Crystal Viper are pretty average when it comes to listening to them on album, but if you want the full force Crystal Viper experience then watching them live, or the next best thing, buying Defenders of The Magic Circle is the best place to start. Just imagine Iron Maiden and Manowar with a female singer, and you have summed up Crystal Viper to a capital C - But bloody hell, beware of Marta Gabriel front woman and guitar player in the band because she can fucking wail and shred like a mad man.... I mean woman!

The set list on this mind blowing gig in Germany is basically a greatest hits set from this gargantuan tour machine. The crowd are as good as a metal crowd can get, adding a sense of unity and belonging to every song. When you have around 200 people singing every fucking word to every fucking song, it sends shivers down your spine, which not only probably came across at the actual live show, but also on the live recording as well. If you look at ‘Metal Nation’ you can hear the crowd participating and not only progressing and making the vocals more powerful, but showing just how much metal seems like a brotherhood!

Defenders of The Magic Circle is jammed full of insane guitar hooks. Not to put a dampener on the other musicians in the band, but after Marta’s bellowing voice, the next best thing is just how catchy and creative those guitar riffs are. ‘Metal Nation’, ‘Legions of Truth’ and ‘The Last Axeman’ all include cantering Maiden guitar riffs, but Firewind sounding guitar solos which shows that even though Andy Wave may only be in a small German power metal band, he is up there with some of the greats when it comes to musicianship.

As well as a live concert on this album, the listener is presented with not one but four never heard before songs that like other Crystal Viper releases sound a bit.... Bland. The only thing that is any of interest is the cover version of ‘Obsession’ by Virgin Steel which is far better than the original. Why couldn’t you have played more live tracks and recorded a few more covers? Or even played some of these unreleased songs live! Perhaps the sonic boom you get from Crystal Viper live will make these three tracks all the more special.

Maybe it’s the crowd which boosts Crystal Vipers sound and style when playing live, but one thing is for sure, they are bloody awesome when playing live, but unfortunately frankly disappointing on album.