After 15 studio albums during their more than 30 year reign, everyone knows what to expect from Chris Boltendahl, aka GRAVE DIGGER singer/mainstay, right? But what is this? Opening with ‘Charon’ an atmospheric “acting” bit (concertina/sea gulls, waves lapping against a boat as German sailors warble a spoken word delivery) regarding the ferryman of the dead, then it’s on to a smattering of electronica phase-shifting during the solo in ‘God Of Terror’, ethereal symphonic strings/synth and harpsichord on ‘Call Of The Sirens’. Even Boltendahl’s trademark sandpaper vocals show greater variety! Don’t worry, these are just embellishments on the ironclad Teutonic anthems. Not really a concept album (in that there’s not a definitive story, although loosely follows Homer’s post-Trojan War Odyssey), although there are other tales of Greek mythology (‘Medusa’) and a couple of non-historical tracks: ‘Death Angel & The Grave Digger’. The expanded version includes a pair of bonuses, the somewhat Asian accentuated (chimes/gongs) ‘Saints Of The Broken Souls’ and a German sung version of pre-release single, ‘Home At Last’ (which also appears on the proper version, in English). Generally the tunes are upbeat, although the slower, acoustic begun ‘Clash Of The Gods’ recalls another title track, from The Last Supper. Of course the energetic numbers score the biggest points, plenty to go around. Try the balls out ‘God Of Terror’, ‘Wall Of Sorrow’ or ‘Death Angel & The Grave Digger. Although I have a soft spot for the Homeric epic anyway, this is probably my favorite all-around Grave Digger platter since Rheingold.