Moonspell – Extinct

Releasedate: 06-03-2015; Label: Napalm Records
By: Sandra Nunes

The Portuguese metallers Moonspell are back with a new album, the 11th of their long career, called “Extinct” and what an amazing and mesmerizing album! “ Extinct” is a kind of retrospective, putting all the works of the band in a single one, and obviously many fans wonder in which musical type Moonspell could be inserted, but in my humble opinion, I can say that Moonspell’s music does not need any labels, so, it is simply dark.

Excellent production and sound quality in charge of Jens Bogren (who has produced the albums of Amon Amarth, Ihsahn, Opeth, Dark Tranquillity, amongst others) and helped by David Castillo at Fascination Street Studios in Sweden; the songs are well structured, accompanied by terrifying bass lines, killer guitar solos (it’s not in vain that Ricardo Amorim is considered one of the best guitarists of Portugal!), great drum vibes, magic keyboards and of course, Fernando Ribeiro’s vocals are at its best. Hat offs to all the musicians for this brilliant masterpiece.

Since the beginning of this year, the band has chosen to introduce three tracks, “The Last Of Us” – sounds like a gothic-rock song, but with catchy melodies and chorus, it will make you sing along; “Extinct” – taking their grandstand and with another catchy chorus and “Breathe (Until We Are No More)” – a great oriental, epic grandeur and orchestral touch, thanks to the collaboration of the special guests, a Turkish orchestra called The Mumin Sesler String Group; creating a huge expectation around the fans and the reviews have been quite divided, some negative and positive, much has been discussed about the band’s direction before this new album, if it would be heavier or lighter, it does not matter much because I am a fan myself, who has been following the band from the beginning of their career, I have noticed that Moonspell always had creative freedom throughout their career, adapting each album to the present, whether or not pleasing the fans, and “Extinct” is no exception because Moonspell are true to themselves and proudly alone. And we, as fans, we just have to love or hate each piece of art.

Continuing with the hearing, “Medusalem” is one of my favorites, also with an oriental flavor, but recalling to a Sisters of Mercy’s influence; “Domina” is a quiet and relaxing ballad, but “Malignia” can be even more mysterious and emotional; “Funeral Bloom” is intense as well as “A Dying Breed” and “The Future Is Dark”; nevertheless the big surprise was reserved to the end and goes by the name of “La Baphomette”, a beautiful and short song sung entirely in French, which brings us to a bizarre environment, placing us somewhere in a horror movie, probably a cabaret zombie.
Another thing that always caught my attention in each Moonspell album and the latter is no exception: one of the great influences of the band are and have always been Type O Negative, and this is reflected in “Extinct” but Moonspell are not Type O Negative neither can’t replace them, just use that same influence in an infinite form as we have been used to check out and listen to it, and it is something that makes them unique.
I advise you to listen to this album, until you are no more and before your time is gone, the future is dark, so Moonspell have been building a huge crown since 1992 and this opus is the best jewel of their own crown…. A dark and shiny jewel, Moonspell at its finest.

Line Up:
Aires Pereira – Bass
Pedro Paixão – Keyboards
Mike Gaspar – Drums
Ricardo Amorim – Guitars
Fernando Ribeiro – Vocals

Tracklist: 01. Breathe (Until We Are No More) 02. Extinct 03. Medusalem 04. Domina 05. The Last OF Us 06. Malignia 07. Funeral Bloom 08. A Dying Breed 09. The Future Is Dark 10. La Baphomette

Links:
Moonspell Facebook