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LEATHERWITCH “First Spell”
LEATHERWITCH “First Spell”
By Colonel Angus
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of CRYSTAL VIPER comes the true solo project of Marta Gabriel called LEATHERWITCH. When her previous outfit called it quits, I was a little disappointed as I thought they were one of the best metal bands to come out of Poland (where my ancestry comes from). Well, when one door closes, another door opens so now in 2026 we get this disk of material performed by Gabriel herself with guitar solos performed by guest muso and former band mate Giuseppe Taormina.
Starting off the record, we get a guitar intro that has a renaissance feel but quickly breaks into a crunchy riff that speeds up into a great riffing power metal track titled “Heroes and the Dice”. Gabriel’s vocals are as powerful and clean as ever but the real surprise is her talent beyond the vocals. I would put her riffing up against anyone and her rhythm work is tight and precise. Not letting up one bit, “Beast Inside” continues with the power metal style but this one is a little more straightforward whereas the previous tune had a few more embellishments. Sometimes it is just better to hunker down and rock out without anything getting in the way and “Beast Inside” is a great example of that.
As the record continues, "Bound by the Night" slows down just a touch and delivers some NWOBHM elements during the verses giving the overall disk some variety. As with her previous band, Gabriel has a great melodic voice that can make any chorus memorable. The galloping riffing of "Silver Stallions" contains a bit of IRON MAIDEN but Gabriel’s ear splitting vocals set it apart from other metal out there. Like the previous tune, this one is more heavy metal leaving the power metal leanings to subside for a spell (yep, that is a reference to the title).
“Living in the Fast Lane” brings back the power metal energy in full force, with her stellar drumming and razor-sharp riffs delivering a headbanging experience before the first verse even kicks in. Even after just five tunes, I’m super impressed with the instrumental talents of this metal queen. The epic “The New Beginning” is a classic metal stomper that reminds me of DIO’S "Holy Diver" era. Part of the reason for that reference is the drama brought into this track that even is found in the excellent guitar solo. By far, this is the shining star on “First Spell”.
The album ends with a power metal workout named “Two Tons of Steel” which would make a great show opener and “In the Middle of the Night” which is more traditional metal. The latter has a great chorus that will be stuck in your ear for days (which is a good thing). My only suggestion for this album would have been to have “The New Beginning” as the final track which I feel would have made it stand out even more. Other than that, each of the songs deserve to be on “First Spell” with not one filler in sight. Marta Gabriel has previously proven herself as a power vocalist but this album showcases that her voice is only one facet of her talent. Tackling all of the instruments is not for the faint of heart and she stepped up to the challenge and proved that she is a force to be reckoned with. I’m sure she will enlist a full band for touring but judging by this record, I think Gabriel should continue doing it all herself.
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