing so for many more years to come.
A solid album in every sense and I can’t find any fault in it. It’s bloody brilliant! 10/10
Dunes - Land Of The Blind (Ripple Music) [Rich Piva]
UK band Dunes is drenched in 90s alt rock and grunge in all the best ways on their latest record, Land Of The Blind, their first release with Ripple Music. Land Of The Blind gives us some serious chunky riffs, fuzzy atmosphere, cool vocals, and a moody and dark feel to go along with all of the heavy goodness the band brings across the nine tracks.
I love the opener, Cactus, which leverages all you loved from the Pacific Northwest from back in the day but adds a bit of a polish to it, creating more of a second wave grunge feel, but the good stuff from the second wave. The riff and guitar work remind me of Valley Of The Sun, which, of course, is a good thing.
Dunes - Land Of The Blind (Ripple Music) [Rich Piva]
UK band Dunes is drenched in 90s alt rock and grunge in all the best ways on their latest record, Land Of The Blind, their first release with Ripple Music. Land Of The Blind gives us some serious chunky riffs, fuzzy atmosphere, cool vocals, and a moody and dark feel to go along with all of the heavy goodness the band brings across the nine tracks.
I love the opener, Cactus, which leverages all you loved from the Pacific Northwest from back in the day but adds a bit of a polish to it, creating more of a second wave grunge feel, but the good stuff from the second wave. The riff and guitar work remind me of Valley Of The Sun, which, of course, is a good thing.
Tides is heavy and dripping with fuzz and has an anthem-like feel to it. Stoner vibes peek through with the grunge on One Eyed Dog, where the background vocals grab you and bring you closer to this little ripper. There is something so familiar (in a very good way) about the track Norther Scar, but it is their own enough that I can’t quite put my finger on what it reminds me of.
Riding My Low may be my favourite track on the record, another one that reminds me of VOTS and shows that Dunes knows how pick up the pace and rip it out when they want to. The guitar tone is very cool on Land Of The Blind, with How Real Is Real being a perfect example, to go along with some more great vocals.
Voodoo may be my other favourite track, with that killer riff and psych-tinged guitar work. The 90s are certainly alive (again, in the best way) with the would have been a radio hit in 1997, Fields Of Grey. My only question is the closer, Riding The Slow, that is an instrumental guitar driven track that seems like an anticlimactic way to end the record.
Another cool record from Ripple Music. Dunes fits perfectly for those who dig bands who understand what was happening in the 90s grunge era and what people want to hear from groups playing that style today. If part of you us stuck in the 90s, like me, then you will dig Land Of The Blind. 8/10
Slinky Vagabond - The Eternal Return (Independent) [Dan Sierras]
On their third release, Keanan Duffty and Fabio Fabbri of Slinky Vagabond return with an eclectic mix of art rock, tinged with doses of piano and synth throughout. Joining them on this journey of rock and Brit pop are Mike Garson, Ava Cherry, Percy Jones and other guests on various tracks.
You can hear influences of David Bowie and The Beatles interwoven from track to track. Although on tracks like Ad Astra & Anthem, Mike Garson’s tickling of the ivories standout to me, especially towards the end as the notes cascade of the edge of the songs.
On an album mostly comprised of Brit pop, two songs that were memorable to me were deeper into the album. I enjoyed the opening guitar riff and drum beat on I Can Fly. The song does make you feel like you’re flying during the chorus with Fabbri’s majestic guitar work.
Another cool record from Ripple Music. Dunes fits perfectly for those who dig bands who understand what was happening in the 90s grunge era and what people want to hear from groups playing that style today. If part of you us stuck in the 90s, like me, then you will dig Land Of The Blind. 8/10
Slinky Vagabond - The Eternal Return (Independent) [Dan Sierras]
On their third release, Keanan Duffty and Fabio Fabbri of Slinky Vagabond return with an eclectic mix of art rock, tinged with doses of piano and synth throughout. Joining them on this journey of rock and Brit pop are Mike Garson, Ava Cherry, Percy Jones and other guests on various tracks.
You can hear influences of David Bowie and The Beatles interwoven from track to track. Although on tracks like Ad Astra & Anthem, Mike Garson’s tickling of the ivories standout to me, especially towards the end as the notes cascade of the edge of the songs.
On an album mostly comprised of Brit pop, two songs that were memorable to me were deeper into the album. I enjoyed the opening guitar riff and drum beat on I Can Fly. The song does make you feel like you’re flying during the chorus with Fabbri’s majestic guitar work.
The banger Perfect World was probably my favourite off the album. More of a heavier track than the rest of the album. The appropriately named End Of The Show closes this album out, drifting out with a very familiar lyric similar to a famous Beatles track (you’ll have to listen to find out).
Upon first listen, this album didn’t grab me, but after multiple listens, it grew on me and wasn’t too bad. Give it a listen (or two) and see if it does the same for you. 7/10
Lifer - Lifer (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Stalwarts of the South Wales heavy scene Lifer return to bring some fat NOLA-esque riffs on their first album in 10 years. Balancing sludge and stoner with thrash and hardcore, these foul mouthed heavy riffers make a welcome return in 2025 with a self titled album, that is normally a sign of a refocus on a new style or return to something they were.
The gruff drawl of Schriv is up front they have chosen the latter, Different Kind Of Pain will immediately bring to mind Down and if you have never heard Lifer before I suggest listening to Men And Pigs, which is deafening blues based heaviness, the slide guitar in the middle promoting Lifer's Southern rock trappings.
With some new blood in the band, this self-titled record feels a bit more biting and vital than it should be for band with this much experience coming off a lengthy hiatus. With Lifer, there’s influence born from various sides, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished is hardcore punk, the Southern NOLA heavy features on Imperious Delirious and Fire In The Hole.
Upon first listen, this album didn’t grab me, but after multiple listens, it grew on me and wasn’t too bad. Give it a listen (or two) and see if it does the same for you. 7/10
Lifer - Lifer (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Stalwarts of the South Wales heavy scene Lifer return to bring some fat NOLA-esque riffs on their first album in 10 years. Balancing sludge and stoner with thrash and hardcore, these foul mouthed heavy riffers make a welcome return in 2025 with a self titled album, that is normally a sign of a refocus on a new style or return to something they were.
The gruff drawl of Schriv is up front they have chosen the latter, Different Kind Of Pain will immediately bring to mind Down and if you have never heard Lifer before I suggest listening to Men And Pigs, which is deafening blues based heaviness, the slide guitar in the middle promoting Lifer's Southern rock trappings.
With some new blood in the band, this self-titled record feels a bit more biting and vital than it should be for band with this much experience coming off a lengthy hiatus. With Lifer, there’s influence born from various sides, No Good Deed Goes Unpunished is hardcore punk, the Southern NOLA heavy features on Imperious Delirious and Fire In The Hole.
The band also bring some other sounds to this 10 track record. Hallowed By Thy Pain split between CoC and New Jersey psych of Monster Magnet, the Wyndorf influence also comes on strong for Stone Widow. Elsewhere there's Motorhead ferocity on Born To Lose (naturally), thrash on Rise Above and a general loudness and confrontational attitude. Included too are some "clean" versions for some reason but they don't detract from the songs.
My advice is stick to the originals and dial it up for this South Wales riff crew. 8/10
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