Moonspell are a Portuguese Gothic Metal band from Brandoa, Lisbon, Portugal. Formed in 1992, the group released their first EP Under the Moonspell in 1994, a year before the release of their first album Wolfheart. The band quickly gained status and became one of the most recognizable metal bands from Portugal.
Current band members:
- Fernando Ribeiro (Langsuyar) – vocals (1989–present)
- Miguel Gaspar (Mike/Nisroth) – drums (1992–present)
- Ricardo Amorim (Morning Blade) – guitar (1995–present)
- Pedro Paixão (Passionis/Neophytus) – keyboard/guitar (1994–present)
- Aires Pereira (Ahriman) – bass (2007–present)
Former band members:
- João Pedro – bass (1989–1997)
- Sérgio Crestana – bass (1997–2003)
- Niclas Etelävuori – bass (2003–2006)
- Waldemar Sorychta – bass (2006–2007)
Discography:
- Under the Moonspell (EP) - 1994
- Wolfheart (LP) - 1995
- Irreligious (LP) - 1996
- 2econd Skin (EP) - 1997
- Sin/Pecado (LP) - 1998
- The Butterfly Effect (LP) - 1999
- Darkness and Hope (LP) - 2001
- The Antidote (LP) - 2003
- Memorial (LP) - 2006
- Under Satanae (LP) - 2007
- Night Eternal (LP) - 2008
- Alpha Noir (LP) - 2012
- Omega White (LP) - 2012
- Extinct (LP) - 2015
- 1755 (LP) - 2017
Tropes:
- After the End: The music video for "Night Eternal" takes place in a crumbling world where the sun is blotted out.
- Badass Baritone: Fernando possesses one of the deepest melodic singing voices in the metal scene.
- Black Metal: The debut EP Under the Moonspell, debut album Wolfheart, and Under Satanae qualify.
- Though in the case of Wolfheart, it's a partial example at most.
- Cover Version: "Mr. Crowley" from Darkness and Hope.
- Daylight Horror: The video for "Everything Invaded" features some disturbing sequences all taking place in bright, golden daylight.
- Epic Rocking: A fair number of examples- they have their fair share of songs that go well over 6 minutes in length.
- Evil Laugh: "Mephisto" ends with one that goes on for 20 seconds.
- Five-Man Band:
- The Leader: Fernando
- The Lancer: Ricardo
- The Smart Guy: Pedro
- The Big Guy: Miguel
- Fifth Ranger: Aires
- Folk Metal: The debut EP Under the Moonspell, debut album Wolfheart, and Under Satanae qualify.
- Gothic Metal: Their discography overall is defined by this genre.
- Happily Married: Ribeiro is married to The Gift lead singer Sonia Tavares.
- Harsh Vocals: Ribeiro switches frequently between Black Metal style raspy screeching and a deep, melodic, Andrew Eldritch-influenced baritone singing voice.
- Heavy Mithril: An unconventional example- as they're more likely to focus on vampires, werewolves (in case the band's name doesn't make this one clear), zombies and the like- but a frequent example none the less. It's hardly all they sing about, though.
- Hidden Track: The Butterfly Effect contains one entitled "O Mal de Cristo" at the end of the last track "K". Instead of silence, interference bips can be heard for 2 minutes (3:28 - 5:28).
- Memorial has one at the end of "Best Forgotten" entitled "The Sleep of the Sea".
- Industrial Metal: Slight touches of this on Sin/Pecado, and The Butterfly Effect is a full example. It's
Fanon Discontinuity for some fans. - Instrumentals: Memorial contains four: "In Memoriam" which segues into "Finisterra", "Sons of Earth", "Proliferation", and "Mare Nostrum".
- Large Ham: The band as a whole, to some extent (comes with the territory as a Gothic Metal band, after all), but Ribeiro especially. Part of the appeal, really.
- Melodic Death Metal Everything ever since The Antidote (except for Omega White) is a mix of Gothic Metal and Melodic Death Metal.
- Mohs Scale of Rock and Metal Hardness: Typically a 6-8, with some of the more Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal influenced material reaching a 9.
- New Sound Album: A couple of prominent ones:
- Wolfheart reduced the Black Metal and Folk Metal influences noticeably from the early E Ps.
- Irreligious removed said influences almost entirely, and tended to favor more compact songs.
- The Butterfly Effect was a shift into Industrial Metal.
- Darkness and Hope saw them return to their earlier sound, with a slight Death Metal influence.
- Memorial saw them combining their Gothic Metal sound with Melodic Death Metal.
- Omega White was a softer variety of Gothic Metal, with little to no Death Metal influence to be found.
- Rock Me, Amadeus!: "Tired" from The Butterfly Effect features a sample of Mozart's Requiem at the beginning of the track.
- Soprano and Gravel: Not normally, but it gets used the odd time. Female guest vocalists are used in these cases. "Luna", "Vampiria", and "An Erotic Alchemy" are good examples.
- Stop and Go: "Alma Mater" from Wolfheart does this a few times.
- Subdued Section: A number of their songs utilize this, with clean guitars, synths and prominent temporarily taking over from the heavy riffs for a while before the heaviness comes crashing back.
- Trilling Rs: Ribeiro could give Peter Steele a rrrrun for his money in this department, when he's not growling, at least.
