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Review: Crystal Viper - Crimen Excepta
Crystal Viper
www.facebook.com/crystalviperofficial
Crimen Excepta

Label: AFM Records
Year released: 2012
Duration: 51:30
Tracks: 10
Genre: Heavy Metal

Rating:
4.5/5


Review online: June 21, 2012
Reviewed by: Christopher Foley
Readers' Rating
How do you rate this release?

Rated 4/5 (80%) (24 Votes)
Review

Just when you thought they couldn't get any better, Crystal Viper have done it again with what might just be their best album yet. Whilst their last full-length Legends was a superb release, I will say right off the mark that I prefer Crimen Excepta.

What makes Crimen Excepta so special is that it takes everything that is awesome about Crystal Viper – and this goes for all their releases – and places it all in one mouthwatering package. The production this time around has a lot more in common with the earlier Crystal Viper albums, as opposed to the more pristine sound of the last one. The band have also added some slightly darker melodies to their sound which is certainly beneficial, as well as the addition of some thrash-style riffage which adds a scything scimitar to the band's already impressive array of auditory weaponry.

Crystal Viper have struck pure heavy metal gold here, with hammering riffs and blazing guitar solos, melodies that beg for your fist to break the air, and Marta's vocals are on top form here complete with some excellent vocal lines for her to sing. Tracks such as the fiery opener "Witch's Mark" or the criminally catchy "It's Your Omen" show Crystal Viper on stupendous fine form. The band's cover of the Vader track "Tyrani Piekiel" came as a big surprise, and I was especially surprised as to how bloody well it fits in with the album, as well as adding another dimension to Crimen Excepta.

Overall, fans of Crystal Viper will want to get this straight away, and fans of well played heavy/power metal will want this as well. Crystal Viper are at the top of their game here, and tracks such as the title track and "Fire By My Gates" rank amongst the finest track the band have ever penned. Recommended!

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