CRYSTAL VIPER – On February 22, 2011, Poland’s Metal vindicator’s Crystal Viper will be releasing their fourth studio album – Legends. This date is for the North American release on AFM Records. Crystal Viper beckons me with their Classic Heavy Metal sound, swirled within a Power Metal climate of songs which illuminates melodic Metal thunder! I’m telling you right now, Crystal Viper has created an album that I won’t be filing away anytime soon.
Legends is not limited to a select few songs that are desirable, this entire album has captivated me, from it’s album cover artwork to the choice talents of vocalist/guitarist Marta Gabriel. Crystal Viper plays it’s potent style of Traditional Metal at such an impressive level, they have me thinking: this band could have fit in perfectly during the early to mid 80’s. Nonetheless, Crystal Viper are making themselves be heard in 2011 and their Metal sound couldn’t be more appreciated by this Metalhead lifer.
The strength of the Classics from Metal’s storied history and big guns has kept the Traditional sound and it’s power extremely relevant in 2011. The catalogs of Obsession, Warlock, Virgin Steele and Manowar have never collected dust in any knowledgeable Metal fans collection… Crystal Viper’s new album Legends is NOT going to be a dust collector. Crystal Viper is drawing in that classic relevancy of Metal’s past and making it succeed through their own style and sound, making me salute the Metal Gods of yesteryear while I’m jumping for Metal joy at what I’m hearing on Legends today.
Marta Gabriel will undoubtedly draw comparisons to the legendary Heavy Metal Queen, Doro Pesch. This elite comparison goes deeper than just being a female lead vocalist for a rising Heavy Metal band, Marta can unquestionably sing her Metal heart out. Doro Pesch has been an elite and influential vocalist for over twenty five years. Doro is so legendary it may be unfair and too academic to start a comparison rally between these two Metal diva’s vocals. With that said, I know what I hear and Marta’s vocals give off that special and harmonious Metal vibe that I can’t overlook or deny. Marta is very well in a Metal class all her own.
I could say with Metal confidence, that Marta Gabriel’s vocals reminds me of Bruce Dickinson’s vocal range… okay, I opened up the Metal floodgates now. One or more listens one may seek out with Secret Of The Black Water may just substantiate my stating this. Sydonia Bork is a strong ballad which does not take on any characteristic of an 80’s power ballad, instead Marta gives this ballad a sincere emotion. It’s almost as if Marta has taken this ballad by her hand and guided the music to it’s stirring splendor.
Legends starts off with a spoken word intro with The Truth, that centers it’s message on the closing words: “Evil always returns and greed is blind”. Crystal Viper reminds us of humanity’s never ending battle of good versus evil with their thought provoking intro, while setting the Metal table for what enigmatic and imaginative themes lie ahead in the songs on Legends. TV War is an ACCEPT classic that Crystal Viper covers with admirable Metal proficiency. The tempo is on high and Crystal Viper makes TV War live again through their Metal moxie.
The duo guitars of Andy Wave and Marta are a delectable Metal treat for my ears. These songs on Legends are guitar driven, with a plethora of psyche-you-out leads and solos that leave me helplessly revisiting those Old School daze in my Metal mind! Black Leviathan should be as prime of an example of what I mean by – guitar driven. Blood Of The Heroes busts loose at the midway point with such guitar splendor that it’s dizzying. The Ghost Ship blends speed and Melodic Metal to it’s melting point, with an air of European Metal glory transcending throughout, especially on this songs chorus. Goddess Of Death is a fist and horns to the sky, head banging Metal anthem. This song should turn any doubters into instant fans of Marta Gabriel’s vocals and Crystal Viper’s Metal legitimacy. Goddess Of Death is perhaps my favorite song on this album… only there are so many excellent songs on Legends.
Melodic, powerful, traditional and pure Classic sounding are all ten songs on Legends. (The Truth intro doesn’t count as an actual song). Each musician of Crystal Viper has proven to my ears and senses their incisive Metal skills. Legends is an album that can’t be ignored or pushed to the side for any Metal reason. Real Metal like I hear on Legends will always prevail and stand the test of Metal time. Crystal Viper is a Metal Band and Legends is a Metal album that you MUST check out sooner rather than later. Crystal Viper has created an album they named Legends and this said album of astounding Metal has rocked my Metal soul. Metal be thy name.
* Legends features guest appearances by the following Metal “legends”: Stefan Kaufmann (ACCEPT/U.D.O.), Mat Sinner (Primal Fear/Sinner), Rhino (Manowar/Angels Of Babylon) and Sven D’Anna & Dano Boland (Wizard).
* TV War was originally recorded by ACCEPT on their 1986 studio album: Russian Roulette. This cover of TV War will be on the first edition of Legends.
* Legends was produced by Bart Gabriel (Halloween, Metalucifer, Sabbat etc.)
* For more info on Crystal Viper, click on the links below:
CRYSTAL VIPER – myspace music
CRYSTAL VIPER – Official Website
CRYSTAL VIPER:
Marta Gabriel – vocals and guitar
Andy Wave – guitar
Tom Woryna – bass guitar
Golem – drums
Track Listing For Legends:
The Truth (Intro)
The Ghost Ship
Blood Of The Heroes
Greed Is Blind
Sydonia Bork
Goddess Of Death
Night Of The Sin
Secret Of The Black Water
A Man Of Stone
Black Leviathan
TV War
LONG LIVE CRYSTAL VIPER.
LONG LIVE METAL.
Stone.
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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