Based in Katowice, Poland, hard-hitting, female-fronted heavy metal unit Crystal Viper draw from first-wave NWOBHM bands and savage sword-and-sorcery metal outfits like Manowar and Cirith Ungol. Founded in 2003 by guitarist/vocalist Marta Gabriel and featuring the talents of guitarist Andy Wave, bassist Michal Badocha, and drummer Tomasz "Golem" Dańczak, the band released its debut album, The Curse of the Crystal Viper, in 2007 via German label Karthago Records. Arriving in 2009, the star-studded Metal Nation featured guest spots from Rage guitarist Mannie Schmidt, Storm Warrior vocalist/guitarist Lars Ramcke, and X-Wild vocalist Frank Knight. In 2010, the band moved to AFM Records and issued the concert album Defenders of the Magic: Live in Germany as well as a new studio LP, Legends. Released in 2012, Crimen Excepta included contributions from Hell frontman David Bower and Vader mastermind Peter Wiwczarek, and in 2013 Crystal Viper released their first concept album, Possession. They adopted a similar narrative tone on 2017's Queen of the Witches, which included an appropriately fiery cover of Grim Reaper's "See You in Hell." ~ James Christopher Monger