Band:	Grave Digger
Album:	Heavy Metal Breakdown
Style:	Heavy metal
Release date:	1984
A review by:	omne metallum

01. Headbanging Man
02. Heavy Metal Breakdown
03. Back From The War
04. Yesterday
05. We Wanna Rock You
06. Legion Of Lost
07. Tyrant
08. 2000 Light Years From Home [The Rolling Stones cover]
09. Heart Attack

Omne, I hear you ask: are you the very model of a modern Major-General, with information vegetable, animal, and mineral, do you know the kings of England, and quote the fights
historical, from Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical?  

Well, let me explain by saying that there are few record labels that I look upon as a sign of quality when I see who released an album. One of those exceptions is Noise Records, whose reputation was built in part by bands like [band]Grave Digger[/i], to which their debut album Heavy Metal Breakdown contributed greatly. It was a mutually beneficial relationship for all involved, particularly for listeners. 

The burgeoning label had a penchant for picking up some solid heavy metal bands a la Grave Digger, who seemed to find a middle ground between Accept, Judas Priest and punk rock. This combination leads Heavy Metal Breakdown to be a catchy guitar-driven affair that is built to have you up on your feet and singing loud and proud. 

Case in point is "We Wanna Rock You", a song that epitomises the band's brand of metal; while they do deviate occasionally, they mostly focus on upbeat heavy metal. The opener "Headbanging Man" and the following title track would come to characterise just how effective the band's chosen formula can be: two songs that will linger on in your mind for a long time. 

Led by vocalist Boltendahl, who at times verges on angry drunk with a microphone, Grave Digger are adept at their craft, even if they are not the most adventurous. Masson keeps the riffs simple but catchy, leaving the flair and showmanship for the solos, allowing tracks like "Tyrant" to flourish. Lackmann fills the gap between the lone guitar and drums with some solid and understated bass work, rounding out the sound well.

The rough and lo-fi production adds to the charm of Heavy Metal Breakdown, focusing on the power of the riffs and music. It forgoes atmosphere and instead focuses on Grave Digger's strengths, though this approach unfortunately comes back to cost the band, as it compounds the shortcomings of the album. 

Where Grave Digger struggled in their early years was when they dropped the tempo and intensity. "Legion Of The Lost" and "Back From War" both start out with slow, grandiose sections meant to convey atmosphere (which is hindered by the aforementioned production) before a crescendo into the song proper. Neither are pulled off in an entertaining manner; indeed, the only interesting part in the opening passage of "Legion Of The Lost" is Boltendahl's change in vocal approach. 

Both these tracks save themselves as they eventually build into the band's strengths (i.e. up-tempo action); unfortunately "Yesterday", a ballad that limps from start to finish, does not. Despite some good solo work by Masson, the track isn't salvageable: the lone song I actively skip for the most part. 

In the words of The Buzzcocks' "Noise Annoys", in this case it doesn't; in fact, it serves as a seal of quality that Heavy Metal Breakdown lives up to. Sure, it's not the perfect album, but it will certainly give you plenty of entertainment value throughout its duration.