Metal Overview: Moonspell (Part 1)

Happy 1st of October fellow Otaku & Metalheads, and welcome.....to Moonspell Month!

That’s right, Moonspell! What Type-O Negative is to the United States, Moonspell is to Europe (Portugal, to be more specific). This was a band I’ve been looking forward to covering for a while, and since they put out an album as recently as November of last year, the time was right to take a look at one of the masters of Gothic Metal from across the sea. Since the mid-90s, Fernando Ribeiro and the rest of the crew have crafted & released some of the finest Gothic albums in metal’s history. However, I could not contained their entire discography to just 1 day during this month, and much like my look at Kreator back in February, I’ll be splitting this overview into 3 separate releases. So with that out of the way, get yourself a cup of tea, get on your most comfy sweater, and take a look at the first entry of my Moonspell overview. Enjoy!

Wolfheart (1995)

Original

 

Re-Release

Our story begins in the late 80s. 1989 to be exact. Originally called Morbid God, then changed it into the name that fans now know & love in 1992 (In the same year they release the promo track, Serpent Angel). Comprised of Fernando Ribeiro (Vocals), Miguel Gaspar (Drums), Pedro Paixão (Keyboard), Mantus (Guitar), and Aires Pereira (Bass), the group’s first success was the mini-CD Under The Moonspell, which was released back in 1994. Shortly afterwards, the band signed to Century Media for a 6-album deal, and Wolfheart was the first of this deal. Released on April the 1st, 1995, it was recorded from January the 29th to February the 13th in the same year, Wolfheart has little to no recognition at first, but in the years since it has become a fan favorite release. Unfortunately, during the tour Mantus had quit the band, and was replaced by Ricardo Amorim.

Best Track? Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade) is one of the best examples of a fantastic starting song. An ode to one of the most iconic myths in the history, it’s also coupled with a heavy dose of gothic romanticism & wit that many might recall from a tune that was conveniently released on October Rust just a year later (Click here to see what I mean). Though there are plenty of songs not just on this album & many other, Wolfshade is solid proof that Fernando Ribeiro is the Portugese equivalent of Pete Steele. Able to soar like a titan, and just as easily able to tone it down for quieter & possibly introspective crooning & swooning. The rest of the band also mirrors their American counterparts, as the guitar work, drums, and even keyboard really give it their gothic all. Definitely a solid hit!

Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade)

Worst Track? While undeniably an awesome album, it’s only fault is that it does come across as maybe a little dated. I say “little” because it’s managed to weather the near 25 years incredibly well. Many of the songs still hold up, but a couple seem to be a little too 90s. Whether it’s because of the recording technology, or because of some of the effects used, I’m not sure.

Wolfheart. A great way to start out a career, and while it does have a wrinkle or two on it’s face, it’s still a gorgeous thing to look at & listen to. Next album!

Irreligious (1996)

Original

Re-Release

Wolfheart, while sadly going under the radar at the beginning, definitely planted the seeds of desire in those who liked it. Though it leaned a little more in the Black Metal direction, it was obvious from the first few notes that Moonspell were destined to be Gothic Metal kings. So, they put their nose to the grindstone, and cranked out the iconic 90s masterpiece, Irreligious. Released on the July the 29th, 1996, Irreligious is a considerably more professional record than their equally iconic starting album. Moonspell gave this release more polish, better recording, you name it. The end result is an album that’s aged considerably better than it’s predecessor, let has plenty of 90s Black/Gothic Metal nostalgia.

Best Track? It gotta be Full Moon Madness! The closing track of Irreligious, this classic Moonspell song closes out their concerts (Most of them anyway), and rightfully so. Creating the sign of the moon, Fernando Ribeiro practically enchants the entire audience with his ethereal-like voice (Whether it’s soft or loud), and the rest of the band provides instrumentation that lends itself to yet another wonderful ode to lycanthropy. It might feel like a long song at first, once you listen to it a few times you get used to that feeling.

Full Moon Madness

Worst Track? Raven Claws is about the only song on here I could call bad. Even then I actually can’t call it bad, but rather I just dislike it. I don’t know why, but no matter how many times I’ve listened to it, for the life of me I can’t put my finger on what makes me dislike this song. It’s a mystery I may never solve.

Raven Claws

Irreligious. Further improving on what their beginning record established, it’s widely considered to be one of Moonspell’s best, and I’m definitely one of those people that think this. Next album!

Sin/Pecado (1998)

Despite the success of Irreligious, there was trouble on the horizon for Moonspell. Due to lawsuits, original bassist Ares left, and was subsequently replaced by Sérgio Crestana. Once he was fitted into the band, it was time to crank out their 3rd album, and in 1997 the band did their work in Woodhouse Studio, located in Hagen, Germany. Then, on the 3rd of February, 1998, Sin/Pecado was released. Translated as Without/Sin (Pecado is the Portugese word for “Sin”), the album was something of a departure from their previous 2 releases, as Moonspell went for a more experimental route. There was little in the way of their Black & Death Metal roots, as their Gothic aspect was heightened, and the usage of keyboards brought in something of a Electronic/Industrial component. The end result almost comes across like a precursor to Kreator’s Endorama, which would be released a year later. Personally, I like what the band has done here: while some of their early stylings is gone, the new pieces added create something radically different from what first came out. This would actually hurt the band in the next year....but I’ll get to that in a bit.

Best Track? Second Skin hand down! If their was one thing that Moonspell was always good with (Maybe even more so than Type-O Negative), it’s knowing how & when to be erotic. From the beginning guitar notes, to the final thunderous drum beats, you feel like a snake is coiling around every inch of your body, or you’re embraced by the most gorgeous of women in a fancy bedroom. Fernando Ribeiro also adds to this eroticism, as his vocal work comes across as more serpentine than Lord Voldermort. Though he has a few moments where he screams, for the most part he keeps his voice in the lower audio range to keep the listener thoroughly enchanted. Definitely a song you shouldn’t skip!

Second Skin

Worst Track? In the ensuing process to experiment with different genres, Moonspell accidentally made the music on Sin/Pecado sound & feel must more crisp & clean when compared to their first 2 releases. Don’t get me wrong: it’s nice to hear the band clean up their music & user better recording technology, but at the same time it was that datedness that made Wolfheart and Irreligious more intimate when it came to the listening experience. Ironically, this touching up actually made this one of the well aged albums from their run in the 90s, so maybe it’s not as bad as I thought.

Sin/Pecado. A bit of a cleaner release sound wise, it none the less is a great album to listen to. If you like Moonspell that’s cleaned up more in terms of production value, this might be what you’re searching for. Next album!

The Butterfly Effect (1999)

Recorded in June of 1999 & released on September the 13th of the same year, The Butterfly Effect is a massive departure for Moonspell. With the music recorded almost exclusively by the band’s keyboardist, the experimentation & usage of Industrial Metal elements were doubled down, and they decided to go with a “Chaos Theory” theme (Hence the name of the record). A lot of metal critics weren’t fond of this experimentation, but as for me.....I’m conflicted. On the one hand, I love me some Gothic & Industrial Metal, and I love it mixed together on some occasions. I definitely enjoyed it on their last album, and on here......I’m not sure. I’ll explain it a little more in detail below, but suffice it to say I don’t look at this release as highly as some fans do.

Best Track? I Am The Eternal Spectator is an infectious song. Easy & simple beats, coupled with thunderous drum work & Fernando Ribeiro going for an ethereal approach to his music, it feels like something is watching you as you listen. It goes by a little fast, but in the time that it’s playing, you won’t forget it.

I Am The Eternal Spectator

Worst Track? Really the overexperimentation on The Butterfly Effect is it’s only flaw. On their last album they used just enough experimentation to make Sin/Pecado sound unique & special, but on here they used way too much of it, and in the process made it feel like a lot of other Gothic/Industrial Metal albums of the late 90s. It’s a bit of a shame as there’s plenty of awesome moments throughout the record, and it has the same well-aged quality as Sin/Pecado does.

The Butterfly Effect. The weak point of Moonspell’s run in the 90s, it theoretically could have been just as great if not better than Sin/Pecado, but it’s bogged down by heavy experimentation. Recommended heavily for diehard Moonspell fans, as well as diehard Gothic & Industrial Metal fans, but recommended less for everybody else.

So that was part 1 of my overview on Moonspell. Their inaugural albums of the 90s are still talked about to this very day, and are yet again proof that Heavy Metal further flourished in the last great decade. See you after next week, for now it’s time to see what the band was capable of in the 2000s.


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If you’re curious about the albums in question, click on the pink words & enjoy:   

Wolfheart

Irreligious

Sin/Pecado

The Butterfly Effect