Review: Crystal Viper – At The Edge Of Time EP

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Crystal Viper

At The Edge Of Time EP – AFM Records

It’s not often calling a track a ‘headbanging speed metal monster’ can be described as an understatement. But Crystal Viper are, honestly, being modest. Title track At The Edge Of Time is a well-crafted journey, navigated by soaring vocals, furious shredding and a chorus that’s not leaving your head for days. It’s so good it’s on the EP as track three too – this time in Polish. A new version of When The Sun Goes Down builds from a hypnotic melody to another glorious earworm of a chorus, while the spellbinding When Are You is simply led by Marta Gabriel’s beautiful vocal range and a piano. Whatever the tempo, these four heavy metal stalwarts from Poland play it like they mean it. Michael Moorcock’s fantasy novels are a big influence here. And like its inspiration, At The Edge Of Time really does provide a welcome escape into another world.

Review by Jo Wright