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Crystal Viper is a four-piece female-fronted band from Poland, headed by singer Marta Gabriel. Don't worry, this isn't yet another symphonic band with a love-em-or-hate-em operatic singer, but a real power metal band with a rock singer a-la Doro Pesch or Elisa C. Martin.
This Polish quintet take the tried and tested, sword-waving, old school formula of Manowar and couple it with the boundless enthusiasm and Euro-power metal sound of Hammerfall.
Metal Nation is Crystal Viper's second full-length release and includes ten songs (eleven on the Japanese version). Most of the songs on the album are pure, fist-pumping, headbanging, balls-out metal of the highest order, from the anthemic Metal Nation to the Agent Steel cover Agents Of Steel. The exceptions are the pleasant keyboard intro Breaking The Curse and the rousing but melancholy ballad Her Crimson Tears, which includes one of Marta Gabriel's best and most endearing performances on the album. This is a short respite in an otherwise fast-paced album.
Some of the songs aren't quite as enjoyable and memorable as others, such as 1428 and Zombie Lust (Flesh Eaters), but they're still enjoyable enough that you won't find yourself reaching for the skip button any time soon!
Towards the end of the album is the epic Gladiator, Die By The Blade. This was the first Crystal Viper song I ever heard and still one of my favorites. I still say that if this was included on the Gladiator film soundtrack it would have been even better! Of course I jest but it is still a truly amazing song, easily the best song about gladiatorial combat since Bal-Sagoth's Blood Slakes The Sand At The Circus Maximus for making you feel a part of the action.
If there is any criticism I have to level at this band it is to do with the lyrics. Unfortunately it seems like a lot of the lyrics are direct translations from Polish, rather than translations for meaning. This leads to a lot of the songs actually making little sense at times in the lyrical department. To be quite frank though, this is a small criticism. You can still sing along to the choruses while waving your fist in the air and at the end of the day that's all you need to care about with this form of music! No, not much of it is original but it IS power metal. Anyone looking for innovation in this genre really needs a reality check! The best you can hope for is to have quality songs played well and that is exactly what Crystal Viper deliver with aplomb!
I'm no musician, but I didn't notice anything at all wrong with the skill level of the four members involved in this band. Marta Gabriel's vocals vary from quite raw grittiness to soaring heights and hell, she can wail too! She does have quite a thick accent at times which is typical of a lot of continental vocalists, but in spite of, or maybe because of this she has one of the best voices I've heard in along time. As if that wasn't enough there are also guest appearances from Manni Schmidt of Grave Digger, Lars Ramcke of Stormwarrior and Frank Knight of X-Wild!
Does this sophomore effort stand up to the amazing first offering (The Curse of Crystal Viper, 2007)? Probably not quite. Its still great with some phenomenal tracks and boundless energy, but the first album just tips it.
The title song says "We are Metal Nation!" and this is not only a rallying cry for metalheads everywhere to unite but also a definite statement of intent from this hugely talented and enjoyable band! Listen, enjoy and join the growing legions of Crystal Viper!
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