A must 13 1

After the episodes "Memorial" and "Under Satanae" where Moonspell turned, sometimes with a certain complacency towards its past, it was feared that the group no longer advance, does not surprise most, as was his habit before . So we expected this "eternal Night", announced by a rather imposing promo, forward ... And after several listenings, it is the foot!

The long awaited album opens with a narrative intro amid bolero-metal (!), Very cinematic, oppressive, which installs the listener in the dark and disturbing atmosphere of this new CD, before you explode the epic "At tragic heights"! Great art! Wild guitars interspersed with happiness, heavy as on "Memorial", or arpeggios, keyboards oriental atmospheres, powerful rhythms, sometimes up to black at times, everything is ... Let's not forget Fernando, high priest Moonspell before the LORD, and fitter than ever constant contrast between narrative, melodic vocals, whispers and almost insane aggression ("Night eternal").

What also surprised (because until then we were on familiar ground - see "Moon in mercury", which reminds so supported "Opus Tenebrarum" on "Satanae" or "Dreamless", which looks like Moonspell "classic ") is the use of female vocals, dosed with more subtlety than in most of the same kind, and this proves that while the group returns to its roots, there has been a long way since 'Love crimes "on the first album! The presence of women is explained by the theme of the album, which is that of paganism, the suffering of Mother Earth ("Our world is dying" shouts our good Fernando), abused by men. In esotericism, the image of women (despised by Christian mythology) is often confused with that of the goddess Mother Earth. End of lesson - just know that the acme of this mixture is in the superb "Scorpion Flower", with Anneke van Giersbergen (Agua de Annique, ex-The Gathering), a single almost perfect in the tradition of "Everything Invaded "and other" Opium ", but very catchy worked.

So No more experiments, Moonspell seeks less, but managed to renew by walking through the very wide range of styles that it is able to address. Kinda like Paradise Lost with "In Requiem", it offers the mature and thoughtful synthesis of these different styles, and offers a less monolithic album "Memorial", and without the melodic weaknesses that could have "The Antidote". Frankly excellent, and perfect as an introduction to the band's music, for those who would like to discover.