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Crystal Viper: Crimen Excepta
Crystal Viper - Crimen Excepta Review

Crystal Viper: Crimen Excepta

Heavy/Power Metal
3.5/5.0

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Crystal Viper returns with their fourth album, Crimen Excepta, another fine platter of traditional heavy metal. Hear the echoes of their influences Mercyful Fate, Warlock and Iron Maiden.

Crystal Viper  Band Photo

Crystal Viper: with Marta Gabriel holding the head of her ex-boyfriend.

Without exception the best thing about a Crystal Viper is their command of this classic genre. They easily blend speed and power to their metal, yet also offer exceptional melody. In other words, this is how classic heavy metal should sound. The wildcard is always vocalist Marta Gabriel. You never know what you're going to get from her: shrieking or metal singing.

The album offers eight tracks and two bonus tracks. Beginning with the second track there's a brief intro before the next songs. I don't quite get the purpose of these, but there they are. The title track features Hell vocalist David Bower, and I think it's my favorite piece her. After that The Spell of Death and Fire Be My gates are simply engaging classic metal. One of the bonus tracks is Vader's Tyrani Piekel, and finds Vader's Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek helping with the cover.

Like their previous album, Crystal Viper's Crimen Excepta is fundamental heavy metal done well by a talented band who knows their chosen musical calling. Recommended.






In Short

Crystal Viper's Crimen Excepta is fundamental heavy metal done well by a band who knows their chosen musical calling. Recommended.

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