This year, singer/guitarist Marta Gabriel is blowing out 23 candles on a cake—a feat she never would’ve imagined when she formed her throwback-metal band Crystal Viper. Since 2003, the relatively unsung power-metal project from Poland has all too often been overshadowed by mega-metal acts Rammstein, Kreator, Sodom, Helloween, and Blind Guardian.
The Live Quest, Crystal Viper’s first concert recording in 15 years, came out in late June via Listenable Records with the very real expectation that Crystal Viper belong in the same discussion as those other aforementioned bands—and, like many of them, still sound as tight as they did when Gabriel coalesced the group in 2003 (fun fact: That was the same year Gigli hit theaters!).
Crystal Viper consists of Marta Gabriel (vocals, bass guitar, guitar, piano); Lukasz ″Andy Wave″ Halczuch (lead and rhythm guitars); Kuba Galwas (drums and percussion); and Eric Juris (lead and rhythm guitars). The Live Quest is comprised by performances in European countries Crystal Viper played in support of last year’s The Silver Key.
The record’s nine tracks (including a short opening interlude) supposedly provides arbiters who dare distinguish “good metal” from “bad metal” with an ample amount of evidence that Crystal Viper firmly belong in the former bracket.
To discuss the release, we caught up with the one and only Gabriel. We’re not just leaning on that cliché; in more ways than one, Gabriel is Crystal Viper, and Crystal Viper is Gabriel. We caught up with her via email while Crystal Viper were playing gigs overseas with Metalucifer, the legendary metal band from Japan that celebrates its 30 years of existence this year.
How’s the tour with Metalucifer going? What’s the best anecdote from it thus far?
The tour with Metalucifer has been absolutely amazing! Sharing the stage with such cult musicians has been both an honor and a blast. Gezol, for example, is more metal than metal itself! The energy at the shows has been off the charts, and the connection with the fans has been unbelievable! Crowd surfing, mosh pits—just wow. The chemistry within the band was pure magic—I didn’t expect that, especially since we had never played together before. I honestly wish this tour was longer.
Why did you decide that now was the ideal time to release a live album?
Honestly, it felt like the perfect moment. After so many years of touring and connecting with fans face-to-face, we finally had the right combination of energy, experience, and circumstances to capture that live magic properly. The last tour was really special—The crowds were insane, the setlist covered both new material and old fan favorites, and we were finally able to bring our full stage production to life. We just knew: this is it—Let’s document it!
Why did you decide the live album should consist of an amalgamation of recordings from different European stops on your Silver Key Tour? What made those gigs extra special for you?
Actually, there seems to have been a bit of a misunderstanding somewhere—The Live Quest wasn’t compiled from multiple shows. It was entirely recorded during our performance at the legendary Keep It True Festival in Germany. That night was truly magical: The energy of the crowd, the atmosphere, and the fact that we were part of such an iconic event made it the perfect moment to capture and release.
We played a special setlist, the sound and lighting were fantastic, and the response from the fans gave us goosebumps. It was one of those unforgettable nights that deserved to be immortalized.
In what specific ways has Crystal Viper’s live performance improved over the years?
We’ve grown a lot—both as musicians and as performers. Our “musical understanding” onstage is tighter than ever, and we’ve become much more confident in delivering a show that’s not just about playing songs, but about telling a story, creating a moment. Also, years of experience taught us how to handle any technical situation or crowd—from massive festivals to intimate club gigs. I think we now have that balance between precision and raw emotion.
Did you ever go through a period during which you got bored of, or frustrated by, performing live?
Honestly? Never bored—but there were definitely tough moments. Touring can be exhausting, especially when you’re sick or dealing with logistical chaos. But the minute I step on stage, everything else disappears. Performing live is where I feel the most alive and connected. Also, to me, performing live is better than any existing therapy.
What’s your favorite performance on The Live Quest?
That’s a hard one! But if I had to pick … probably “Metal Nation.” The crowd response was insane; everyone was singing along, and the emotion in the room gave me goosebumps. You can really hear that on the recording—It was one of those perfect, magical moments where everything just clicked.
Now that you’ve been around for two decades, has the arguably derogatory term “female-fronted band” gradually petered out? Or are you finding that you’re still pigeonholed by close-minded music fans and critics?
It’s definitely less common now, which is a good sign—but it still pops up. To me, “female-fronted” isn’t a genre. It tells you nothing about the music itself. And sometimes it’s used in a dismissive way, as if it somehow makes the band a novelty. That said, I also understand that for some listeners—like myself!—it can actually be helpful.
I personally enjoy discovering metal bands with women on vocals. So I get why someone might be looking for that kind of sound or energy. The problem starts when it becomes the only label that defines a band. We’re a heavy metal band, full stop. The gender of the vocalist shouldn’t be what puts us in a box—The music should speak first.
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