Grave Digger - Excalibur (1999)

The third of Grave Digger's trilogy of medieval albums is definitely the weakest, although it's in no way bad.  This one covers the legend of the Knights Of The Round Table, with stories of Merlin, Sir Lancelot and, of course, King Arthur.  In one way, there's not a lot new here, with a collection of steady and fast metal, but the songs just don't grab as well as with the likes of the classic KNIGHTS OF THE CROSS. The melodies, too often, are almost gutteral which, I suppose, suits Chris Boltendahl's voice, but don't make for a wonderfully engaging listen. There's still much to like; the stories themselves are grabbing, and Grave Digger know how to rock so well, but Excalibur remains something of a disappointment, compared with what has gone before it.

***1/2