Grave Digger is a German heavy metal band founded in 1980 by Chris Boltendahl and Peter Masson. Known for their aggressive sound and powerful riffs, they rose to prominence in the 1980s as a major force in Germany’s heavy, power, and speed metal scene. Grave Digger is regarded as one of the genre’s leading acts, often mentioned alongside Helloween, Rage and Running Wild as part of the movement’s influential "big four."