gothic metal
A few decades ago, Moonspell became one of my favorite bands ever. With masterpieces like 'Wolfheart' and 'Irreligious', the Portuguese gothic metal horde literally changed my life. For the record, Tiamat and The Gathering belong in that same category. That era was a defining one in my life, and in that of countless of other people.
Yet, as has happened with a lot of bands, I gradually moved away from the genre and into other things. Those two records remained a constant but most of the others simply passed me by. Again, Tiamat and The Gathering belong in that same category.
But recently, '1755' came in, and I, having returned back to my many roots since becoming a music journalist, was curious. On one hand, I didn't really want to review the album. The philosophy of Merchants Of Air is to push young, up and coming bands, which Moonspell is not. Second, there are those two albums from the nineties, which will forever haunt my image about Moonspell. Yet, eventually I decided to give it a listen and bark out a few words about the thing.
The album opens with a bombastic piece of neoclassical music, combined with those well-known grunts, in 'Em Nome Do Medo'. This might be one of the longest intros for metal albums ever. Either that or Moonspell turned into something even Richard Wagner would appreciate. The intense classical arrangements remain a constant throughout the entire album. Here and there, they even remind me more of Therion than Moonspell.
Nonetheless, once again Moonspell showcase their flair for combining excellent songwriting with immersive riffing. 'Abanão', for instance, is so epic that it immediately catapults the listener to those glorious nineties. That being said, perhaps some fans might find these arrangements and choirs a bit over the top. I have to admit, they are extremely present. But as far as nostalgia goes, this album is a smasher.
The verdict? Well, with brilliant pieces of music like 'Evento' and 'Ruinas' and headbangers like 'De Novembro', Moonspell delivered another classic in a genre that urgently needs this kind of forward thinking musicality. '1755' is no 'Wolfheart' or 'Irreligious' but it's undoubtedly a strong and vibrant Moonspell album which definitely earns a place in your ever expanding collection. Fans can easily trust this one to be to their liking, that's for sure. Check it out if you haven't already.
Serge
Yet, as has happened with a lot of bands, I gradually moved away from the genre and into other things. Those two records remained a constant but most of the others simply passed me by. Again, Tiamat and The Gathering belong in that same category.
But recently, '1755' came in, and I, having returned back to my many roots since becoming a music journalist, was curious. On one hand, I didn't really want to review the album. The philosophy of Merchants Of Air is to push young, up and coming bands, which Moonspell is not. Second, there are those two albums from the nineties, which will forever haunt my image about Moonspell. Yet, eventually I decided to give it a listen and bark out a few words about the thing.
The album opens with a bombastic piece of neoclassical music, combined with those well-known grunts, in 'Em Nome Do Medo'. This might be one of the longest intros for metal albums ever. Either that or Moonspell turned into something even Richard Wagner would appreciate. The intense classical arrangements remain a constant throughout the entire album. Here and there, they even remind me more of Therion than Moonspell.
Nonetheless, once again Moonspell showcase their flair for combining excellent songwriting with immersive riffing. 'Abanão', for instance, is so epic that it immediately catapults the listener to those glorious nineties. That being said, perhaps some fans might find these arrangements and choirs a bit over the top. I have to admit, they are extremely present. But as far as nostalgia goes, this album is a smasher.
The verdict? Well, with brilliant pieces of music like 'Evento' and 'Ruinas' and headbangers like 'De Novembro', Moonspell delivered another classic in a genre that urgently needs this kind of forward thinking musicality. '1755' is no 'Wolfheart' or 'Irreligious' but it's undoubtedly a strong and vibrant Moonspell album which definitely earns a place in your ever expanding collection. Fans can easily trust this one to be to their liking, that's for sure. Check it out if you haven't already.
Serge
