Lista de Bandas Gothic Dark Moonspell Irreligious

The Sun emanating relentlessly and sultrily above the Portuguese land, old cloister full of coenobites, echoes of the doorknocker beating on the massive door, proceeding into the woman's sighs symbolizing hidden delight behind the walls and final gong on the bell are the image, with which Moonspell welcomes listener into the masterpiece from 1996 year, named Irreligious. Male choirs are accompanying one's journey while passing through this entrance, alternating with softly oriental music being born inside of Pedro's creative spirit. It doesn't take a long while, and we move to the times of Fernando Pessoa and be it directly under the influence of Opium.


„That's why I take Opium. It's a help.
I am convalescing from the Moment.
I live on the ground floor of thought,
Bored watching Life pass by.“
(Fernando Pessoa)


"Opium" is a composition hiding a lot of meanings, the question of lifeflow in context with Portugal decline in 19th century is blending there with undirect connection with Arabs' effecting on the country, the cradle of Opium, in times far ago. The song is very rhythmic, contains middle and faster tempos with intensive and effecting usage of bass drum, which is complemented with intensive bass lines of then member of band, Ares. The guitar lines are designed in very experimental manner, when considering then general musical chapter – the monumentally sounding melodies are matted with softer strummed passages dying away in slow-pacing tunes, so very characteristic for that season of Moonspell. Add there Fernando's charismatic and deep laid vocal, and here we have a formation with definition – absolutely irredeemable. And this definition, I dare to say, guides Moonspell's music during whole existence.





Neither in next song it is different, a flow of life could be considered as focal motive. „All is dying, even the dead...“ appeals to the experiencing and finding the earthily inside us, instead of relying on afterlife and forgiving the mistakes to the self. The composition is in slower rhythm, while during the vocal expressions the instruments are minimalised, and in refrain become gradual in sound, when all together awakes the feeling of fatality. „Awake!“


„For a taste of eternity“ is tempting us to leave the innocence and release the animal, which sleeps in every human behind the wall of inhibitions and artificial religious constructions. Dynamic is very present as well as the slower passages, guided with soft keyboard lines somnifacient the feeling of false calmness, which disappears in next storm of refrain.The bass-drum becomes accentuated again, and with keyboards reminding of strange flute, it brings into song the significant amount of carnality.


„Ruin and Misery“ is a compound describing the hatred in it's alone essence, reminding of need for Lex Talionis in the most honest expose, when the vengeance becomes the main goal or desire of man. The rhythm is slow, followed with male choir and symbolical beats of melodical bells from the plant of keyboards. In this song, Fernando alternates the whisper with draggy pronounciation, which effects like if it symbolized something, what wishes to be hidden but even though it appears on the surface, unstoppably. „I can offer you a hand To help you hold the dagger“


„A Poisoned gift“, the cry of vampires in neverending dreams about the light of Sun and eternal sleep, which was taken from them while entering the eternal life. The deep voice in the exordium of song effects on listener like a magnet, with it's charm similar to the charm, which arises compulsively, because of strong need of undead beings desiring for the warmth of love, incident to living humans. Mystical atmosphere is guiding us to the refrain, which leans against the guitars and bets on energy escorted by simple keyboards' line, invoking the feeling of call of undead soul. Several seconds before the fulfillment of the third minute, Ricardo Amorim gets his space for the exquisite guitar solo, which is meant to be repeated later, while acute voice says "Once I asked you to fly Tonight I recreate the vow: Do not fail to love Me, as I have failed to die With you...“.


The piece „Subversion“ represents another experiment within the album, which partly takes motives from the first track, supplemented with diversified sounds, exponatiating the feeling of eeriness and occult reality. „I know you hide something...“ sound in the tunes of electro music in middle rhythm.


„Raven Claws“, the story of beauty with sharp teeth, meeting of which won't let you leave in easy way and will bond you to her with eternal love. The composition is in faster rhythm, in a bit different robe than other songs from the album. Much of melodically taken energy is flowing through it and a female vocal undersong as presented by talented german singer Birgit Zacher, brings into song the charm and elegance. „How daylight hurts when moonlight bites...“


In the next composition, „Mephisto“ calls and tempts one to enter his kingdom of wisdom and indulgence, for the world hides yet much to discover. „I can teach you wonders, if you give me your soul“. The melody through this song is truly hellish in that sweet mischievous way, as if the devil with smile was giving a tasty candy to the one, of whose mind he wishes to possess. The keyboards in some passages get us into the whirl of lunatic melodies, which one would imagine as played in old gothic and abandoned church, on organ covered with spider-webs; or into sounds which would remind you of angelic choir guiding your fall to the darkside. Every single instrument adds it's mystical piece into one great mystique, in which the song is captured.


„Herr Spiegelmann“ lets us smell the divine Perfume as designed by murderer coming from Patrick Suskind's book. The concentration for the way to find perfection and beauty is dangerous, for it blinds one's eyes. Song is most of time in middle tempo, where all instrument sound nearly hypnotizing and Fernando's convincing voice says to you „Look Me in the eyes and drown... “, in the fluid, your body meant to be the main ingredient of perfume. Another beautiful guitar solo invades ears of listener, and the same counts for the song „Full Moon Madness“, which finishes the album in all the Moon's majesty. „A fullmoon madness, We are as one and congregate“, the song of werewolves, howling of which sound through the dark night, as the instruments enter a slower rhythm. Mike's drums are beating intensively to cause the unpretentious gradation and Ricardo's guitar sounds in very melodic and soft way, but yet powerful, slowly receding to make a space for Pedro's keyboards, which give a disappearing and final dot.


In this album, you can find all the rhythms, being used and alternated very wisely, while all instrument lines are exceptional. Fernando „Langsuyar“ Ribeiro's vocals are deeply set, clean ones mixed with vocal expose characteristic for black metal, and the color of his voice is pleasing and caresing one's audition. Melodies of guitars and the playful creativity gives an impression, that Ricardo „MorningBlade“ Amorim was born with the guitar in his hands from the first moment. The drums of Mike „Nisroth“ Gaspar's are the ones, which hold the emotions of listener at the level, in which the music is supposed to effect, by rhythms which keep one in constant attentive strain. The mystique and enchantment are what musical genius of Pedro „Passionis“ Paixão offers to us by melodies being born on his keyboards. The bass lines by João „Ares“ Pedro are characteristic with their significance inbetween other instruments, strongly exponentiating the feelings responsible for attentive strain, what is the most heard in slower parts while in collaboration with drums and keyboards.

Amazing creation as Irreligious is unrepeatable by any other band, and all the compliments are reserved for the southern beings hidden behind the great name of Moonspell...

Line-up:

Fernando Ribeiro - vocals, lyrics
Ricardo Amorim - guitar
Pedro Paixão - keyboards
Mike Gaspar - drums
João Pedro - bass guitar



Guests:

Birgit Zacher - vocals




Related releases:

1995 - Opium (single - CD)


01.
Opium (radio edit)
02.
Raven Claws
03.
Ruin & Misery
04.
Opium (album version)


1996 - Irreligious (CD)


01. Perverse... almost religious
02.
Opium
03.
Awake
04.
For a taste of eternity
05.
Ruin & misery
06.
 A poisoned gift
07.
Subversion
08.
Raven claws
09.
Mephisto
10.
Herr spiegelmann
11.
Full Moon Madness


2007 - Irreligious deluxe edition (2CD)


CD1
01. Perverse... almost religious
02.
Opium
03.
Awake
04.
For a taste of eternity
05.
Ruin & misery
06.
A poisoned gift
07.
Subversion
08.
Raven claws
09.
Mephisto
10.
Herr spiegelmann
11.
Full Moon Madness
12. Opium (radio edit)


CD2 - Moonspell Live aross the Europe, winter 1996/1997
1.
Intro
2.
Opium
3.
Awake !
4.
Ruin And Misery
5.
Raven Claws
6.
Herr Spiegelmann
7.
Mephisto
8.
Intro
9.
For a Taste of Eternity
10.
Full Moon Madness