REVIEW: MOONSPELL - DARKNESS AND HOPE

 

MOONSPELL - DARKNESS & HOPE (Century Media, 2001):

Technical data:

Recorded at Finnvox Studios, Helsinki.

Produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa

Track List: 1- Darkness and Hope, 2- Firewalking, 3- Nocturna, 4- Heartshaped Abyss, 5- Devilred, 6- Ghostsong, 7- Rapaces, 8- Made of Storm, 9- How we became Fire, 10- Than The Serpent in my Arms, 9- Os Senhores da Guerra

It is interesting to see how Moonspell has developed their own sound and style. This time the result goes in the middlem path between "Irreligious" and " Sin/Pecado". That is it sounds heavier than "Sin/Pecado" with some screaming vocals in some parts and heavier guitars (like in "Irreligious"), but retaining the melodic and gothic side that they reached on the aforementioned release (a clear example of this is the difference between the second track "Firewalking" where the heavier parts are more evident and the third one "Nocturna" where the more climatic, lighter parts are the main feature). The music is dark as always full of melodies and with the enchanting vocals of Fernando Ribeiro greatly singing through all the recording. Also there are the omniprescent synths and samplers of Pedro Paixao that in some places reminded me of the ones in Paradise Lost´s "Host" and the heavy guitars that this time are more present in some of the tracks. Favorite tracks: "Firewalking", "Devilred" and "Than The Serpent in my Arms". Contact: www.centurymedia.com