Moonspell is a Portuguese gothic metal band formed in 1989. The band released its debut EP, "Under the Moonspell", in 1994, followed by its first studio album, "Wolfheart", in 1995. Moonspell became one of Portugal's most internationally recognized metal bands and an established act in the gothic metal genre.
The band achieved commercial success in Portugal with "Sin/Pecado" (1998). Its album "Memorial" (2006) reached gold status in Portugal, making Moonspell the first Portuguese metal band to receive a gold record certification. The band has also established a following in Germany, where several of its albums have entered the national Top 100 chart.
Moonspell began performing in 1989 under the name Morbid God. In 1992, shortly after releasing the promotional track "Serpent Angel", the group adopted the name Moonspell. At the time, the lineup consisted of vocalist Fernando Ribeiro, also known as Langsuyar; bassist João Pedro "Ares" Escoval, known as Tetragrammaton; guitarists Duarte Picoto, known as Mantus, and Luís Lamelas, known as Malah; and drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar, known as Nisroth. Ribeiro and Escoval founded Morbid God, while the other members joined at different points in 1992. Gaspar joined after the recording of "Serpent Angel".
On February 24, 1993, Moonspell released the demo "Anno Satanæ", which contained three songs along with an introduction and an outro. Keyboardist Pedro Paixão joined the band in September 1993. On November 6, the group performed its first concert in Charneca, near Lisbon. Shortly afterward, Lamelas left the band and was replaced by João Pereira, also known as Tanngrisnir. The demo attracted the attention of independent record label Adipocere Records, which signed Moonspell to release a mini-album.
Moonspell released the EP "Under the Moonspell" on April 27, 1994. The band toured Portugal to promote the release and seek a contract with a larger label. It subsequently signed a six-album deal with Century Media Records.
Moonspell recorded its debut studio album, "Wolfheart", in Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta. The album was released on April 1, 1995. In June, guitarist João Pereira was replaced by Ricardo Amorim, who had previously been considered as a substitute for some performances. Pereira had been balancing his musical commitments with a day job.
In July 1995, Moonspell performed three concerts in the United Kingdom, marking its first performances outside Portugal. In September, the band toured Europe as a support act for Morbid Angel. Duarte Picoto was unable to participate in the tour for personal reasons, so the band performed as a five-piece, with Amorim as its only live guitarist. Although the other members were initially reluctant to dismiss Picoto because of his songwriting contributions, they decided to continue as a five-piece after the tour, and Picoto left the band.
For its second studio album, "Irreligious", Moonspell again worked with Sorychta. Released in 1996, the album featured the single "Opium", whose lyrics referenced Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa's heteronym Álvaro de Campos and his poem "Opiário". The music video depicted a poet writing in a bar while the band performed. Following the album's release, Moonspell held a concert at Convento do Beato in Lisbon. The album reportedly sold 10,000 copies in Portugal.
On February 7, 1997, bassist Ares was dismissed following artistic and personal disagreements. Sérgio Crestana replaced him. Legal disputes between Ares and the band continued until they were resolved in 2004.
Moonspell released "Sin/Pecado" in 1998. The album marked a more experimental direction than its predecessors, and "2econd Skin" was released as a single. During this period, the band also released "Hermeticum", the sole album by Dæmonarch, a side project featuring all Moonspell members except drummer Mike Gaspar.
In 1999, Moonspell released "The Butterfly Effect", recorded in London and produced by Andy Reilly. The album continued the band's experimentation, incorporating down-tuned guitar riffs and synthesizer passages. Much of the material was composed by guitarist and keyboardist Pedro Paixão. The album received a less favorable critical response than some of the band's earlier releases.
Moonspell's next album, "Darkness and Hope", was released in 2001 and produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, known for his work with Sentenced and HIM. The album reached number 79 on the German albums chart. Special editions included cover versions of songs by Madredeus, Ozzy Osbourne, and Joy Division, including "Mr. Crowley" and "Love Will Tear Us Apart". The single "Nocturna" was accompanied by a music video.
In 2003, Moonspell released "The Antidote". Niclas Etelävuori of Amorphis played bass as a session musician after Crestana left the band earlier that year. The album was released alongside a book of the same title by Portuguese writer José Luís Peixoto. The album and book shared a narrative concept, with each song corresponding to a chapter that expanded on the story presented in the lyrics. "Everything Invaded" was released as a single and accompanied by a music video.
After recording "The Antidote", Moonspell recruited Aires Pereira as a touring bassist. The band toured internationally and performed at Rock in Rio Lisboa in 2004, an appearance that increased its visibility in Portugal.
In 2003, Moonspell recorded a cover of the jazz standard "I'll See You in My Dreams" for the soundtrack of a Portuguese short zombie horror film of the same name. A music video was filmed in one day during production of the short film, with a reported budget of less than €2,000. The song was also released as a single in 2004 in full-length and edited versions.
Moonspell released "Memorial" in 2006 through SPV's Steamhammer label. Sorychta, who had produced the band's first three studio albums, returned as producer and recorded the bass guitar parts. The album debuted at number one on the Portuguese album chart and reached number 68 in Germany. It achieved gold status in Portugal after selling 10,000 copies, making Moonspell the first Portuguese metal band to receive the certification.
"Memorial" featured a heavier sound than the band's preceding releases and received attention from Portuguese news media. A special edition released in December 2006 included a DVD containing live performances and music videos. Videos were also released for the songs "Finisterra" and "Luna".
The band had planned to release a DVD initially titled "Lunar Still/13 Years of Doom", but legal issues delayed the project. Originally expected in September 2005, it was eventually released on December 9, 2008, under the title "Lusitanian Metal".
On November 2, 2006, Moonspell won the MTV Europe Music Award for Best Portuguese Act. The compilation album "The Great Silver Eye" was released on June 26, 2007. Later that year, the band released "Under Satanæ", an album featuring re-recorded versions of its early material.
Moonspell released "Night Eternal" on May 16, 2008, with Niclas Etelävuori again contributing on bass. The album's lead single, "Scorpion Flower", featured Dutch singer Anneke van Giersbergen, formerly of the Gathering and then performing as Agua de Annique.
The band participated in the "Blackest of the Black" tour alongside Danzig, Winds of Plague, Dimmu Borgir, and Skeletonwitch. In December 2008, Moonspell toured Europe with Cradle of Filth, Gorgoroth, Septicflesh, and Asrai as part of "The Darkest Tour: Filthfest". In April and May 2009, the band took part in a second European tour with Cradle of Filth and Turisas, billed as "Darkest Tour: Filthfest 2".
In July 2010, it was reported that the Portuguese postal service planned to issue a collection of stamps commemorating significant moments and recordings in Portuguese rock music. Moonspell's debut album, "Wolfheart", was included in the collection.
That month, Ribeiro announced that Moonspell was working on a new studio album. In December 2011, the band signed with Napalm Records. Around the same time, Aires Pereira became a full member after performing with the group live for eight years.
In January 2012, Moonspell announced that its next album would be titled "Alpha Noir" and scheduled for release on April 27. A special edition was to include a companion album, "Omega White". The band described "Alpha Noir" as an aggressive release influenced by Bathory, King Diamond, Onslaught, early Metallica, Testament, and Artillery. "Omega White" was presented as a more atmospheric work influenced by Type O Negative and the Sisters of Mercy, with similarities to Moonspell's 1996 album "Irreligious". Both albums were produced and mixed by Tue Madsen, who had previously worked with the band on "Under Satanæ" and "Night Eternal".
In 2015, Moonspell released "Extinct", which continued the band's exploration of gothic and dark musical styles.
On November 3, 2017, the band released "1755", a concept album about the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. The album was performed primarily in Portuguese, with some choral passages in Latin.
On July 3, 2020, Moonspell announced that original drummer Mike Gaspar had left the band. Hugo Ribeiro replaced him. On February 26, 2021, Moonspell released its twelfth studio album, "Hermitage".
In 2024, Moonspell announced plans to record a new studio album, initially expected in 2025 or 2026. The band also announced plans for tours marking the 30th anniversaries of its first three studio albums, scheduled to take place between 2025 and 2028.
In October 2025, Fernando Ribeiro announced that the band would begin recording its follow-up to "Hermitage" in December. By January 2026, he reported that the album's mixing was nearly complete. Ribeiro described the forthcoming release as an atmospheric gothic metal album featuring melodic material and prominent choruses. On March 8, 2026, Moonspell announced that its thirteenth studio album would be titled "Far from God". It was released on July 3, 2026.
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moonspell
Studio albums
Wolfheart (1995)
Irreligious (1996)
Sin/Pecado (1998)
The Butterfly Effect (1999)
Darkness and Hope (2001)
The Antidote (2003)
Memorial (2006)
Under Satanæ (2007)
Night Eternal (2008)
Alpha Noir/Omega White (2012)
Extinct (2015)
1755 (2017)
Hermitage (2021)
Far from God (2026)
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…shrink me down again