MOONSPELL MEMORIAL ALBUM SPV, PLAYGROUND RELEASE: APRIL 24, 2006 REVIEW: MARCH 15, 2006

I had almost forgotten Moonspell existed when I got their seventh full-length album in my hesitant hands. "Could this really be worth listening too? A Portuguese goth metal band that was in their prime circa 1997, when the gothic scene was at its commercial peak (yes, in other countries than in Germany)."

When first single "Finisterra" slaps me in the face full force, after the intro, I shut up and my doubts are silenced. OK, this is not new, but it's heavy as lead and dark as the night. Moonspell's debt to the death metal scene, and somewhat to the even rougher black metal, is not small. But I didn't really want another "Sin/Pecado" or "Antidote". This is more like a step backwards in musical history, to a time before bands like Theatre of Tragedy pondered the idea to have a female vocalist as a counterpart to the growling men. A ferocious attack helmed by singer Fernando (who's singing and growling actually sounds great!), with atmospheric and fast songs for all fans of somewhat more extreme metal. More for those who like My Dying Bride than for the fans of Type O Negative, if you know what I mean. But not as brooding as the former, more direct, faster, harder, rougher, darker, like in heavy "At the Image of Pain" (yeah, you get the idea) och calmer and more melodic "Sanguine".

Yes, I truly like this. Almost despite myself, and despite elements like the strings in "Proliferation".

A great return for the best band in Portugal!

KALLE MALMSTEDT