LEATHERWITCH, new Heavy Metal band formed by vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel, signed a multiple record deal with Listenable Records. The very first video and single, “Beast Inside”, will have its premiere on March 5, 2026. It has been mixed by Olof Wikstrand (ENFORCER), and features special guest, guitarist Giuseppe Taormina (ELLENDE, ex-CRYSTAL VIPER).
Marta Gabriel disbanded her band CRYSTAL VIPER in the fall of 2025. The band toured in more than 20 countries, conquered the stages of major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Hellfest and Keep It True, and left a legacy of 9 studio albums. CRYSTAL VIPER’s farewell live album titled “The Live Quest”, came out last June.
In the Spring of 2025 Gabriel toured with the Japanese Heavy Metal act METALUCIFER, as a bassist on their “Heavy Metal Anniversary” Tour in Europe, and flew to Tokyo, Japan, for two exclusive live shows as a solo artist.
Polish female fronted Heavy Metal act CRYSTAL VIPER announce the release of a live album entitled The Live Quest. It was recorded during last year’s ‘The Silver Key Tour’ at live shows in Poland, Germany, Austria, Denmark, Italy, France, Belgium and Czech Republic. The Live Quest which will come out Friday June 27 on Listenable Records and will be available on Vinyl , CD and Digitally.
Cover artwork was painted by Mario Lopez, who is also responsible for the last two CRYSTAL VIPER studio albums artworks: The Cult and The Silver Key.
CRYSTAL VIPER is a band formed and led by Marta Gabriel – vocalist, bassist and guitarist. Their last studio album The Silver Key came out in 2024 on Listenable Records and was promoted on a full European Tour and Summer festivals such as Wacken Open Air and Hellfest. While due to Marta’s presence, the band is very often compared to such female fronted acts as WARLOCK, their style is a mixture of Heavy and Power Metal, inspired by bands such as IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST.
The Silver Key was once again inspired by the works of the father of Cosmic Horror, Howard Phillips Lovecraft, the album is a natural continuation of the previous full length release, The Cult (Listenable records – 2021).
It is without a doubt the most intense release that CRYSTAL VIPER ever recorded and the album received a roaring response from the press worldwide and featured Bathory and Misfits covers as bonus tracks.
The Live Quest first single “The Cult” live) will be released on Wednesday May 7th.
CRYSTAL VIPER are joining Riot IV on their 50th anniversary tour: 29/04 France, Grenoble, L’Ilyade 30/04 Italy, Milano, Legend 01/05 Italy, Rome, Traffic 02/05 Italy, Bologna, Alchemica 03/05 Slovenia, Medvode, Klub Jedro 04/05 Austria, Wien, Viper Room
CRYSTAL VIPER The Live Quest – Track-list:
Return To Providence (01:43)
Fever Of The Gods (4:27)
The Silver Key (4:44)
The Cult (4:54)
Metal Nation (5:48)
Night Of The Sin (4:35)
The Witch Is Back (4:45)
Still Alive (3:50)
The Last Axeman (6:00)
Band line up: Marta Gabriel – vocals, bass guitar, guitar, piano Lukasz ″Andy Wave″ Halczuch – lead and rhythm guitars Kuba Galwas – drums and percussion Eric Juris – lead and rhythm guitars
Discography: The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation ( Album – 2009) Legends ( Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta ( Album – 2012) Possession ( Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches ( Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice ( Album – 2019) The Cult ( Listenable Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (Listenable Album- 2022) The Silver Key ( Listenable Album – 2024)
If you are serious about Heavy Metal, then most likely CRYSTAL VIPER doesn’t need an introduction. The band was founded by the singer and guitarist Marta Gabriel, and released its debut album in 2007. Since then, they toured in more than 15 countries, played in both tiny clubs and at huge open air festivals, released 8 studio albums, and a bunch of singles. So one thing is sure: they are one of the most hard working and most determined bands of their generation.
Their latest studio album entitled “The Cult” is still hot: it came out in 2021, followed by ‘The Last Command’ mini album in 2022, and brought CRYSTAL VIPER back to their roots: the traditional and pure Heavy Metal, full of epic melodies, classic riffs and guitar harmonies, ripping solos, and catchy refrains. The band couldn’t tour properly and promote the album due to the pandemic, yet instead of sitting and waiting for better times, they decided to record more material.
CRYSTAL VIPER ‘s brand new single is a scorching new recorded version of ‘In the Haunted Chapel’ released at the light of the band’s forthcoming tour and festival dates.
Band leader Marta Gabriel comments: “In The Haunted Chapel’ is naturally connected with our latest studio album ‘The Cult’, as it was inspired by the H.P. Lovecraft story – ‘The Haunter Of The Dark’, which was originally published in 1936. It’s actually a very special story, as it’s the last one Lovecraft wrote before his death. The composition itself is based on this shuffle rhythm which is a bit unusual for CRYSTAL VIPER, and the twin guitars are our humble tribute to legendary acts such as Thin Lizzy and Iron Maiden. This version is a little bit different than the one we released last year on “The Last Axeman” EP, because as I recently switched from rhythm guitar to bass, I decided to come up with different bass line, and of course we now have a new drummer on board, Jakub. Except that both Eric and Andy recorded different guitar solos.”
‘In the Haunted Chapel’ video release will be announced at a later date.
Tour dates: 27/05 – Czech Republic, Pasohlavky, Euro Bike Fest 01/06 – Germany, Gries, Iron Fest Open Air 02/06 – Germany, Freiburg, Artik 03/06 – Germany, Bielefeld, JZ Stricker 04/06 – Belgium, Bilzen, South Of Heaven 07/06 – Germany, Berlin, Cassiopeia 08/06 – Czech Republic, Frydek-Mistek, Hellpdays Festival 10/06 – Germany, Selb, Rockclub Nordbayern 14/07 – Sweden, Gavle, Gefle Metal Festival 12/08 – Belgium, Kortrijk, Alcatraz Festival 17/09 – Baltic Sea, Full Metal Cruise
Discography : The Curse of Crystal Viper (Album – 2007) Metal Nation ( Album – 2009) Legends ( Album – 2010) Crimen Excepta ( Album – 2012) Possession ( Album – 2013) Queen of the Witches ( Album – 2017) Tales of Fire and Ice ( Album – 2019) The Cult ( LISTENABLE Album – 2021) The Last Axeman (LISTENABLE Album- 2022)
Marta Gabriel – vocals, guitars Andy Wave – guitars Tomasz ‘Golem’ Danczak – drums Michal Badocha – bass guitar
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CRYSTAL VIPER – Poland’s True Metal Warriors, Crystal Viper, will be headlining the Power Of The Night Metal Festival IX, in Cyprus, this July 25th! Led by founder, singer and multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel, Crystal Viper are consistently recruiting legions of Metal fans, every day, across every continent! Lucky Cyprus! Metal be thy name. – Stone
* For more info on the Power Of The Night Metal Festival:
JACK STARR’S BURNING STARR – The incredibly talented Marta Gabriel of Crystal Viperwill beon tour with the legendary Jack Starr’s BURNING STARR (official) as rhythm guitarist. Check out the European & US tour dates for this September, on that killer tour flyer (above).
Polish female fronted Heavy Metal act CRYSTAL VIPER, is recently working on their next, fifth studio album which will have its premiere on Friday 13, December 2013, and which will be released via AFM Records. This time the band prepared unique, and one of a kind surprise for their fans: everyone can be special guest on the new CRYSTAL VIPER album!
“It seems people really enjoy concept albums, we do, so our next release will be a concept album as well but more twisted you all can imagine! Inviting special guests that were recording with us is already kind of tradition for CRYSTAL VIPER, but this time we decided to go one step further, and we decided to invite people who are most important for us, people who give us energy and strenght to continue: our fans!” says vocalist and guitarist Marta Gabriel, who is again author of the whole material: “Here’s the deal: we want to have YOUR scream on the next CRYSTAL VIPER album! How to do it? Simply record yourself screaming: use your Iphone, smartphone, computer, or any other recording device you can find, and send mp3 or wav file with the recording to mail@skolrecords.com – just type “CRYSTAL VIPER SCREAM” in the subject line, and don’t forget to tell us your full name, as you will be listed in the booklet of the next CRYSTAL VIPER album as a special guest!” she adds. Fans can submit their recordings until August 15, 2013.
WANNA BE A SPECIAL GUEST ON THE NEXT CRYSTAL VIPER ALBUM?!
1. Record your scream with any recording device you can find!
2. Send mp3 or wav file to mail@skolrecords.com – write “CRYSTAL VIPER SCREAM” in the subject line!
3. Don’t forget to write your name in the email: you will be listed as special guest in the album booklet!
4. Sending the recording is equal with permission for using it by CRYSTAL VIPER!
5. Deadline for submitting the recordings is August 15, 2013.
HAVE ANY MORE QUESTIONS? Join THE OFFICIAL LEGION at Crystal Viper and ask your question to the band or their management!
Marta Gabriel of CRYSTAL VIPER will join the legendary U.S. Power Metal act JACKSTARR’S BURNING STARR – feat. ex members of MANOWAR and VIRGIN STEELE – as their rhythm guitarist at the KEEP IT TRUE FESTIVAL in Germany. “Jack Starr was quite impressed with the rock solid playing of Marta Gabriel and asked her if she would be available to do some shows with BURNING STARR as the recorded music of BURNING STARR usually features more than one guitar part” says the official press release.
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