CRYSTAL VIPER "Tales Of Fire And Ice"

CRYSTAL VIPER

"Tales Of Fire And Ice"

The list of impressive female metal singers is growing daily, but always near the top of that list should be CRYSTAL VIPER's Marta Gabriel. This bewitching woman has been a revelation since Day One. The Polish band has been around for a good many years now and have been a strong entry in the  melodic speed/power metal sweepstakes.

"Tales Of Fire And Ice" sees CRYSTAL VIPER becoming more melodically inclined than ever and where this might be seen as a drawback amongst hardened headbangers, I think the band has advanced admirably with a great slab of prime European power metal. A lot in this genre succumbs to weak cliche, but this is so pleasingly catchy and Marta's voice is so breathtakingly crystalline that there's nothing second rate about it. This woman's voice has the power of the Greek sirens that lured men to their doom...just listen to the faultless work on "Crystal Sphere" or "Bright Lights". "Bright Lights" in particular is a standout song...punchy metal driven by Golem's heavy handed but rock steady drumming and Marta's singing is incredible.

Although the record as a whole is less speed oriented than past CRYSTAL VIPER efforts, it's not to say that speed is ignored. "Crystal Sphere" and "One Question" both blaze along pretty quickly. Keyboards play an atmospheric role, especially on "Tomorrow Never Comes", where they enhance the song very well. The album does "soften" towards the end with the ballad "Tears of Arizona" where Marta again shines and the serviceable but not particularly outstanding over of DOKKEN's "Dream Warriors".

"Tales Of Fire And Ice" might lose some pigheaded fans who see CRYSTAL VIPER as only a speed metal band, but it will gain them a lot more interested in the melodic side of power metal. It's a very slick album in that genre...

AFM RECORDS

CRYSTAL VIPER