GRAVE DIGGER is a German band from the Gladback area in Nord-Rhein Westfalen, The have made 22 studio albums to date, eight compilations and two live recordings. Officially, that is. They are a Teutonic Speed Metal band in their first few years, but then slow down a bit and start making traditional Heavy Metal with a few Speed elements. In all those years I have succeeded in avoiding them, as there were always other, more interesting bands around.

“The Forgotten Years” compilation has been available since September 22nd 2023, and passed me by like any other record of GRAVE DIGGER. Until I got the request to review it. So here we go. This one comprises of the following demos: "Bottles And Four Coconuts" Demo (1989), "Return Of The Reaper" Demo (1991), "For Promotion Only!!" EP (1992). What this does give you is hearing a number of songs twice. Sometimes that is not a problem, like on the best song on this compilation, “The Spy Of Mas’on”, even if they have renamed it from “Spyware Of Mas’on”. Another good one in this category is “Fight The Fight”. On the other side of the spectrum a very mediocre song like “Ruler Mr. H” is something I personally could have done without having to hear it twice.

With GRAVE DIGGER I just can’t shake the feeling that I am listening to a second rate version of early ACCEPT, and then mainly the period of their first albums, up to “Restless And Wild”. So, I am constantly comparing the two. I can’t seem to be able to turn that off. What makes that even more evident is the similarity between the voice of original ACCEPT and current UDO vocalist Udo Dirkshneider and that of Chris Boltendahl of GRAVE DIGGER. Whereas the first one can actually sing, the latter has to shout constantly to keep up, and it gets tiring. Especially if you have to listen to him for 69 minutes in a row.

Issuing an album with older demos is a good thing for the real fans of GRAVE DIGGER, but I suspect that outside that area there aren’t going to be many takers for “The Forgotten Years”. I do know that the band has a very loyal following who probably are ready to drink my blood after this review. I hope they remember that this piece of writing is a personal view on things, and they are allowed to disagree.