October 26, 2024 noticed Portuguese metallers MOONSPELL carry out their first-ever symphonic present, dubbed “Opus Diabolicum”, on the MEO Area in Lisbon, Portugal’s capital metropolis. The band made historical past at this unforgettable dwell occasion, including one other magnificent chapter to each metallic music made in Portugal and their very personal legacy. Now, a yr later, this monumental occasion will be yours to view anytime, obtainable in DVD/Blu-ray, two-CD, black and coloured vinyl and digital codecs by way of Napalm Information on October 31, 2025.
On “Opus Diabolicum”, MOONSPELL revisits its classics and its bombastic album “1755” at a one-off, unique present and its greatest manufacturing so far. The heavy metallic energy of the darkish metallic pioneers meets the classical magnitude of the 45-piece Orquestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa (Lisbon Sinfonietta Orchestra) — one among Portugal’s most interesting orchestras — carried out by maestro Vasco Pearce de Azevedo.
A brand new video clip for the MOONSPELL anthem, “Vampiria”, is premiering at the moment beneath. Captured dwell on the “Opus Diabolicum” present, it is a haunting tribute to the gothic roots of MOONSPELL, that now rises as soon as extra in full symphonic glory, unleashing dramatic orchestration and vampiric grandeur like by no means earlier than!
MOONSPELL frontman Fernando Ribeiro feedback: “‘Vampiria’ is a MOONSPELL traditional, as previous as time itself. It was a primary alternative for us as a result of it is really probably the most exceptional preparations of the entire present, which granted new blood and life (aren’t they the identical?) to a timeless, everlasting track. See it risen from the useless with your individual eyes, after ‘travelling oceans of time’.”
Concerning his imaginative and prescient for “Opus Diabolicum”, Fernando mentioned: “I’ve by no means been the one to push MOONSPELL into an orchestral path. I imply, like several fan, I can acknowledge the impression classical had over heavy metallic (Quorthon, from BATHORY, used to cite Wagner as his favourite ‘band’) and in my musical assortment Mussorgsky, Prokofiev and Ravel could possibly be discovered, shoulder to shoulder with the aforementioned BATHORY, CELTIC FROST, SARCÓFAGO or [IRON] MAIDEN. However I wasn’t a fan of the metal-meets-orchestra efforts myself and once I approached Jaime (Gomez Arellano) to combine this beast, I requested him: have you ever heard [METALLICA‘s] ‘S&M’ and different ‘live-with-an-orchestra’ metallic bands’ albums? We wish nothing like that!
“That is work of ardour: actually the work of the satan (opus diabolicum): imperfect, unprocessed, untamed. A launch made by buddies to all the chums now we have round this goth forsaken world and that in an enviornment in Lisbon or in a sweaty membership in Texas, hold the spell going, till we are not any extra.”
“Opus Diabolicum” observe itemizing:
01. Tungstennio (CD + DVD/Blu-ray solely)
02. Em Nome do Medo
03. 1755
04. In Tremor Die
05. Desastre
06. Ruinas
07. Breathe (Till We Are No Extra)
08. Extinct
09. Proliferation
10. Finisterra
11. The whole lot Invaded
12. Scorpion Flower
13. Vampiria
14. Alma Mater
15. Fullmoon Insanity
In a latest interview with Greece’s Keysmash journal, Ribeiro spoke a couple of potential follow-up to MOONSPELL‘s 2021 album “Hermitage”. He mentioned: “Nicely, materials we by no means stopped writing. However I had a form of dilemma, as a result of we’re 30 years previous as a band. This yr, it is 30 years of [MOONSPELL‘s debut album, 1995’s] ‘Wolfheart’, three many years of ‘Wolfheart’. Subsequent yr is gonna be three many years of [MOONSPELL‘s second album, 1996’s] ‘Irreligious’. So I entertained the concept of why not be a legacy band? Why not play some reveals? What is the level of creating new music? I feel that is a query that each musician, each sincere musician, has to reply. As an illustration, once I see METALLICA battling a brand new album… Personally, I did not like [METALLICA‘s ’72 Seasons’] — I imply, not liking, however I did not [think] it was like such a particular album. I like ‘Hardwired[… To Self-Destruct]’ however ’72 Seasons’, I feel, ‘Nicely…’ However I perceive, as a musician, that typically, even if you’re the most important band on the planet, you aren’t impressed and also you simply do it for causes that I wish to perceive. So we form of delayed and delayed the album.”
He continued: “‘Hermitage’, the final [MOONSPELL] album, was from 2021. We had our label saying, ‘What’s up with the brand new album?’ However we did touring, we did the theater acoustic present in Portugal, we did the orchestra present in Portugal. That is all popping out. And I do know it is very romantic sounding, however we needed to really feel the muse calling. And I went to Pedro [Paixão, MOONSPELL keyboardist] and Ricardo [Amorim, MOONSPELL guitarist], as a result of we write the songs, and I mentioned, ‘I feel it is time for a brand new album. I feel it is time to man up and do one thing.’ And I feel that that is gonna be probably the most essential albums of our lives. That is what I am writing. I wrote numerous lyrics, like 30 lyrics or extra. We wrote numerous songs. We at the moment are cherrypicking what’s coming within the album, what’s not coming within the album [and what] can be utilized in a while. And I feel we’re gonna have a brand new MOONSPELL album within the first semester of 2026.”
Concerning the musical and lyrical path of the brand new MOONSPELL materials, Fernando mentioned: “It is nonetheless within the early days. It isn’t going to be progressive like ‘Hermitage’, ‘trigger we have performed that earlier than. However I need make an album that’s about pure feeling and an album that may seize [people] instantly because the sound of MOONSPELL. So, as I do extra the lyrics than the music, I am not writing about politics or society, cash or ambition. Individuals have this daily of their information, of their feed, so I am writing a really romantic, even gothic album about love, dying, what are we doing right here? You recognize, extra existentialism. And I feel that is the path we wish to go now. So, want us luck, as a result of I feel we’ll want it. There’s so many bands coming, however I feel it is excessive time and in addition as a form of a reward to the followers which have waited a lot for the brand new album. I feel we by no means spent a lot time in between albums, so it is gotta be particular. And for us too, as a result of in any other case why make one thing simply to fill the calendar when you’ve got albums like ‘Wolfheart’, ‘Irreligious’ or [2015’s] ‘Extinct’? So the stakes are excessive. So now we have to be on par with the stakes.”
Within the spring of 2023, MOONSPELL accomplished the “American Full Moon” Thirtieth-anniversary trek.
Three years in the past, MOONSPELL canceled its summer season 2022 North American tour on account of “unsolvable logistic and transportation issues”.
In September 2022, MOONSPELL launched a really particular Blu-ray/DVD and album, a dwell efficiency of their newest studio album, “Hermitage”, with “From Down Under – Reside 80 Meters Deep” by way of Napalm Information.
MOONSPELL‘s thirteenth studio album, “Hermitage”, was launched in February 2021 by way of Napalm Information. The LP was recorded, combined and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (PARADISE LOST, PRIMORDIAL, GHOST, SÓLSTAFIR) on the Orgone Studios within the U.Okay.
In 2020, MOONSPELL parted methods with unique drummer Miguel “Mike” Gaspar and changed him with Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando Ribeiro).
MOONSPELL is:
Fernando Ribeiro – Vocals
Ricardo Amorim – Guitars
Pedro Paixão – Keys
Aires Pereira – Bass
Hugo Ribeiro – Drums
Picture credit score: Rui Vasco
