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Moonspell
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Line Up:
Fernando Ribeiro: Vocals
Mike Gaspar: Drums
Ricardo Amorim: Guitar
Sérgio Crestana: Bass
Pedro Paixão: Synth
The first seed wich was to evolve into Moonspell was planted in Brandoa, Portugal, 1989, when Fernando Ribeiro, Ares (pre-’Sin’ guitarist), and two other guys decided to form a band. They`d been talking about it for a long time, and finally a band called Morbid God was born. Ares and Fernando had another project going at the time, a band called Archangel, but they decided to leave it to fully concentrate on Morbid God. Fernando and the guys spent a while getting instruments and a place to rehearse, but after a while they succeded and started playing. It was slow in the beginning, but they got it together after a while, and made their first track ever called ‘The Fever’. It was recorded on a tape recorder and rehearsed several times, but the guys finally decided that it wasn`t worth recording in a real studio.
It was about this time the band kicked their guitarist, but in late 1990, a new guitarist called Mantus joined Morbid God. The guys composed ‘Serpent Angel’, wich became their very first release ever. It was recorded in August 1992, and was published as a promo track. It was also featured on an MTM compilation LP with other Portugise metal bands. ‘Serpent Angel’ was a huge success, and Morbid God was offered alot of EP and LP deals. They decided to wait however, and to record a real demo. The original drummer was kicked, and a new one was welcomed into the family. His name was Nisroth, later to be known as Mike Gaspar. Morbid God finally changed their name to Moonspell, which they felt more satisfied with, in October. Alot of new songs were composed, and three of them was recorded professionally and featured on the only Moonspell demo ever made; ‘Anno Satanae’. It was released in February 1993, and it is regarded as a real classic by the underground scene.
It was ‘Anno Satanae’ wich gave Moonspell their mini-album deal with the French label Adipocere. A guitarist left in the process of the recording, but Moonspell lured the guitarist Tanngrisnir away from a band called Decayed. A synth player was also added to the band, Pedro Paixão then known as Neophytus or Passionis. The guys published ‘Under The Moonspell’ in January 1994, and it was their true debut and a major success. It was a blend of Moonspells interest in occultism, southern culture, and eroticism, and got them their current contract with the label Century Media Records. In the meanwhile, the guys started doing their first live shows.
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The band was really happy about the signing to Century Media, and begun experimenting alot with their music. The sound became darker and richer, and the lyrics deadly and erotic. This was the birth of the first LP, ‘Wolfheart’. Moonspell then travelled to Germany and hooked up with producer Waldemar Sorychta. ‘Wolfheart’ was released in 1995, and it got a very cold welcome. Nobody seemed to believe in it, and in addition both guitarists left the band. In came a new guitarist called Ricardo, who`d formerly been playing in the Portugise band P. Waltz. Now all the band needed was a tour to support ‘Wolfheart’, and a tour they certainly got. They were offered to support Morbid Angel on their Domination 1995 tour, and they accepted. The tour was a giant success, and ‘Wolfheart’ sold an amazing amount of 50000 copies. The band continued touring and playing gigs, and now they`d really gotten the first taste of success.
Moonspell went back to Germany in 1996 to start work on the follow-up to ‘Wolfheart’. They once again teamed up with Waldemar Sorychta, but this time around Moonspell was a much more mature band and they were more in charge. They made ‘Irreligious’, wich is by many fans considered to be the best Moonspell album. The change in style was remarkable from ‘Wolfheart’, this album was more gothic and perhaps even darker. Moonspell was critized alot for the change, but they blew it off because change was their purpose. ‘Irreligious’ was released first in Portugal, and sold astonishing 10000 copies there. Then there was the European release, and the album broke into the German top 50 and stayed there for eight weeks. And while Moonspell was doing their 2 month long European tour, the album broke into the Italian, Austrian, Dutch, and Finnish charts. Needless to say, Moonspell had finally gotten their true breakthrough. It was after this that Moonspell went on their most famous tour, supporting Type O Negative. For the first time, Moonspell played sold-out arenas and entertained a huge audience. In the meanwhile, ‘Irreligous’ sold more and more copies, and Moonspell was voted Revelation Band for 1996 by VIVA, leaving Korn and Marilyn Manson in the dust.
A while after the release of Irreligious, Ares the bassist decided to leave the band, and he was replaced by Sérgio Crestana. In 1997 Moonspell released a 2CD Digipack named ‘2econd Skin’. It featured the song ‘2econd Skin’ from the yet-to-be released Sin/Pecado, some remixes and other goodies, and seven live songs. ‘Sin/Pecado’ was finally released in 98. This album was a huge change in style, much more mellow and gothic, all signs of black metal were gone. ‘Sin’ sold very well, even though many fans were disappointed with the change. To support ‘Sin/Pecado’, Moonspell went on the ‘It`s a Sin’ tour.
Later the same year, some of the Moonspell members (including Ribeiro) released a side project called ‘Daemonarch’. The album was called ‘Hermeticum’ and Fernando revisited his dark past of satanism and magic on it. The opposite of ‘Sin’`s beautiful and gothic melodies, ‘Hermeticum’ was dark and violent music. Ribeiro burnt the lyrics after the recording was finished, closing that chapter of his life. The follow-up to ‘Sin’ was finally released in the fall of 99. It is called ‘The Butterfly Effect’, and is another big change for Moonspell. It is a very emotional record, but the gothic part of Moonspell`s music has been replaced with a more industrial style. ‘Butterfly Effect’ is heavier, more violent, and the lyrics are more personal. And as with every Moonspell release, some will hate it, some will love it.
Credits for Bio go to Full Moon Madness
- March 23, 2001
Blackwinged
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