Review: Crystal Viper - The Curse Of Crystal Viper [2007]
After the Apollo Ra, another review appears from the past.
This was the first review i ever made for a zine called "Pits Of Hell", but it was never released. So lets go 5 years back and enjoy Crystal Viper, brought to you by the vaults of Starchild! :p
This was the first review i ever made for a zine called "Pits Of Hell", but it was never released. So lets go 5 years back and enjoy Crystal Viper, brought to you by the vaults of Starchild! :p
"Well, this is my first
review for the P.O.H. webzine. When I asked George on what albums should I make
reviews he told me “whatever you like”. The choosing was difficult, because of
the too much worth-hearing releases of the last months. So I choose the album
“The Curse of Crystal Viper”, the first full album of the Polish band Crystal
Viper.
First of all let’s make an overview on the
band’s history. Crystal Viper was formed on 2003 from the band’s vocalist Marta
Gabriel (a.k.a. Leather Wych). The same year they released their first demo
with the name “Rehearsal Tape” which had five tracks, four band’s songs and
a cover on Saxon’s “Denim and Leather”. The following years the band released
three more demos (Live Demo, Strike One, The Soundhouse Tape) and took part on
Tribute albums for W.A.S.P. (with the song Wild Child), Cirith Ungol (song
Chaos Rising), Manilla Road (song Flaming Metal System) and Angel Witch (song
Atlantis).
Finally, on February 25th of this year, they released
this first full-length album.
The album has ten tracks, nine
songs and an intro. Classic-Pure-Traditional Heavy Metal with Power highlights
and legendary vocals from the exploding female figure Leather Wych. Now let’s
take a look on the songs:
Album starts with an intro
and the song “Night Prowler” which moves on classic heavy metal rhythms and an
easy-catching refrain.
It continues with “Shadows on
the Horizon” which walks on a fast bass line.
After that, Andy’s guitar
explodes with an easy-to-spot Manilla
Road influence, in an earthshaking intro of the
song “City Of The Damned ”.
Then follows the Epic “The Last
Axeman”, where, from the first tune of the guitar, you go some centuries back,
where steel ruled the lives! [Dedicated to Sir Kimball from OMEN]
In an excellent melody continues
the “Island of the Silver Skull”, where IronMaiden-School
“shouts” that is also here.
Sharp riffs and Power rhythms on
drums make their appearance on the song “I am Leather Witch”, which is a song
from their last demo.
A more emotional melody, and a
bit slowly tempo, follows on “Demons’ Dagger”.
Pre-last song is the speedy “The
Fury (Undead)” with a drum solo in the beginning and a folk melody between the
choruses, which make you see the album from a different angle.
And, for closure, they selected
one of the heaviest songs that I ever heard. Magical and mysterious prelude,
strictly sharp riffs, melody for a massive headbanging, guitar solos right from
the ‘80s decade. All that, plus the wonderful Marta’s voice, equals = “Sleeping
Swords”! A Metal Hymn!
For the end, if you are a fan of
the classic heavy metal music, if you like legendary and epic stories, if you
are interested in female-fronted metal bands, or if the ‘80s was the decade you
love, then run and buy this album!
Released on CD on Karthago Records and on purple vinyl with gatefold sleeve by High Roller Records."
8/10
Michalis “Starchild” Benakis
September 2007