Moonspell - Night Eternal (2008)Release ID: 1887
Moonspell was one of my favorite gothic metal bands when I was still listening to the genre. They're very well the most well-known Portuguese metal band. The band has all the different edges of gothic metal covered, from the extreme dark side in the mid-90s, to the lighter rock side in the late 90s/early 2000s. The two different sounds would then be combined together for an intriguing blend in later albums...
The first signs of the band returning to their harsher blackened roots of Wolfheart were hinted in The Antidote and expanded upon in Memorial, even adding some deathly aspects. The heaviness continues in Night Eternal while making some room for their atmospheric side.
The opening epic "At Tragic Heights" will have you pumped for the blackened death-ish riffing and vocals. Then it's off to the mystical title track which continues the deathly riffing to add to the atmospheric darkness. Easing up on the heaviness, "Shadow Sun" goes back to the mid-period gothic rock/metal with creepy whispers in the verses that lead into a rock-out chorus and an explosive heavy bridge to put the strength from the previous two tracks back into place.
"Scorpion Flower" is full-on gothic metal, with female vocals by Anneke van Giersbergen (ex-The Gathering). I loved her guest appearance more about 5 years before this review, but not so much now in my recent revisit. Maybe because the more serious heavy modern side of my metal taste has grown recently. That allows me to keep enjoying tracks like "Moon in Mercury" that focus on devastating aggression. What stands out with all its glory is "Hers is the Twilight". It has great guitar in the chorus, and the blend of heaviness and atmosphere throws back to what was once my favorite Moonspell album, Irreligious.
"Dreamless (Lucifer and Lilith)" also has some of the d*mn greatest raging emotion to enjoy. There's no questioning the power "Spring of Rage" has with its icy riff melodies. "First Light" ends the album as perhaps its best track. Brilliant female background choirs support this blackened gothic metal attack. Fernando Ribeiro performs his best growling before the majestic ending climax. Bonus track "Age of Mothers" is OK, but doesn't end the album as greatly as the previous track.
Although I don't enjoy Night Eternal as perfectly as I had 5 years ago, it's still highly interesting, and a much better deal than their experimental albums like The Butterfly Effect. Moonspell fans wanting their earlier heaviness to return got their wish. With that and great lyrics, this shall give gothic metal listeners their money's worth....
Favorites: "At Tragic Heights", "Moon in Mercury", "Hers is the Twilight", "Dreamless (Lucifer and Lilith)", "First Light"
