Portuguese gothic metal overlords MOONSPELL have shared details about their upcoming follow-up to 2021’s Hermitage, tentatively due this summer via Napalm Records.
In a recent interview with Poland’s MetalSide (https://metalside.pl/), vocalist Fernando Ribeiro said the new LP will be a very atmospheric, gothic metal album featuring beautiful songs and strong, catchy choruses.
He described the lyrical direction as fantasy-driven and literature-oriented — elements MOONSPELL believe their fans are looking for.
The album was written over several years, including during the pandemic, but Fernando is confident the band’s unique sound will shine through despite external influences.
He acknowledged that MOONSPELL have faced harsh criticism and gatekeeping in the past, yet emphasized that the new record is a labor of love that will resonate deeply with their audience.
With Hermitage having sparked mixed reactions, Fernando views the upcoming album as an opportunity to create something special and further showcase MOONSPELL’s creativity.
MOONSPELL performed their first-ever symphonic show, dubbed “Opus Diabolicum,” at the MEO Arena in Lisbon, Portugal, on October 26, 2024.
The monumental event was released on DVD/Blu-ray, two-CD, black and colored vinyl, and digital formats via Napalm Records.
The band revisited their classics and their bombastic album 1755 in a one-off, exclusive performance — their biggest production to date.
The heavy metallic power of the dark metal pioneers merged with the classical grandeur of the 45-piece Orquestra Sinfonietta de Lisboa, conducted by maestro Vasco Pearce de Azevedo.
MOONSPELL have remained active on the road promoting their recent work.
In September 2022, they released a special Blu-ray/DVD and live album, From Down Below – Live 80 Meters Deep, capturing a performance of their studio album Hermitage.
The LP was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios in the U.K.
In 2020, MOONSPELL parted ways with original drummer Miguel “Mike” Gaspar, who was replaced by Hugo Ribeiro (no relation to Fernando Ribeiro).
The band continue to write new music and perform for fans worldwide.
Fernando is enthusiastic about the album’s progress and believes it could mark one of MOONSPELL’s strongest moments when it arrives this summer.