Moonspell
Memorial


4.5
superb

Review

by Vanwarp USER (11 Reviews)
February 2nd, 2008 | 53 replies


Release Date: 2006 | Tracklist

Review Summary: Solid album, from beginning to end!

I do like my gothic metal to have a little black influence. And I do like wearing black though I don’t own a black trench coat and I don’t wear black eyeliner. Nor do I have ropes and chains dangling from my clothes and I don’t have a bad attitude because my wife cut my Internet time in half. Although “goth” has evoked in some people such stereotypical thoughts and visions as those described here, my fascination with this genre and style of music continues today regardless of what people might think of me.

So, what about this Portuguese metal band you ask? The music of Moonspell is deeply rooted in gothic metal with densely layered guitars, keyboards and synthesizers. Fernando Ribeiro’s death growl is back in a very big way. At times the album is dark and atmospheric and sometimes the music exhibits very dramatic moments with a soundtrackish vibe. The band went all out with some double-bass blast-beats, aggressive guitars, orchestral elements and even finding room for some rare female vocals to enhance those less extreme melodic atmospheric moments. In all fairness, I must admit that Ribeiro does a good amount of whispering throughout the disc as well.

What I find most fascinating with this release is the overall quality of the compositions and in particular, all the attention to detail. I mean, there are many facets of this recording that elevate it to a truly exceptional album. For instance, you won’t find one bad or awkward transition. Everything is done with refinement amid the uppermost expertise. These “things” I’m talking about are omnipresent but none are more brilliantly done than on “Sanguine” and “Luna.”

The album contains several outstanding instrumental tracks, each interlude is intense with a feeling of heightened excitement as we find on the intro “In Memoriam” and a little later with “Proliferation.”

Memorial is one of the better extreme metal albums released in 2006!



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user ratings (166)
3.7
great
other reviews of this album
Pizzabakker5 (3.5)
Moonspell return to their roots of Wolfheart and Irreligious, delivering a great and crushingly heav...



Comments:Add a Comment 
BallsToTheWall
February 2nd 2008


51216 Comments


Short but to the point. I love Luna( track with female vocals) and have been meaning to buy this but it's 18 where ever I go.

beans
February 2nd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

well this is another review thats a little too short for my taste, but this is an amazing album

Zoo
February 2nd 2008


3759 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Out of respect for other reviewers, please don't submit any more reviews today.

beans
February 2nd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

yes, i agree with that

hermitspancho
February 2nd 2008


278 Comments


Do this band class as extreme metal?

Willie
Moderator
February 2nd 2008


20212 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Not hard to crap out 4 reviews when they're this short and lacking...

beans
February 2nd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

"Do this band class as extreme metal?"





...wtf

Vanwarp
February 2nd 2008


86 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

No, not extreme metal in the true sense, they are a gothic metal band who have returned to their Black Metal roots, so in a sense Memorial is very much a gothic/black metal album...if that makes any sense to you?

Crysis
Emeritus
February 2nd 2008


17625 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

Decent album. Do not write any more reviews today, it bumps down other reviews off the front page, and it is extremely annoying. As for the review, write more detail, this is basically a soundoff.

Wizard
February 2nd 2008


20509 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

Review is ok but needs alot of more detail. Just seems a little vague, but I can't argue though because I haven't heard this album yet.

beans
February 2nd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

its really good melo death, id reccomend it

Wizard
February 2nd 2008


20509 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

I purchased The Antidote the other day and I absolutely love their lighter, hard rock stuff. This album sounds promising.

hermitspancho
February 2nd 2008


278 Comments


The Antidote is the only full album I'd heard hence the question about extreme metal,the two tracks I've since heard from this album made more sense of the description.

Vanwarp
February 2nd 2008


86 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

What's with all the whining about the length of my reviews? I'm not interested in writing a 1000 word review, actually, I'm trying to write informative reviews but at the same time keep them well below 400 words. In my view, a soundoff is like 100 words or less...

beans
February 2nd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

Cause a review is supposed to be a DESCRIPTIVE piece of writing that fully entails everything about the album, when i read a review (i cant comment for anyone else) i want something thats really descriptive and in depth

Vanwarp
February 3rd 2008


86 Comments

Album Rating: 4.5

Like I said, I'm trying to write informative reviews that are descriptive but not in depth. I'm more interested in giving people a glimpse of what the album is about. If you want more descriptive and in depth reviews, I guess you'll have to look elsewhere?

Crysis
Emeritus
February 3rd 2008


17625 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

If I want a short review, I'll go on amazon and read one of those shitty two sentence reviews. If I want a real review, I'll look for something which completely describes the album. To be honest, this isn't nearly descriptive enough to give a picture of what this album sounds like to someone who has never heard it. It's not poorly written, quite the contrary actually, it's just I need more here.This Message Edited On 02.02.08

beans
February 3rd 2008


2328 Comments

Album Rating: 4.0

^ what he said

Commortus
February 3rd 2008


237 Comments


short reviews are fine you a-holes lay off

Wizard
February 3rd 2008


20509 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5

People with short attention spans will stick up for people who write short reviews!



Vanwarp,

I would seriously take into consideration the constructive criticism being said here. Especially from Crysis, who knows a thing or two about writing detailed reviews (that are extremely enjoyable to read)



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