GRAVE DIGGER Begins Recording New Album

German power metallers GRAVE DIGGER have entered the studio to begin recording their new album for a late 2010 release.

Commented the band: "Yes, everything's on its way, we're right in the middle of recordings the successor to 'Ballad Of A Hangman' and a lot has happened since the release of the that album. Nothing stays the same, but nothing has changed.

"From January to March, we took our time for the new songwriting. Because of the [addition] of [new guitarist] Axel [Ritt; DOMAIN], we finally returned to the virtue that we've lost that long ago. The triumvirate of metal, Jens Becker [bass], Axel Ritt and Chris Boltendahl [vocals] battened in harmony while the whole songwriting session and created 12 explosive songs, which have the spirit of GRAVE DIGGER, two hundred percent!

"Since the days of 'Tunes Of War' and 'The Grave Digger', the creativity around the songwriting process hadn't been that easy-going.

"Axel already recorded the rhythm guitars in his own Meadow Studios, accompanied by some drum programmings done by Stefan. At the end of the month, we'll enter the Principal studios [in Senden, Germany with producers Resetti Brothers] to record drums, bass, vocals, keyboards and some guitar overdubs. Of course, from now we'll keep you informed about our activities with some short video clips. Stay tuned!

"This coming weekend, we'll do some rehearsal with the whole bunch at the TLC studios, to practice all the songs on the new album and check out the live playlist for the upcoming festivals.

"We're highly motivated, more than this, we're burning!

"The fourth decade of GRAVE DIGGER has begun!

"For all of you who can't hold off their curiosity; the concept album is dead, long live the concept album!"

GRAVE DIGGER will celebrate its 30th anniversary at this year's edition of the Wacken Open Air festival, set to take place August 5-7, 2010 in Wacken, Germany. The band will perform its seventh and most successful album, "Tunes Of War" (1996),in its entirety at the event and will be accompanied by "illustrious guests," such as the 20-headed BAUL MULUY PIPES & DRUMS BAND from Hamburg, German metal queen Doro Pesch, BLIND GUARDIAN lead singer Hansi Kürsch and the metal a capella ensemble VAN CANTO. There will also be a special elaborate stage set with an extraordinary pyro show.

Wacken Open Air will mark the first and final time GRAVE DIGGER will play the entire "Tunes Of War" album live. The band will also perform some of its other "greatest hits," such as "Ballad Of A Hangman", "Heavy Metal Breakdown" and "Excalibur" at the end of its set.

GRAVE DIGGER's latest album, "Ballads Of A Hangman", was released on January 9, 2009 via Austria's Napalm Records.

Fan-filmed video footage of GRAVE DIGGER's November 21, 2009 performance at the Carioca Club in Sao Paulo, Brazil can be viewed below.