Crystal Viper was formed in Katowice (Poland) in 2003 by vocalist Leather Wych (proffesional musician, 1st grade) and her husband - Bart Gabriel (manager and producer). After several demo recordings Crystal Viper entered the Kat Recording Studio to record the "Wild Child" song, for "A Tribute To W.A.S.P." CD compialtion (released in 2006 by Codiac Records, Denmark). In April of 2005, two members of the legendary New Wave Of British Heavy Metal act Elixir came to Poland, to record with Crystal Viper the "Chaos Rising" song for "A Tribute To Cirith Ungol" CD & LP compilation (Solemnity Music, 2006). After several line up changes, since 2007 Crystal Viper is:
Leather Wych - vocals
Andy Wave - guitar
Golem - drums
Dee Key - bass guitar
and Pete Raven - second guitar (live)
In summer of 2006 Crystal Viper recorded next cover song - this time it was "Flaming Metal Systems" for "A Tribute To Manilla Road" compilation - again with a special guest: Piotr Luczyk, guitarist of the ultimate Polish Metal legend Kat, who recorded the opening guitar solo. Few days later band inked a deal with German label Karthago Records (home of such cult bands as: Noisehunter, Gravestone, No Trouble and many others). Few months after recording the song for Manilla Road tribute album, Crystal Viper returned to the Zed Studio to record debut full lenght concept-album, with all the lyrics written by Bart Gabriel, titled "The Curse Of Crystal Viper". Intro for the album was recorded by another very special guest: Gerrit P. Mutz, lead singer of the famous German True Heavy Metal band Sacred Steel. "The Curse Of Crystal Viper" was released in February 2007 by Karthago Records on CD, and in June the same year on purple vinyl, by High Roller Records. Album got incredible feedback from both fans and press, with several "album of the month" titles, with no review with rating lower than 4 for 5 or 8 for 10 points.
Crystal Viper's style can be described as a combination of Speed and Heavy Metal (Running Wild, Accept, Stormwitch), the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal (Elixir, Angel Witch, Iron Maiden), and Epic Metal (Manilla Road, Zed Yago, Manowar).
Crystal Viper is also known from theatrical live shows, and already had the pleasure to share the stage with acts such as Doro, Blitzkrieg, Sacred Steel, Hammerfall, Stratovarius, Cradle Of Filth, Deathstars, and other bands.
Source : http://www.crystalviper.com/
