Portugal’s finest mercurial sons Moonspell‘s knack for reinvention while still holding true to their core elements is scarcely paralleled in all of dark music; a master class in constant growth. They have always deserved to be considered one of the most important world metal bands. “Metal” however is also too limiting a boundary for them, even though it is in the blood which beats through their lycanthropic hearts.
Seventh Storm are a new band formed by Mike Gaspar, formerly the drummer for Portuguese gothic metal legends Moonspell. As well as handling drum duties for Seventh Storm, Gaspar has also written and and arranged all of the music for their debut album, Maledictus (Atomic Fire). The album cover and promo photos convey a piratical theme that befits the band name and reflects Gaspar’s intention to depict the Portuguese tradition of “discovering the world, travelling far from home, exploring the seas.”Continue reading
Moonspell will join up with Paradise Lost’s tour this weekend with dates across the UK. Moonspell is spending 2022 celebrating their 30th anniversary with many events culminating in an epic set of shows later next fall.
Every album that Moonspell releases explores a different facet of their Gothic Metal style, sometimes responding to the one before it in a constant tug-o-war between darkness and light. Their thirteenth album, Hermitage (Napalm Records), is no exception. In contrast to the grandiose symphonics of 2018’s 1755, the band opts for a scaled-back, atmospheric approach with more Prog influence thrown in than usual. It seems to invoke the band’s early vibe without going full throwback and also reminds me of Tiamat or Opeth in spots.
After a quarter of a century, what is there left for a band to do? If you are Moonspell, you put out a live three disk cd with accompanying three-hour long video that includes a documentary and three albums played in their entirety live. Vocalist Fernando Ribeiro, drummer Mike Gaspar, Pedro Paixao on keyboards, guitarist Ricardo Amorim, and bassist Aires Pereira present the epic Lisboa Under the Spell (Napalm Records). Continue reading
Omnium Gatherum has announced they have completed their new album and will release it this Halloween, October 31st, via their label Century Media Records. The Burning Cold promises to be the latest in a long line of consistent metal masterpieces. The band will play a special pre-release concert at this year’s Summer Breeze Festival and have booked tour dates this fall with Amorphis, Dark Tranquility, and Moonspell. Continue reading
Amorphis recently finished recording their new album with Jens Bogren, and they’ve just announced the first tour in support of the new material. The Finnish metallers will be returning to North America in September and October for a massive headlining tour featuring support from Dark Tranquillity, Moonspell, and Omnium Gatherum. Continue reading
