Metal Underground.com

Moonspell must be out to prove something. Twelve years, seven albums and two EP’s into their career and they’ve released their most rich and textured offering to date. The band have completely forsaken the industrial undertones of previous records, favoring a lush and dramatic soundscape that calls to mind Type O Negative’s “Bloody Kisses” and “October Rust”. Long time producer Waldemar Sorychta (Lacuna Coil, Tiamat) forges Moonspell’s sound into something so polished and sharp it should be recognized as deadly. The end result is an epic and moody record, that manages to be relentless while demonstrating restraint.

Album opener “In Memoriam” is a suspense generating machine. Seemingly innocent synths guide the listener down an increasingly foreboding path where roaring guitars and propulsive drums ambush the unprepared. This grand introduction bleeds into “Finisterra”, which charges forward with double kick drums pummeling and the furious bellowing of vocalist Fernando Ribeiro. A chilling guitar interlude serves to build the tension further before the song stomps itself out with a final chorus. Violent instrumentation and creepy atmospherics return on “Memento Mori” but the delivery is a world apart from “Finisterra”. Ribeiro implements his patented vampiric croon backed by chiming guitars that circle overhead. When the chorus arrives, faux-pipe organs sound like a wailing train bearing down on the listener. “Sons of Earth” is a haunting acoustic instrumental punctuated by a guitar solo that Kirk Hammett should have devised in 1986. Crunchy riffing and cascading bass lines assault the listener on the accusatory and catchy “Blood Tells”. The albums most thrashy number “Upon the Blood of Men”; boasts searing guitar leads, a frightening breakdown and a multifaceted song structure. “Sanguine’s” loud/quiet dynamics and vampire imagery, make for an unsettling love song. Ribeiro croons of an intimate but conflicted romance and screams of madness, breeding and oceans of blood. “Luna” is a melodic masterpiece that steers away from the albums normally frantic pace, only succumbing to a single high intensity bridge. Ribeiro gives his strongest clean singing performance on this song backed by beautiful female vocal harmonies. “Best Forgotten” is an epic behemoth that brings a sense of closure to a tumultuous album.

Cutting to the chase, Memorial is likely to be on my shortlist for metal album of 2006. It carries some of the melodic elegance of Moonspell’s 2001 album Darkness and Hope but brings with it an invigorating gothic doom presence. The album is decidedly heavy standing next to their last two albums and is also surprisingly glossy. Occasionally Ribeiro’s vocals get buried by the kick drums and the low end of the guitars but otherwise production quality is impressive. Portugal’s greatest metal export are sure to turn the heads of both their fans and critics alike with Memorial.