Crystal Ball
Crysteria

The Swiss band with the same name as one of the earlier Styx albums has been around for quite a while now, the debut was released in the last millennium’s last year. Since then they have given us ten more album with this one being the last of those, the eleventh. Perhaps the fact that it starts with Crystal is a great omen considering how great Crystallizer was, I still play that and especially enjoy Curtain Call. So, let’s look at what this new one has to offer in terms of magic.

You will find the album to be quite familiar in style, it is comparable to what the band has done before and to the likes of countrymen Gotthard and other Swiss hardrockers. Perhaps there are some fresher veins here and there thanks to new guitarist Peter Berger, but it is the same voice, the same style and the same catchy hit potential through the album. The variation is pretty good as well, but 54 minutes over thirteen tracks still becomes a bit long, perhaps without the bonus tracks.

There is magic on this album, like Make My Day, such a brilliant track that like Curtain Call will be a track I keep returning to. But it is not only that as there are other strong tracks like the opener What Part of No, and Call of the Wild are worth mentioning, probably a few more as well. I was almost ready to give this album a rating of six, but eventually figured it would be a little too high even though the album is brilliant. The playing time and the fact that there are two-three pretty average tracks among the thirteen keeps the rating at five, which is a very good rating anyway.

Not many albums released in 2022 will be better than Crysteria, an album that cements the Crystal Ball’s position as a highlight of Swiss hardrock. It is an album that absolutely makes my day, every time I hear it. I wrote about Crystallizer that it might be their magnum opus, and the same is certainly true about this one too. Crysteria is another excellent album from Crystal Ball, don’t miss it!

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