Wolfheart

Irreligious is the second full-length studio album by Portuguese gothic metal act Moonspell. While there are still hints of Moonspell's black metal past on Irreligious the music on the album is largely a departure from that sound. The goth rock/ metal elements that were already present on the debut album Wolfheart (1995) are much more pronounced on this album. The closest musical reference is probably goth/ doom metal act Paradise Lost (from One Second (1997) onward) but Moonspell definitely have their own sound. Goth rock bands from the eighties like Sisters of Mercy and The Mission also comes to mind. The vocals are deep and occasionally semi growling with an obvious accent which in this case actually gives the music an exotic twist. It could have been a problem but isn't. There are lots of keyboards in the music and they work to create a dark atmosphere.

Swedish folk metal wolf pack MÅNEGARM take another stroll through ancient sagas and myths of long forgotten times on the successor of chart-breaking Fornaldarsagor (2019) – the upcoming 10th studio album Ynglingaättens Öde (Engl. the fate of the Ynglinga kin) – out April 15, 2022 via Napalm Records. In this multifaceted world of sound, MÅNEGARM incorporate Pagan inspired lyricism based on the old Norse poem Ynglingatal, that describes the fate of an old Norse dynasty - the house of Ynglinga. Ynglingaättens Öde offers balanced variety and atmosphere, breathing new life into ancient myths. With Ynglingaättens Öde, MÅNEGARM underline their standing as spearheads of the world of Viking metal once more and keep Pagan traditions alive, even after 25 years of existence.

Moonspell continues to delve into slow, Gothic doom-metal on Sin/Pecado, with occasional samples and electronic percussion popping up in the atmospheric arrangements. Still, the band has not yet quite recaptured the spark of their debut, Wolfheart.

One of the more worthy black metal releases of the early '90s was Moonspell's Under the Moonspell, a five-track EP that signaled to many extreme metal fans that Portugal had birthed their own extreme metal band. With the release becoming increasingly difficult to find in intervening years, the Moonspell lads decided to celebrate the EP's 13-year release anniversary by re-recording it, resulting in the release of 2007's Under Satanae. But this proves to be a "new and improved" version of the group's early classic, as re-recordings of other rare tracks from before their 1995 full-length, Wolfheart, are included as well. While tracks such as "Tenebrarum Oratorium" and the beautifully titled "Goat on Fire" sound rather run of the mill by 2007 standards, keep in mind that when these tracks were first released, there was certainly not an overabundance of extreme metal bands that sounded like this…

Alpha Noir is a welcome revisit to the band’s early works and probably their most ferocious sounding since their debut, Wolfheart (1995). This is due in no small part to the guitar work. Throughout this album the guitars offer face melting riffs and wild soloing that lasts more than a few seconds here and there. Additionally, there is a ton of lead work happening at all times and it just makes everything bigger and angrier. Not unlike brethren Paradise Lost and Amorphis though, Moonspell dig deep and craft a much heavier album than anyone expected.

Finnish songwriter Timo Mölsä will be releasing his studio project Endless Chain‘s debut album “Forthcoming Past” via Rockshots Records on June 25th, 2021. The album features guests Mikko Heikkilä (Kaunis Kuolematon, Dawn Of Solace, Black Aeon Sun), Ville Hovi (Blackstar Halo), Aki Salonen (Nemecic), Sami Yli-Sirniö (Kreator, Waltari), Antti Kolehmainen, (Waltari), and Samuli Mikkonen (Korpiklaani). The full length was recorded, mixed, and produced by Aleksanteri Kuosa (Before the Dawn, Wolfheart, Waltari) along with mastering done by Juho Räihä (guitarist of Swallow the Sun).