(Listenable)
Multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel is on her own after disbanding Crystal Viper with a farewell live album The Live Quest from 2025. She handles vocals, guitar, bass, drums with one guest guitar solo. So technically, isn’t this a solo album?
Opener “Heroes And The Dice” is a traditional driving heavy metal song with twin leads and a flurry of notes in the solo, power metal chorus. Solos on the album credited to guitarist Giuseppe Taormina (Ellende, ex-Crystal Viper), and Ginoir (Sabbat). Being familiar with Crystal Viper, already by promo video track two “Beast Inside” this is not so different than her previous band. The bio for Leatherwitch says Gabriel was inspired by more traditional heavy metal for this album and it is evident on “Bound By The Night” with its straightforward riffing and melodic clean guitar parts. Galloping horse sounds begins “Silver Stallions” which would be a good single with catchy Accept riffed verses.
“Living In The Fast Lane” another Saxon trad metal track. Slower “The New Beginning” with cleaner guitars during the arrangement. Good to hear Marta’s voice in this space. “Two Tons Of Steel” (Manowar kind of title) punches with double bass power metal. Mixed by Olof Wikstrand (Enforcer) I heard said band’s influence on “In The Middle Of The Night” and the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. Enjoyable tune, there is more AOR in the chorus and she should go in this direction more to sperate herself from Crystal Viper.
Unfortunately, the album access stream did not include bonus track covers of “Black Wind, Fire And Steel” by Manowar (only on vinyl) and Helloween’s “Walls Of Jericho/Ride The Sky” only on CD.