Review CRYSTAL VIPER ‘The Live Quest’

The Polish metal band Crystal Viper formed in 2003 and has released numerous albums since then. The most recent studio release came out in 2024 and was titled ‘The Silver Key’. The album was promoted with a tour through Europe, and some of the shows were recorded. These recordings now serve as the foundation for the new live album by the Polish metallers.

The live album is titled ‘The Live Quest’ and features nine songs. In case you’re wondering, the shows didn’t only feature such a short setlist. Crystal Viper played in average 15 songs, and a selection of those ended up on the new live release. The album’s nine tracks offer fans a selection of songs, including new songs like ‘Fever of the Gods’ and a return to the debut with “The Last Axeman.” In this sense, ‘The Live Quest’ is more of a compilation of songs performed live at various locations. This limits the impression of a live release, and one wonders why the band didn’t release an entire show. After all, it is their first live release in 15 years.

As mentioned earlier, the sound of the album is vigorous and powerful, perhaps too good, as these nine songs can’t unfold a real live atmosphere. It’s more of a compilation of Crystal Viper’s musical achievements in a live setting than anything else. This doesn’t limit the nine songs’ headbanging power. It’s just important to have the right expectations before starting this 40-minute metal journey.