Portugal: Moonspell (Metal)

Location: Lisboa, Portugal (1992 - present);

Genres: Black Metal / Gothic Metal;

Current line-up: Fernando Ribeiro (vocals), Mike Gaspar (drums), Pedro Paixão (Keyboards, guitars), Ricardo Amorim (guitars), Aires Pereira (bass);

Moonspell is, without a doubt, the most famous Portuguese band. Even who don’t like metal know Moonspell. But, it’s also true that, it’s only abroad that the band gets the recognition they truly deserve. Maybe because, in Portugal, Metal it’s more like an underground cult, but with very dedicated fans.

Although they had been playing since 1989 under the name of Morbid God, the band became Moonspell in 1992 and released their first EP - Under the Moonspell – two years after.

Alma Matter from Wolfheart (1995)

In 1995, their first album – Wolfheart – was out, being followed by a European Tour. However, the album had little or no recognition at the beginning.

During this European Tour, guitarist Mantus quit the band and was replaced by Ricardo Amorim.

Opium from Irreligious (1997)

The 1997’s Irreligious fell into the genre of gothic metal, while previous album was considered black metal.

The song Opium became the first Moonspell single. It quoted one of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa's heteronyms, Álvaro de Campos, on his poem "Opiário", and its music video featured the character of poet writing in a bar with the band playing. Along with the release of the album in a convent, the Convento do Beato, these were factors that helped the band selling 10,000 copies of the album in their homeland.

After conflicts with the band involving lawsuits, bass player Ares left the band and was replaced by Sérgio Crestana.

Magdalene from Sin/Pecado (1998)

Sin/Pecado (Pecado means "sin" in Portuguese) was released in 1998. It had a bigger experimental nature than its predecessors.

At the time they released the one and only Daemonarch album, Hermeticum. Daemonarch was a side project composed by all Moonspell members except drummer Mike Gaspar. The album was seen as a return to their black metal roots and its lyrics were all written by singer Fernando Ribeiro between the age of 14 and 16.

Soulsick from The Butterfly Effect (1999)

Sin/Pecado was followed in 1999 by The Butterfly Effect. This album is considered to be very experimental in nature as well. Featuring "down-tuned guitar riffs, eerie synthesizer passages", the album was mainly composed by guitarist/keyboard player Pedro Paixão and was not very well received by metal critics.

Darkness and Hope from Darkness and Hope (2001)

Darkness and Hope was released in 2001 and was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, producer of Sentenced and HIM. The album reached 79th on German charts and special editions included covers of Madredeus, Ozzy Osbourne's "Mr. Crowley" and Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart”.

Everything Invaded from The Antidote (2003)

In 2003, the band released The Antidote, with Niclas Etelävuori from Amorphis playing as a session musician on the bass guitar. The album was released with a book with the same title written by Portuguese writer José Luís Peixoto.

Both the CD and book share the same concept and story and each song in the CD is sister to a chapter in the book that enhances the story in the lyrics.

The band toured extensively around the world, playing at Rock in Rio Lisbon in 2004, a concert that brought them to more mainstream attention in Portugal. From this album on, the tours feature Aires Pereira on the bass.

 I'll See You in My Dreams (2003)

During 2003 the band recorded a cover of the jazz standard I'll See You in My Dreams for the soundtrack of the Portuguese short zombie horror film of the same name.

Finisterra from Memorial (2006)

Memorial was released in 2006. The album topped the Portuguese album chart on its first week and also broke into the German Top 100 at number 68. Memorial achieved gold status in Portugal after selling 10,000 copies, making Moonspell the first Portuguese doom metal band to achieve that.

Although the album is heavier than the previous, it was very well received and its release was featured in various Portuguese news broadcasts.

On November 2, 2006, Moonspell won an MTV Europe Music Award in the category of Best Portuguese Act.

Scorpion Flower from Night Eternal (2008)

The newest album is called Night Eternal. It was released on May 16, 2008. The single Scorpion Flower, features Dutch singer Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering, now Agua De Annique).

Moonspell performed the Blackest of The Black tour with Danzig, Winds of Plague, Dimmu Borgir, and Skeletonwitch.

Moonspell toured Europe with bands like Cradle of Filth, Gorgoroth, Septic Flesh, Asrai and Turisas.

Discography:

1992 - Serpent Angel (Demo)

1994 – Anno Satanae (Demo)

1994 – Under the Moonspell (EP)

1995 – Wolfheart (full-lenght)

1996 – Irreligious (full-lenght)

1197 – 2econd Skin (EP)

1998 – Sin/Pecado(full-lenght)

1999 – The Butterfly Effect(full-lenght)

2001 – Darkness and Hope(full-lenght)

2003 - The Antidote(full-lenght)

2006 – Memorial(full-lenght)

2007 – The Great Silver Eye (compilation)

2007 – Under Satanae (compilation)

2008 – Night Eternal(full-lenght)

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