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Crystal Viper - Possession

Label: AFM
Format: CD download
Released: 2013
Reviewed By: Mark Gromen
Rating: 7.5/ 10


Fifth studio album from a band still relatively unknown on these shores. That’s a shame Having witnessed this female fronted (doubling on guitar) Polish outfit on a couple of occasions now, feel confident in saying that if Doro Pesch were ever to abdicate her Metal Queen mantle, diminutive Marta "Leather Wych" Gabriel is really the only fitting (legitimate metalhead) successor. Much like her fem-mentor, Gabriel’s posse rarely strays from standard metal constructs, occasionally imbuing the sounds with a flash of guitarwork and/or near-thrash speed. Traditional metal sensibilities, with a raspy voice that avoids purposeful shrieks or vocal histrionics, that’s Crystal Viper.

 

Opening with a 55 second ‘Zeta Reticuli’ instrumental, it’s into eight original, meat & potato metallic staples. The opening ‘Voices In My Head’ suddenly drops from mid-tempo rocker into a brief acoustic and piano laced section, although eventually rocking out once more. Head shaking, hair flailing ‘Mark Of The Horned One’ revolves around a simple, deceptively infectious melody. By contrast, a plodding ‘Why Can’t You Listen?’ (perhaps a lack of that melody?) offers a different (albeit less desirable) tact. More majestic (without the pomposity), ‘You Will Die You Will Burn’ rights the ship, riding mid-paced Manowar inspiration, including a blaze of guitar. Acoustic begun, the more metered ‘Prophet Of The End’ succeeds, where the earlier slowdown failed. ‘Fight Evil With Evil’ sports a guest appearance by Harry “The Tyrant” Conklin of Jag Panzer / Titan Force fame and the bonus track is a killer rendition of Riot’s ‘Thundersteel’. If that doesn’t vouch for their street cred (and get you at least a little interested), then look somewhere else. Including logging off this website.

 
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