Moonspell - Far From God (Album Review)

The release of Far From God was a great birthday gift (my birthday was yesterday). Thanks Moonspell! At a time when morale is low in the States and we’re all feeling rather melancholic, a new goth metal album is precisely what myself and likely many others need right now. 

I walked into this one not sure what to expect from “The Portuguese Wolves.” Each of the singles released from this album are distinctly different. I did a review of the title single, “Far From God”, which you can find here. “Cross Your Heart” has the classic Moonspell feel, and is by no means a bad song, but it doesn’t stand out amongst the other tracks as much as some others, even though it certainly is a strong track to start with and sets the tone for the album. 

However, the third single, “The Great Wolf in the Sky” is one of the stand out tracks. I could be misinterpreting things, but I heard that the band might call it quits. After Hermitage, I didn't know whether we'd even get another Moonspell album. But listening to the lyrics, I think it's at least in part about the feeling of being unable to continue and their relationship with fans and with each other. The band itself and the magic that it has brought to the world being the metaphorical “great wolf in the sky”. Maybe they had a “Wow look at all we've done. We can't give up now. Our story isn't over yet.” Type moment that inspired this song to be so powerful, and the lyrics illustrate that beautifully. 

Each time a new song started, my ears would perk up and I found myself asking “oh wow, what is this?” The entire album kept my attention. Surprisingly,  I’d say the final track, “Reconquista” is my favorite. It's got everything. Growls, clean vocals, seamless transitions between vocal styles, a soft spoken verse in Portuguese, and a fantastic guitar solo. It encompasses everything I love about this band and shows why they've been my favorite for the better part of twenty years. This track in particular brought a tear to my eye and was a perfect way to wrap up the album.

Speaking of solos, I've noticed that guitar solos are a rare commodity in modern music, and good ones even more so. That's one distinctive thing about this band. As much as they've evolved over the years, the solos remain a constant element, and as always, Ricardo delivers.

I think I understand now why people are calling this album the modern Irreligious. Far From God as a whole feels like a call back to their earlier work, and returns to the core of what gothic metal is. But I'd still sooner compare it to Omega White than Irreligious. Then again, that album didn't get the attention it deserved. Alpha Noir/Omega White is still my all time favorite Moonspell album(s). I remember how excited I was to get my boxed set with the double disk and a necklace and seeing them on that tour in Worcester, Massachusetts. But I digress. 

This album hit me emotionally. There's so much anger and violence and corruption going on in this world, but there's also some beauty. We just need to open our eyes and find it. This reminder is what goth metal does so well as a genre. We need to seek out the bits of light within the darkness. Or embrace the reality that they are missing entirely and lean into the bitter hollowness that life has become and find the beauty in the darkness. 

I've recently found myself seeking out media that reminds me of when I was younger when things felt “okay”. This album reminded me of their 2012 Omega White and brought some of those feelings of familiarity which is what I need to get through this current modern chaos. 

Under the spell.

Under the moon.