Few bands can boast the width and depth in metal music as prolific as the mighty Grave Digger. Since the 1980s this hard-hitting, riff-tastic German outfit celebrates a back catalog longer than your arm. Guess what power pummeling theme this effort showcases? Anyone see "Braveheart"? Well, then you have some idea... You got it: Scotland! Thirteen pure and intense tracks of upfront, catchy guitar melody soaked in Highland-steeped musicianship that is absolutely stereotypical Grave Digger. Toe to toe with any album from their impressive previous releases, _The Clans Will Rise Again_ stands as proud as William Wallace on the blood-soaked battlefields of Alba.
This German outfit has always been masterful at putting out quality material and _The Clans Will Rise Again_ is absolutely no exception. Starting off with orchestrated bagpipes on "Days of Revenge", the effort moves mightily in to infectious riffing tracks like "Paid in Blood", "Hammer of the Scots" and "Highland Farewell". Select cuts from the effort showcase driving, catchy tracks predominately guitar driven, but each overall has a clearly communicated premise that easily propels this worthwhile Grave Digger album to the top pile in an impressive 30 year career.
While Scotland is ultimately the umbrella under which the theme of this newest Grave Digger disc dwells, and not the film "Braveheart", a quote seems more than apropos: "I -am- William Wallace! And I see a whole army of my countrymen, here in defiance of tyranny. You've come to fight as free men... and free men you are. What will you do with that freedom? Will you fight?"
The bottom line is _The Clans Will Rise Again_ is more than worth your time. If nothing else, Grave Digger proves this: you cannot go wrong with bagpipes in metal.