Portuguese gothic dark/death metal act Moonspell generally don't disappoint from album to album, and their latest release for Napalm Records, 1775, certainly falls right in line with that statement. For this 12th studio album, the band have opted for a full-blown orchestral concept piece detailing the year 1775 when an enormous earthquake wrecked the city of Lisbon. Produced by none other than Tue Madsen, 1775 is a bombastic work, monstrously heavy in most spots but also with a commanding symphonic/orchestral flair thanks to plenty of keyboards and choral arrangements that work perfectly alongside the extreme metal majesty. Fernando Ribeiro's emotional, low end growl is sung here all in Portuguese, which for some might be a bit jarring, but it doesn't detract from things one bit in my view, as the music is so powerful and the singer is up to his high standards as always. Tracks such as "Abanão", "Em Nome Do Medo", and the raging title track just crush with massive guitar riffs and larger than life orchestrations...this is big, big stuff here folks. "Evento" gallops along and crushes everything in its path, while the progressive nature of both "Todos Os Santos" and "Lanterna Dos Afogados" just cannot be denied, the latter containing some wonderful piano and organ to go along with deliciously textured, doomy riffs and Ribeiro's growls & soft spoken whispers.
It's a shame that I didn't get around to 1775 until so late in the year after I'd already put together my Best of 2017 list, as it would have easily found a home among my best albums of the year selections. It always seems to happen every year for a couple of late releases. Better late than never though I always say! A powerful heavy metal concept album you should not miss.
MOONSPELL are:
Fernando Ribeiro - Vocals
Ricardo Amorim - Guitar
Pedro Paixão - Keys, Guitar
Aires Pereira - Bass
Mike Gaspar - Drums
Track Listing
- Em Nome Do Medo 5:32
- 1755 5:12
- In Tremor Dei 4:26
- Desastre 3:22
- Abanão 4:08
- Evento 4:44
- 1 De Novembro 3:53
- Ruínas 4:45
- Todos Os Santos 5:10
- Lanterna Dos Afogados 6:30
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