This Portuguese band started out under the name ‘Morbid God’ playing folky black metal but thankfully later changing their name to Moonspell and directing their music style towards a more atmospheric feel. Their first taste of recording was on a split EP in 1993 along with bands such as Silent Scream and Bowelrot (nope not heard of them either). What followed was numerous singles and EP’s but in 1995 they released their first full length album “Wolfheart” which received great reviews and contains classics like Alma Mater and Vampira. I was quite shocked to see they have been recording albums nearly every other year and we are now on their eleventh album release!
Being a huge fan of Alpha Noir and Night Eternal I was quite excited to see what they have to offer on their newest album ‘Extinct.’
It’s an absolutely stunning start with ‘Breathe (Until we are no More). The romantically haunting vocals of Fernando Ribeiro and the winning Middle Eastern style keyboards they use on a lot of their material is as always, quite superb. Then there’s the violins, wow!
The dirty riffs in the titled track ‘Extinct’ along with the heavy drumming feels quite old school black metal. Then the chorus however, sounds like a more gothic Gary Numan type piece. The guitar solo is quite power metal but don’t let that put you off. Then there’s ‘Medusalem’ again with the vocals!! Beautifully clear and then the growls! If you hadn’t heard Moonspell before you’d swear it wasn’t the same person. The guitar solo luckily oozes rock and roll rather than the previous, thankfully!
With ‘Domina’ it took me a good few listens to but now I’d say it’s my favourite track. So much so that even writing this now I’ve had it on repeat 3 times. It’s a lot slower, and quite serene and, I hate to say it but it sounds quite “ballady” The chorus is very catchy and got me memorising the lyrics after a few listens. The group vocals toward the end suit it no end.
A very uplifting yet short track with ‘The Last of Us’ is different to the usual doom and gloom (which I love), yet it works. The chorus sounds a lot like it could have been Sisters of Mercy yet holding a more atmospheric feel with Portugal’s finest singer serenading your ear drums. Speaking of ear drums…. ‘Malignia’ will literally make them bleed with delight! Some old school styled Moonspell has been served up and I’m definitely not disappointed.
‘A Dying Breed’ is one that got me a little confused at first. The intro sounds like the end of some sort of show, then cracks in with quite a quality track. The same piece comes back in halfway through and without any explanation it just all makes sense, the guitars come in after and entwines with the keyboards then the outro a weird circus styled keyboard . If you were only going to get the chance to hear one track off this album then I’d say this is the one to find.
As with most Moonspell albums for me there’s always that one track that I have to close my eyes , sit back and really listen to it, this one is ‘The Future is Dark’. Perfect guitars, then there’s the solo, the drums, his vocals, impeccable!
Imagine an old black and white film, and there’s the odd creepy piano music along with it. Add some whispering vampy styled crooner singing French vocals and you’ve pretty much got this track covered, an odd one to end on but then again I’d expect nothing less from Moonspell.
All in all, I won’t lie, there’s no ‘Night Eternal ‘ or ‘Vampira’ on here but it’s certainly another great from the Portuguese fellas. And I’ll definitely be keeping it on my playlist.
(8/10 Charlene Rance)
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