Grave Digger - The Ballad of Mary (2011)

Just a few short months after the release of the amazing “The Clans Will Rise Again”, we have Grave Digger providing us with an EP featuring 5 songs that would have been best fitted in a special edition version of the band’s previous album. However, these 5 songs provide a different (and very interesting) look to a few of the songs of the band’s latest full-length release.

Featuring two versions of their epic ballad “The Ballad of Mary”, this EP packs enough heat to surely satisfy the band’s fans. In the first version of this song we have Doro and Van Canto providing vocal support, making this song considerably better. In the ‘extended’ symphonic version (which is actually 20 seconds shorter than the Doro version of the song) we have symphonic elements that add to this song a very acoustic/classical feeling to this dramatic song.

The version of “Rebellion” presented in this EP features Hansi Kürsch and Van Canto; this takes the awesomeness levels of the original song to new heights. This is probably the best song in this EP and if you liked the album version, you will love this one.

The remaining two songs are ‘instrumental’ versions of “Highland Farewell” and “Coming Home”. These songs feature choirs and while sounding a bit different from the original versions, they are still pretty fun to listen to.

Overall, like we said, these songs could have been released in a special edition of “The Clans Will Rise Again”. But it’s nice that they are allowing fans to buy them separately in the shape of an EP. Most ‘upgraded’ versions of the songs are very good, and will have high replay value since they are all so damn catchy.

Release: March 4th, 2011

Country: Germany