Conor Fynes 'The Antidote' - Moonspell (5/10)

Moonspell aren't going to make the music you would find typical of progressive metal. Alot of their stuff is alot more doomy and down-tempo than most, and while there is a bit of a forward-thinking attitude to them, you won't find the sort of stuff played here that the more adventurous bands play. In any case however, Moonspell is a talented band, and they show it through some very solid songwriting and thoughtful arrangements. While alot of this album is pretty dry and has a fair share of flaws, an above-average sense of songwriting ties the album together and makes it whole. There a a large dose of gothic flair here, thrown onto a death metal pallette. The singer constantly switches between a skilled growl and a basso profundo that can get extremely dry at times but after a few listens, it really dawns that this isn't the sort of metal that would benefit from having four-octave wails.

The title track is arguably the strongest track here, although alot of the songs are memorable in their own right. 'In & Above Man' segues seamlessly into the dark almost jungle-sounding percussive intro of 'From Lowering Skies.' 'Capricorn At Her Feet' has one of the most beautiful guitar solo segments you could possibly find on this album, although the rest of the song isn't quite up to par. 'Lunar Still' takes quite a while to get going but it's a dreamy segment that can be wholly enjoyable if you're in the mood for it. The final track, 'As We Eternally Sleep On It' is one of the tightest compositions, and something that doesn't adhere to songwriting convention. It builds up slowly- much like post-rock - and it leads into atmospheric guitar work that caps off the album.

'The Antidote' is tightly composed and produced, but it doesn't seem to really catch my attention in the way a really great album would. There are parts that are amazing, but it seems these are spread like too little butter over too much toast. A good album, but with not enough layering or ambition to make for a truly inspiring journey.

The T 666 This was my first full-length experience with MOONSPELL. I have heard a few songs before but "The Antidote" was the only album that I found in one of my local record stores (I since found a couple more), so I bought it right away and it has been my introduction to the music of this Portuguese metal band.

The best way to describe "The Antidote" would probably be as gothic-extreme-progressive metal. In one side, we have, definitely, extreme metal, a big influence from Black Metal to be more specific; on the other hand, the slow, pensive songs filled with distant, lush keyboards and dark but sensuous atmospheres give the album a distinct gothic flavor. Finally, the abundance of short instrumental passages and some experimentation with structures and especially with orchestration help MOONSPELL sound progressive.

The songs are of average length, at about 5 minutes. Most of the structures are rather simple verse-chorus-verse ones, but some have special treatments in their form. The tempo of most tracks is usually moderate, not too-fast, not too-slow, even though it goes in both directions a few times. Guitars are the main drivers of this music with powerful riffs that are accentuated by grand, reverberating keyboards. There are some acoustic passages here and there that add to the variety. The vocals are of two kinds: on one hand we have regular extreme metal vocals, somewhere in the middle between low-pitched death grunts and high-pitched black growling; on the other hand, we have a rather lifeless, monotone, yet somehow seductive, clean gothic voice not unlike that of Peter Steele of TYPE O NEGATIVE if he was mixed with Johan Edlund of TIAMAT. Overall, the music also shows influences from these two bands, as well as black metal bands and more progressive-death bands like AMORPHIS (whose bassist plays on this record) or even OPETH.

The musicianship is very good if not dazzling. The vocals overpower the rest of the instruments for most of the album, but the guitar player and the keyboardist have their chance to shine, too. The drums are simple yet very effective. The bass is perfectly played by the Finnish guest. There are not many displays of technique but the playing is tight and precise, and one can easily detect the proficiency of these Portuguese musicians on "The Antidote".

The songs range from good to very good. The best probably are "Everything Invaded", which MOONSPELL wisely chose as their video in their homeland Portugal, "In and Above Men" a powerful opener that sets the mood for the rest of the album, and "As we Eternally sleep on it", the longest track. There are no weak songs here, but there aren't any outstanding masterpieces either.

All in all, an enjoyable experience that is hurt a little bit by the repetitive mood that permeates the album. A good introduction for the band and one that convinced me to invest a little more time into another MOONSPELL release.

The T 666 MOONSPELL swims between black-metal and gothic-metal waters in "Night Eternal".

The work of the band, originally a goth black-metal outfit, has become an hybrid of said genre with more commercial types of rock. This latest release starts strong, but loses steem towards the end. The best track in the album is "Dreamless (Lucifer and Lilith)", probably the most gothic one, very reminiscent of TIAMAT.

That MOONSPELL's best song is a more commercial-friendly one clearly shows how far the band has moved from its roots. When the group tries to play it black, the perfect production and the lack of crudeness and atmosphere don't allow the music to take off. The best song in the heavy side of the disc is the opener, "At tragic Heights".

Overall, the album is enjoyable but rather forgettable. It has its moments, but MOONSPELL has done better. And you can findway better works if you're looking for real black metal. For gothic-rock listeners, it may be too heavy a disc, but in the end it will work better.

arcane-beautiful Ahhh, a new Moonspell album, this should be interesting. If it's as good as Memorial then it should be amazing.

To be honest, this isn't a bad album, it' s just not Moonspell's best. The album does seem at times a bit bland, but what I liked about it was that there were times on the album were we thought Moonspell might even return to their style of Wolfheart and their early demos. Like Memorial, it does at times, but then, there a few moments of more gothic doom, which isnt bad, but isnt what Moonspell shine at.

1. At Tragic Heights - An amazing opener to the album. Powerfull and epic and dark. The lyrics arent the best in the world, but they are backed up by references from Revalations, every religious fanatics favourite book. One of the best if not the best song on the album.

2. Night Eternal - This song reminds me of a slower version of Lamb Of God, with the heavy riffs and syncopated drum patterns. Good song.

3. Shadow Sun - A Tool like song, with clean hypnotic guitars. A bit experimental, but pulled off well. Probabbly one of the weekest moments on the album.

4. Scorpion Flower - I love Anneke's voice, she really made Devin Townsends new album sound the best it could ever be. I also loved her work with The Gathering and her live moments with Within Temptation. A great song to be made a single.

5. Moon In Mercury - Like the first song, it really stands out. Powerfull and epic.

6. Here Is The Twilight - This is more of a filler song. Not the best song in the album by a long shot.

7. Dreamless (Lucifer & Lilith) - This one of the more melodic moments. Reminds me of Type O Negative & HIM. Gothic rock at it's best really.

8. Spring Of Rage - Another gem on this album. More upbeat than the rest of the songs, a great headbaning song basically.

9. First Light - The intro of this song reminds me of Full Moon Madness. This is alot more reminiscent to Memorial. An amazing and dramatic end to the album.

CONCLUSION: This isn't their best album by far, but it's still a good album, with some great songs on it. Buy their other albums before buying this basically.

arcane-beautiful Ah, Moonspell...what an amazing thrill ride of a band.

Yea but Moonspell, yes, they really take the emotion of modern gothic metal and take it to the extremes. I think they have dabbled with nearlly everything, either that be industrual, symphonic or even black metal. But back in the early 90's, when darker forms of metal, like death and black metal were starting to attract an audience, Moonspell, were in a dark room somewhere, making early forms of these genres and even improving them. I was listening to the these re-recordings and just thinking, god Mayhem and Emperor were terrible compared to these guys.

Yes with more dark art related topics like Satanism, Lycanthropic monsters and black masses for sacrificing to different occult idols, e.g. Kali, Lilith, Belial, Baphomet, the list of these demons goes on. The lyrics are amazing and dark, and make early black metal scribblings look like a childs poem.

The music is next to nothing perfect, it sounds like if Genesis were made by Satan himself. It's dramatic, eventfull and dark as hell.

1. Halla Alle Halla Al Rabka Halla (Praeludium/Incantatum Solistitium) - An amazing intro with arabic vocals. A great start to an eary piece of music.

2. Tenebrarum Oratorium (Andamento I/Erudit Compendyum) - Probabbly my favourite Moonspell (it's up there with Finisterra & Alma Matter). I love the first line of the song "The majestic horns of Baphomet." The background vocals remind me of Celtic Frosts To Mega Therion, like Necromantical Screams & The Usurper. An amazing song. So many intresting parts to this song and the lyrics are amazing.

3. Interludium/Incantatum Oequinoctum - A beautiful instrumental, with some nice spanish acoustic guitar work. Reminds me of Battery or Fight Fire With Fire by Metallica...but better...cos Metallica suck.

4. Tenebrarum Oratorium (Andamento II/Erotic Compendyum) - This is the perfect example of a black metal Genesis. The lyrics are also amazing.

5. Opus Diabolicum (Andamento III/Instrumental Compendyum) - I love the intro. The sound of an orchestra tuning up always sends shivers up my spine. This is what black metal should sound like, with good song writing and maturity.

6. Chorai Lusitânia! (Epilogus/Incantatam Maresia) - An good ending to this piece. Some nice double stringed work.

7. Goat On Fire - God Moonspell were amazing 15 years ago. Great lyrics with some good occult references.

8. Ancient Winter Godess - The title sounds like an early Emperor song. It reminds me Darkthrone & early Dimmu Borgir. I loved the Bouree part. It fitted well in such a dark song.

9. Wolves From The Fog - The first mention of wolves which will soon become the image of the band. Great riffs and amazing drama.

10. Serpent Angel - The intro reminds me of something off Enthrone Darkness Triumphant. A great song. Very eerie ending as well.

CONCLUSION - If you didnt like Moonspells recent albums, then buy this one. Even though it's re recordings, it's still amazing. I don't know if i could call them Black Metal, but in the 90's, if Black Metal sounded like this, the world would be a better place.