Ballads of a Hangman

Ballads of a Hangman is the 14th studio album by the German heavy metal band Grave Digger, and was released on 27 January 2009. It is the first Grave Digger album to feature two guitarists, the only one to feature Thilo Hermann who co-wrote the album but was asked to leave soon after its release and also the last one with Manni Schmidt who left the band in October 2009 due to personal differences with Chris Boltendahl.[3]

Ballads of a Hangman
Studio album by Grave Digger
Released	27 January 2009
Recorded	August–October 2008 at Principal Studios, Germany
Genre	Heavy metal, power metal
Label	Napalm
Producer	Grave Digger, Resetti Brothers
Grave Digger chronology
Liberty or Death (2007) Ballads of a Hangman (2009) The Clans Will Rise Again (2010)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Blabbermouth.net	[1]
Metal Hammer	[2]

The semi-ballad "Lonely The Innocence Dies" featuring Veronica Freeman of Benedictum was noted for being close to a harder version of "Where the Wild Roses Grow" by Kylie Minogue and Nick Cave.[2]

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
1.	"The Gallows Pole" (Intro)	Boltendahl	0:52
2.	"Ballad of a Hangman"	Boltendahl	4:47
3.	"Hell of Disillusion"	Boltendahl	3:56
4.	"Sorrow of the Dead"	Boltendahl	3:26
5.	"Grave of the Addicted"	Boltendahl	3:34
6.	"Lonely the Innocence Dies" (ft. Veronica Freeman)	Boltendahl	5:45
7.	"Into the War"	Boltendahl	3:32
8.	"The Shadow of Your Soul"	Boltendahl	4:15
9.	"Funeral for a Fallen Angel"	Boltendahl	4:32
10.	"Stormrider"	Boltendahl	3:17
11.	"Pray"	Boltendahl	3:37
Total length:			41:33

Bonus tracks

No.	Title	Lyrics	Length
12.	"Jailbreak" (Thin Lizzy cover)	Phil Lynott	4:05
13.	"Overkill" (Motorhead cover)	Boltendahl	4:33
14.	"My Blood Will Live Forever"	Boltendahl	4:02
15.	"When the Sun Goes Down"	Boltendahl	3:56

All music composed by Boltendahl/Schmidt/Hermann

Album line-up

• Chris Boltendahl - lead and backing vocals
• Manni Schmidt - guitars and backing vocals
• Thilo Hermann - guitars and backing vocals
• Jens Becker - bass
• Stefan Arnold - drums
• H.P. Katzenburg - keyboards

References

1. Blabbermouth.net review
2. Paulus, Sebastian. "Grave Digger BALLADS OF A HANGMAN Review". Metal Hammer (in German).
3. "GRAVE DIGGER: 'Ballads Of A Hangman' Track Listing, Cover Artwork Revealed". Blabbermouth.net. 1 November 2008.