First Spell

Description

LEATHERWITCH is a new Heavy Metal band formed by singer and multi-instrumentalist Marta Gabriel. After the dissolution of her band CRYSTAL VIPER in autumn 2025, Marta left behind a legacy of 9 studio albums and toured over 20 countries, conquering the stages of major festivals such as Wacken Open Air, Hellfest, and Keep It True. CRYSTAL VIPER's farewell live album, titled "The Live Quest", was released in June 2025 on Listenable Records. Marta Gabriel states: "The end of CRYSTAL VIPER did not mean the end of my musical journey, on the contrary, it was literally 'The New Beginning'. I am a very creative person, I write music in different styles all the time. I am a big fan of traditional Hard Rock and Heavy Metal, that is what constantly inspires me. (...) And every time a path ends, there is a new path or even several to follow. One of these new paths is called LEATHERWITCH, and it has led me to pure and authentic Heavy Metal. I would not call it 'old school', because I did not try to play or achieve a retro vibe here - but it is indeed very classic, raw, and full of the original energy of Heavy Metal." LEATHERWITCH's first album, 'First Spell', will allow the listener to discover sparkling riffs and solos, accompanied by the most compelling vocal performance of Marta's career. Each track stands out for its clarity while maintaining a raw atmosphere thanks to careful production. Marta continues: "'First Spell', as an album title, is a play on words: if I am this leather-clad Heavy Metal witch, holding a Flying V guitar, playing loud and proud, then why not call the first album 'First Spell', since it is my first official long-form release. There is no real concept behind the lyrics of this new album, they are like short stories about what inspires me, about what has happened or is happening in my life, and about events I have witnessed or been part of. So some lyrics have a deeper personal or symbolic meaning, while others are fun stories related to classic gothic horror or a D&D game." The CD version of 'First Spell' features a scorching rendition of Helloween's 'Walls of Jericho / Ride the Sky', while the vinyl version contains a cover of Manowar's crushing classic 'Black Wind Fire and Steel' as exclusive bonus tracks.For fans of ENFORCER, AMBUSH, SKULL FIST, RUNNING WILD, IRON MAIDEN.