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April 2024

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Crystal Viper: Legends

Heavy/Power Metal

3.5/5.0

AFM Records
www.crystalviper.com
www.myspace.com/crystalviperofficial
By Craig Hartranft,  11.14.2010

Persistence. Consistency. Heavy Power Metal. These word describe Poland's Crystal Viper's third full length, Legends, release in a nutshell. Without doubt or exception, Crystal Viper is doing what they love and doing it well: old school melodic heavy metal with power metal overtones. Considering the modern metal environment, this band is easily dismissed, but probably excused for the female vocals. But coming from the Continent, tradition metal is not lost, as it is in America. Parts Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Helloween, Manilla Road (USA), Crystal Viper heralds the best of what heavy metal desired to be from inception to future consideration. There's no hardcore, death, or black metal here. Simply heavy, thundering, and melodic metal of substance and character: they way it was meant to be. It's that simple. Nevertheless, is Crystal Viper doing something new, better, or beyond their certain character? Not really. But they are profoundly consistent and, therefore, soon to become (if they're not already) masters of their genre.

Top tracks: Goddess of Death, Night of Sin, The Ghost Ship, and Secret of the Black Water. For pure European heavy/power metal it doesn't get much better than this. Very recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

Is Crystal Viper doing something new, better, or beyond their certain character? Not really. But they are profoundly consistent and, therefore, soon to become (if they're not already) masters of their genre. Very recommended.

Alphabetical Index

Three years have passed since Sweden's Cruzh dropped their second long-player, Tropical Thunder, also introducing their new singer, Alex Waghorn. Now the band returns with The Jungle Revolution ... [ Read More ]