Early years and split (1980–1987)
After various appearances at small festivals, the band recorded two songs for the compilation album Rock from Hell in 1983. A year later, Grave Digger, now comprising Chris Boltendahl (vocals), Peter Masson (guitar), Willi Lackmann (bass) and Albert Eckardt (drums), released their debut album Heavy Metal Breakdown.
In 1985, with Lackmann having left the band, they recorded and released their second album Witch Hunter. Only after the album was completed, a replacement on bass was found in the form of C.F. Brank. Further festival appearances followed, a tour with Helloween as special guest and, finally, their third album War Games in January 1986. To promote this album, a triple headline tour with Celtic Frost and Helloween followed. Thereafter, Peter Masson gave way to Uwe Lulis; in 1987 the band's name was changed to Digger, the name under which they released the album Stronger Than Ever. The album flopped, as it was not accepted by fans or the masses. As a result, Boltendahl declared at the end of 1987, the breakup of the band.
Reformation and Middle Ages Trilogy (1991–1999)
In 1991, the band was partially reformed. Boltendahl and Lulis, along with two newcomers, Tomi Göttlich and Jörg Michael, who had been the drummer for Rage and Running Wild, released a comeback record called The Reaper in 1993. This album was a return to the true roots of Grave Digger. In the same year, the album The Best of the Eighties was released. It represented a quasi Best-of-Album of their earlier songs.
An EP titled Symphony of Death followed in 1994. In the interim, Grave Digger, now with a new drummer, Frank Ullrich, toured Germany, playing as the warm-up act for Manowar. In 1995, the album Heart of Darkness appeared. It was a very dark album with many influences from the early works of Annihilator.
In 1996, Stefan Arnold became the band's new drummer. This year also marked the release of the concept album Tunes of War, which dealt with the history of Scotland. This album was the first part of the Middle Ages Trilogy. The second album, Knights of the Cross, with Jens Becker as bass guitarist, was released in 1998 and was about the rise and fall of the Knights Templar. The final part of the trilogy finished in 1999 with Excalibur. This album explored the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Shortly after, a tour soon followed through with keyboardist Hans-Peter Katzenburg, who later became a permanent band member.
The Grave Digger and Rheingold (2000–2004)
In 2000, Grave Digger celebrated their 20th anniversary. To mark the occasion, they performed at a sell-out concert at the Zeche in Bochum. Many of the band's most popular songs were played alongside other less well-known ones. There were also a number of different supporting acts appearing with Grave Digger. This concert also marked a defining chapter in the band's history, as Uwe Lulis left a short while before the concert because of personal and business reasons. Lulis finally called his new band Rebellion.
A replacement, in the form of the ex-Rage guitarist, Manni Schmidt, was found. Along with him and the new record label Nuclear Blast, the album The Grave Digger, appeared in 2001. The works of Edgar Allan Poe served as an inspiration for the lyrics of the new album. Their first live album, Tunes of Wacken, appeared in 2002. This was coupled with the release of their first DVD of the same name. The next album Rheingold was released on 26 May 2003, which centered on the opera Der Ring des Nibelungen by Richard Wagner. They embarked on a tour in support of the album into early 2004.
The Last Supper and Ballads of a Hangman (2005–2009)
After the successful Rheingold Tour, the band recorded another album, The Last Supper, which was released on 17 January 2005. The artwork was first revealed in November 2004 which received positive feedback. A number of fans were disappointed by the artwork because of the motive. The band issued a statement saying that the cover isn't a message of the Devil and not against Christians, but a representation of a depressive Jesus Christ at his last days before his death. Unlike their previous albums, The Last Supper was not a concept album, despite several songs about the last days of Jesus. A few journalists described the album as the best since Tunes of War or Heavy Metal Breakdown. According to the band, it contains "more metal, more passion and more power" than the group's previous efforts. Less than a month later, the band began a tour with Stormhammer and Astral Doors in Andernach, the birthplace of Manni Schmidt.
October 2005 saw the release of a live DVD titled 25 to Live, which was recorded live in São Paulo, commemorating the band's 25th anniversary.
In December 2006, a number of release parties was announced for the band's follow-up album, Liberty or Death, which was released on 12 January 2007. A Double-Headline Tour together with Therion followed, beginning 17 January 2007 in Essen.
In late February 2008, Grave Digger began writing new material. In mid-August, they entered Principal studios with additional guitarist Thilo Hermann to record their 13th studio album entitled Ballads of a Hangman, which was released on 9 January 2009 under their new label Napalm Records. It was their first album with twin guitars.
In February 2009, the band parted ways with Thilo Hermann due to the built up excitement of a second guitarist and with the free space on stage and musical aspects that was observed by every old band member independently. In early October, Manni Schmidt left the band due to ongoing disagreements with Chris Boltendahl.
The Clans Will Rise Again and The Living Dead (2010–2018)
On 12 January 2010, Schmidt was replaced by Domain guitarist Axel Ritt after performing temporarily during the remaining dates of the band's previous tour. On 1 October 2010, Grave Digger released the album The Clans Will Rise Again in Europe, with a North American release following soon after. The band members explain that it is a loose sequel of the 1996 album Tunes of War, "but this time not a concept album about the Scottish history, rather a work about Scotland, its mysticism and its people." On 11 September 2011, a video for the song "Highland Farewell" was made available for streaming.
On 27 July 2012, the band released an EP entitled Home at Last with the album Clash of the Gods following on 31 August 2012. They performed a handful of shows in the UK and Europe from early to late 2012 and then toured throughout 2013 in Europe and a few shows in Brazil in support of the album.
In February 2014, the band began recording their next album titled Return of the Reaper, which was released on 11 July 2014, with later release dates elsewhere. In November 2014, keyboardist H.P. Katzenburg left the band in order to spend more time on outside projects. He was replaced by new member Marcus Kniep, who would continue performing as The Reaper.
In October 2015, Exhumation - The Early Years was released, which contains re-recorded versions of the band's "absolute classics with a dynamic and powerful sound of 2015," according to a press release.
In June 2016, Grave Digger entered the studio to begin working on their next album entitled Healed by Metal, which was released on 13 January 2017. They embarked on a tour with Blind Guardian as the support act on the second leg North American tour supporting the album Beyond the Red Mirror.
In March 2018, the band returned to the studio to record their nineteenth album The Living Dead, which was released on 14 September 2018, with a European tour taking place in January 2019. On 25 June 2018, longtime drummer Stefan Arnold departed the band. He was replaced by Marcus Kniep.
Fields of Blood (2020–present)
Grave Digger's twentieth album Fields of Blood was released on 29 May 2020, celebrating the band's 40th anniversary. The follow-up album Symbol of Eternity was released on 26 August 2022.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grave_Digger_(band)
Studio albums
Heavy Metal Breakdown (1984)
Witch Hunter (1985)
War Games (1986)
Stronger Than Ever (1986) (as Digger)
The Reaper (1993)
Heart of Darkness (1995)
Tunes of War (1996)
Knights of the Cross (1998)
Excalibur (1999)
The Grave Digger (2001)
Rheingold (2003)
The Last Supper (2005)
Liberty or Death (2007)
Ballads of a Hangman (2009)
The Clans Will Rise Again (2010)
Clash of the Gods (2012)
Return of the Reaper (2014)
Healed by Metal (2017)
The Living Dead (2018)
Fields of Blood (2020)
Symbol of Eternity (2022)
Pendragon
Grave Digger Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
On the battlefield I sharpen my claws, hunt my luck
I never knew what was the missing link, I haven't got
Until that day I saw her with her man at her side
I knew I had to have her, a conjuring trick and she'll be mine
Mighty drake
All at stake
Earth will quake
Saurian eyes
Never cry
Hopes are high
Dragon fly!
Pendragon, Pendragon,
Stars split the sky
Pendragon, Pendragon,
Your fire conquers the night
To the castle where my bliss dwells the wings take me
I give away the fruit of her womb for her hearts key
Her husband killed in action when she gave herself to me
I deceived her and I fooled her but still she loves me
See the dragon, see him fly,
Feel the fire burning in the sky
See the dragon, see him fly,
Falling down from the sky
The lyrics to “Pendragon” by Grave Digger tell the story of King Uther and Lady Igerne’s illicit affair, which resulted in the birth of King Arthur. The song’s opening lines convey the idea of the singer being a predator who sharpens his claws to hunt his prey. He sees Lady Igerne with her husband and becomes obsessed with her. The singer decides to pursue her and devises a plan to win her over, much like a magician performing a conjuring trick. The chorus repeatedly mentions the term “Pendragon,” which refers to the byname given to King Uther because of the night he conceived Arthur with Lady Igerne. During their tryst, a star in the form of a dragon appeared in the sky, and the night was bathed in a blood-red light. The song depicts these events in a dramatic fashion, with the lines “Mighty drake, Tail of snake, All at stake, Earth will quake” building up the suspense.
The second verse describes the singer flying to the castle where Lady Igerne resides. He gives her the fruit of her womb (Arthur) to win her over, and she reciprocates his love. However, it is later revealed that he deceived her. The song concludes with a reference to the dragon and the fire burning in the sky, which again refers to the conception of King Arthur.
Overall, the song’s lyrics are steeped in legend and mythology. They vividly portray the passion and intrigue surrounding King Arthur’s birth and the events leading up to it.
Line by Line Meaning
On the battlefield I sharpen my claws, hunt my luck
Preparing for battle, sharpening the necessary skills and relying on luck
I never knew what was the missing link, I haven't got
Living life without something important without even realizing it
Until that day I saw her with her man at her side
Witnessing someone who would become the missing link, already with someone else
I knew I had to have her, a conjuring trick and she'll be mine
Determined to have this person and willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen
Mighty drake
A powerful dragon
Tail of snake
A dragon's tail that resembles a snake
All at stake
Everything is on the line
Earth will quake
The power of the dragon is so strong that even the ground trembles
Saurian eyes
The intense and intimidating gaze of a dragon
Never cry
Dragons never show weakness or vulnerability
Hopes are high
The expectations for the dragon are great
Dragon fly!
The dragon soars in the sky!
Pendragon, Pendragon,
King Uther's byname, given to him after conceiving Arthur with Lady Igerne
Stars split the sky
A reference to the dragon that appeared in the sky when Arthur was conceived
Your fire conquers the night
The dragon's fire can defeat the darkness of night
To the castle where my bliss dwells the wings take me
Going to where the person who makes everything better lives
I give away the fruit of her womb for her hearts key
King Arthur is given away in order to be with Lady Igerne
Her husband killed in action when she gave herself to me
Lady Igerne's husband died in battle when she had relations with King Uther, leading to Arthur's birth
I deceived her and I fooled her but still she loves me
King Uther tricked Lady Igerne, but she still loves him anyway
See the dragon, see him fly,
A reminder of the powerful dragon that represented King Uther's conception of Arthur
Feel the fire burning in the sky
The intense power of the dragon's fire
Falling down from the sky
The eventual downfall or end of the dragon, despite its great power
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CHRIS BOLTENDAHL, UWE WALTER LULIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Enma
On the battlefield I sharpen my claws, hunt my luck
I never knew what was the missing link, I haven't got
Until that day I saw her with her man at her side
I knew I had to have her, a conjuring trick and she'll be mine
Mighty drake
Tail of snake
All at stake
Earth will quake
Saurian eyes
Never cry
Hopes are high
Dragon fly!
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
To the castle where my bliss dwells the wings take me
I give away the fruit of her womb for her hearts key
Her husband killed in action when she gave herself to me
I deceived her and I fooled her but still she loves me
Mighty drake
Tail of snake
All at stake
Earth will quake
Saurian eyes
Never cry
Hopes are high
Dragon fly!
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
See the dragon, see him fly,
Feel the fire burning in the sky
See the dragon, see him fly,
Falling down from the sky
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
Ricky Pimentel
Foda demais...
"See the dragon, see him fly,
Feel the fire burning in the sky
See the dragon, see him fly,
Falling down from the sky..."
Uma das melhores músicas do Digger...
Ricky Pimentel
O segundo melhor álbum deles, na minha opinião... em primeiro, escolho o "The Grave Digger"...
Blood pool
Tenho em Digipack, "Round Table" é foda.
Victor Costa
Very fucking awesome! The one of the best bands of metal that ever existed! And i saw this band live, now i can die happy.
Italo Elias Vernizi
MASTERPIECE!!!
C. M.
22 years of PURE METAL! Great album!
Treefiddycent
I love the guitars of this band.
Enma
On the battlefield I sharpen my claws, hunt my luck
I never knew what was the missing link, I haven't got
Until that day I saw her with her man at her side
I knew I had to have her, a conjuring trick and she'll be mine
Mighty drake
Tail of snake
All at stake
Earth will quake
Saurian eyes
Never cry
Hopes are high
Dragon fly!
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
To the castle where my bliss dwells the wings take me
I give away the fruit of her womb for her hearts key
Her husband killed in action when she gave herself to me
I deceived her and I fooled her but still she loves me
Mighty drake
Tail of snake
All at stake
Earth will quake
Saurian eyes
Never cry
Hopes are high
Dragon fly!
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
See the dragon, see him fly,
Feel the fire burning in the sky
See the dragon, see him fly,
Falling down from the sky
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
STARS SPLIT THE SKY
PENDRAGON, PENDRAGON
YOUR FIRE CONQUERS THE NIGHT
lukas buhaj
I love it!
Javier Jurado Villa
TEMON 🙌 !!!