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Review: Crystal Viper - Legends
Crystal Viper
www.crystalviper.com
Legends

Label: AFM Records
Year released: 2010
Duration: 46:43
Tracks: 11
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4.25/5


Review online: February 5, 2011
Reviewed by: MetalMike
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4.13/5 (82.5%) (40 Votes)
Review

Crystal Viper's debut, The Curse of the Crystal Viper, didn't hit me as hard as some other people. The same can be said for the less well-received follow-up Metal Nation. Apparently third time is the charm with Crystal Viper, for me, anyway. Their new album, Legends, is a rollicking, ass-kicking tribute to pirates, heroes and all things fantasy. Featuring both Heavy and Power Metal riffs and choruses, the air guitar was out early and has stayed out.

Some might find the trend toward double-kick drums and ultra-catchy choruses a disappointing departure from the True Metal of the debut, but not me. Mid-tempo Epic songs like "Greed is Blind" and "Secret of the Black Water" coexist easily with speedy tracks like "Blood of the Heroes" and "The Ghost Ship." The songwriting is top notch, although I found the faster songs slightly better. Marta Gabriel's voice is in fine form, the guys contribute some solid, Accept-like backing vocals and the solos are beautifully matched to the pace and intensity of each individual song. Speaking of Accept, "Night of the Sin" is very much in the Metal Heart mold with its "everyone-up-to-the-mic" chorus. Crystal Viper cements the influence their Teutonic heroes have had with a perfect cover of "TV War." Not too far from the original that it sounds like a different song, yet distinctively Crystal Viper.

Legends is excellent Heavy/Power Metal from start to finish. Even the cover art is cool. Even if you didn't appreciate Crystal Viper before, you should not miss this one.

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