Crystal Viper – The Silver Key
Release Date: 28th June 2024
Label: Listenable Records
Bandcamp
Genre: Heavy Metal, Power Metal.
FFO: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Burning Witches, Bronze, Mean Misstreater, Natthammer, Grand Inquisitor.
Review By: Mark Waight
If you love old school Heavy Metal or Power Metal, then Crystal Viper are probably a band who you are already fully aware of. If not, then you soon will be by heading off to delve into their superb back catalogue after reading this review of their upcoming new album The Silver Key.
They are without doubt “Magicians of Metal” and with The Silver Key being Crystal Vipers ninth full studio album, in a history stretching back to 2007, they are also a very hard-working and productive band.
The Silver Key which, in the bands own words until recently, had the working title of The Cult II due to Crystal Vipers previous album of the same name (2021’s The Cult) apparently took on its own identity during production to become their most intense release to date. Read on to find out how and why!
Crystal Viper is Marta Gabriel (vocals, bass, guitar, piano), Lukasz “Andy Wave” Halczuch (lead and rhythm guitars), Kuba Galwas (drums and percussion) and Eric Juris (lead and rhythm guitars).
So, without further ado, strap yourself in and let’s dig right down into the nuts and bolts of The Silver Key and Crystal Vipers latest gift to the world of Metal.
A short and futuristic sci-fi introduction, Return to Providence gets you in the mood (or should I say Moog) as the tension builds into Fever of the Gods where all hell suddenly let’s rip! The pace is quick, and the riffs roar out like a 6 Litre engine as fire and brimstone reigns over you. Impressed? I certainly was!
The even hotter pace of Old House in the Mist is pure Metal poetry as we speed along through some dramatic raspy rock vocals and a well-executed guitar solo which is just what the Doctor ordered. The Key is Lost is slightly slower but delivered with more depth of bass, and the raw emotion is right out there for all to hear. Stirring stuff!
Reminding me of early Iron Maiden, Heading Kadath is a proper old school tune that just keeps giving and giving right to the end. The twin guitars are truly outstanding and absolutely nail that traditional sound. A fine example of how Heavy Metal should sound. Carrying on in the same vein, Book of the Dead could quite easily raise the dead with its electrifying rate of changeovers and gritty vocals. A solid track with an authentic feel.
Title track, The Silver Key offers up some very sweet vocal harmonies as well as demonstrating the superb strength in depth to Marta Gabriels vocal capabilities, with something just a little more tender. The guitar solo is also divine! This leads us nicely into Wayfaring Dreamer, a proper ballad that will have you reaching for your lighter (well, your mobile phone torch these days). Beautifully, dreamy and exquisite!
The pedal is then back to the metal again, with Crystal Viper inviting you to Escape from Yaddith. By now though I am pretty sure that you won’t want to be escaping from The Silver Key anytime soon as, like me, you will also be enjoying the ride too much by this point. Last up, the Cosmic Forces Overtake you as Crystal Viper entice you further with a flat out, pumped up and quick-fire finale to leave you crying out for an encore. More, more, more!!!
Well, you’re in luck because if you purchase a physical copy of The Silver Key, you will get the bonus of that additional track. If you purchase the CD, you will get the barnstorming Gods of Thunder of Wind and of Rain as your bonus, whereas buyers of the vinyl will get Scream as theirs. I can count myself as very lucky indeed as I got to hear Gods of Thunder of Wind and of Rain for this review and since I have pre-ordered the vinyl I will get to hear Scream in due course. I can’t wait!
I absolutely love Traditional Heavy Metal and have done for 45 years, so with that in mind, The Silver Key ticked every single box for me and then some! It is an album of pure escapism that will take you on a wonderful journey out of the hum drum of everyday life into a world where anything and everything is possible. The enjoyment just builds and builds throughout until you are just completely blown away at the end, I loved it, and you will too! Crystal Viper absolutely Rock, so I can only conclude my review in one way and that is by saying that I would highly recommend The Silver Key to everyone and anyone who is a fan of Heavy Metal as it should be played. Check it out as soon as it drops, you won’t be disappointed!
(5 / 5)
