I’ve always been a massive fan of Leather-area Chastain. I don’t exactly know what it was but the traditional metal-antics of David T. Chastain in combination with the sandpaper throat of Leather Leone was something I just couldn’t resist. And low and behold, out comes an album of Crystal Vipers, a Polish metal band with at the helm Marta Gabriel, who could as well have been Leather’s younger sister. Or the daughter of Miss Leone and the mighty King Diamond. Now wouldn’t that be something?
As told earlier, Polish band Crystal Vipers grew up with their parents’ traditional metal records, think Running Wild, Accept, Mercyful Fate and of course Chastain, Warlock and so on. They’ve been active since 2003, released 3 albums and a couple of singles and EP’s but are just hitting their stride. They took residence in a studio with producer Bart Gabriel (Burning Starr, Sacred Steel, Mortician, …) and released this ‘Crimen Excepta’, a concept record about the holy inquisition, black magic and witches. Subjects that fit metal music like the rubber glove fits the doctor’s hand just before the more thorough examination commences. The band stays firmly on the yellow brick road of traditional metal and I think that’s how the average aficionado likes it best.
Crystal Viper also recorded a cover version of Vader’s ‘Tyrani Piekiel’ (with the legendary Piotr Wiwczarek on co-vocals, by the way), which will be available on the limited edition version of this record. On the title track you’ll hear Hell’s David Bower and if you would decide to buy the vinyl version Demon’s ‘Night Of The Demon’ will be your reward. (
KVK)
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Metal Mark
I quite enjoyed the head bang Crystal Viper dished up on their latest slab o steel. This band is getting pretty prolific, putting out some serious metal with a scorching female frontwoman burning holes in my ears. Good stuff!
YNGWIEVIKING
Agree with you KVK...This album it's exactly what you just wrote...Better than 2010's ,,legends" which was already enjoyable...This time Marta Gabriel is ready for the competition with BENEDICTUM's Veronica Freeman/Jill Janus from HUNTRESS or the girl from A SOUND OF THUNDER (Nina Osegueda)...The big tourney for the LEATHER throne :)
****5/7 almost *****
BTW did you check SLEDGE LEATHER ,,imagine me alive" CD... with a still in shape Leather Leone + S.Sledge on drums and DIO's guys Scott Warren and legendary Jimmy Bain (RAINBOW/WILD HORSES/WWIII)...Pretty interesting !
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