The band started out as folk-tinged black metal. In 1992, still under the name Morbid God, they released the promo track "Serpent Angel". In 1993, vocalist Fernando Ribeiro, drummer Mike Gaspar and bassist João Pedro released the demo Anno Satanæ under the name Moonspell, which caught the attention of French label Adipocere. It was for Adipocere that Moonspell released in 1994 a mini-album titled Under the Moonspell. The record was a considered a landmark in Portuguese metal and sold more than 5000 copies, becoming Adipocere's best-selling record at the time. Shortly after the release, they played with Cradle of Filth in a concert in Lisbon.
Breakthrough (1995-1997)
After the release of mini-album Under the Moonspell, Moonspell signed with Century Media for six CDs. Wolfheart was recorded in Germany with producer Waldemar Sorychta and was released in 1995 and was followed by a European tour. Although the album had little or no recognition at the beginning, it was later recognized as a "milestone" by heavy-metal reviews site Metal-Observer.com. During the tour, guitarist Mantus quit the band and was replaced by Ricardo Amorim.
Irreligious came out in 1996 and was recorded again with producer Waldemar Sorychta. While previous album was considered black metal, this one fell into the genre of gothic metal. The song Opium became the first Moonspell single. It quoted one of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa's heteronyms, Álvaro de Campos, on his poem "Opiário" and its music video, featured the character of poet writing in a bar with the band playing. Along with the release of the album in a convent, the Convento do Beato, there were factors that helped the band selling 10.000 copies of the album in their homeland.
After conflicts with the band involving lawsuits, bass player Ares left the band and was replaced by Sérgio Crestana.
Experimenting (1998-2000)
Sin/Pecado (Pecado means 'sin' in Portuguese) was released in 1998. It had a bigger experimental nature than its predecessors. The song 2econd Skin was released as a single. At the time they released the one and only Daemonarch album, Hermeticum. Daemonarch was a side project composed by all Moonspell members but drummer Mike Gaspar. The album was seen as a return to their black metal roots and its lyrics were all written by singer Fernando Ribeiro between the age of 14 and 16.
Sin/Pecado was followed in 1999 by The Butterfly Effect, recorded in London and produced by Andy Reilly. This album is considered to be very experimental in nature as well. Featuring "down-tuned guitar riffs, eerie synthesizer passages", the album was mainly composed by guitarist/keyboard player Pedro Paixão and was not very well received by metal critics.
"Darkness and Hope" and "The Antidote" (2001-2005)
Darkness and Hope was released in 2001 and was produced by Hiili Hiilesmaa, producer of Sentenced or HIM. The album reached 79th on German charts and special editions included covers of Madredeus, Ozzy Osbourne's Mr. Crowley and Joy Division's Love Will Tear Us Apart. Nocturna was released as a single and music video.
In 2003, the band released The Antidote, with Niclas Etelävuori from Amorphis playing as a session musician on the bass guitar. The album was released with a book with the same title written by Portuguese writer José Luís Peixoto. Both the CD and book share the same concept and story and each song in the CD is sister to a chapter in the book that enhances the story in the lyrics. "Everything Invaded" was released as a single and music video. The band toured extensively around the world, playing at Rock in Rio Lisbon in 2004, a concert that brought them to more mainstream attention in Portugal. From this album on, the tours feature Aires Pereira on the bass.
In early 2004 the band recorded a cover of the jazz standard "I'll see you in my dreams" for the soundtrack of a Portuguese horror movie of the same name. There is an official music video of this song featuring footage from the film itself.
"Memorial", "Under Satanae" and "Night Eternal" (2006-present)
Memorial was released in 2006. Recorded with the producer of their first three albums Waldemar Sorychta, who also recorded the bass guitar parts, it was the first to be released under their new label SPV Steamhammer. The album topped the Portuguese album chart on its first week and also broke into the German Top 100 at number 68. Memorial achieved gold status in Portugal after selling 10,000 copies, making Moonspell the first Portuguese heavy metal band to achieve that.
Although the album is heavier than the previous, it was very well received and its release was featured in various Portuguese news broadcasts. A new release of the album was released in December 2006 and featured a DVD with live performances and the music videos made for the album. Music videos for "Finisterra" and "Luna" were released.
On November 2, 2006, Moonspell won an MTV Europe Music Award in the category of Best Portuguese Act.
The Great Silver Eye, a best-of album, was released on June 26, 2007.
Recently, Moonspell released Under Satanæ, a re-recording of early songs.
The last album has been called "Night Eternal". It was released on May 16, 2008. Moonspell is slated to tour Danzig's 2008 incarnation of his Blackest of the Black tour.
After a lot of legal troubles, Moonspell released their first Dvd "Lusitanian Metal" on December 8, 2008 in 3 different versions. The most complete one is composed of 2 Dvds, a Cd and a small booklet with photographs and introduction to the footage written by some of the members of the band. The first Dvd contains a show they played in 2004 in Katowice, also recorded on the Cd, a collection of all their videos until "Everything Invaded" and an interwiew shot in a Graveyard. The second dvd presents some live footage took from different tours from 1992 to 2005.
Current members
Fernando Ribeiro - vocals (1989-present )
Mike Gaspar - drums (1992-present )
Ricardo Amorim - lead guitar (1995-present )
Pedro Paixão - keyboards / rhythm guitar (1994-present )
Aires Pereira - bass (2004-present )
Previous members
Baalberith - drums (1989-1992)
João Pedro (Ares / Tetragrammaton) - bass (1989-1997)
Luís Lamelas (Malah / Fenrir) - guitar (1992-1993)
J.M. (Tanngrisnir) - guitar (1993-1995)
Mantus/Duarte - guitar (1990-1995)
Sérgio Crestana - bass (1997-2003)
Discography:
1992 - Serpent Angel (demo)
1993 - Anno Satanae (demo)
1994 - Under the Moonspell
1995 - Wolfheart
1996 - Irreligious
1997 - 2econd Skin (disc 1) (Single w/ bonus live CD)
1997 - 2econd Skin (disc 2) (Single w/ bonus live CD)
1998 - Sin Pecado
1999 - The Butterfly Effect
2001 - Darkness and Hope
2003 - The Antidote
2006 - Memorial
2007 - The Great Silver Eye (Best Of)
2007 - Under Satanae (The first three releases re-recorded)
2008 - Night Eternal
2012 - Alpha Noir / Omega White
2015 - [algum artist=Moonspell]Extinct
Dvds
2008 - Lusitanian Metal
www.moonspell.com
Alma Mater
Moonspell Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
In the strongest way I've ever seen
I know that she sees in Me
Her proudest child, her purest breed
She speaks to Me in colors
That I can't really understand
I only know that they are ours
For I am your only child
And you my dearest mystery
From an ancient throne I defy the world
To kneel before the Power within.
For I am your only child
And you my dearest mystery
World can't you see it?
Am I alone in my belief?
Virando costas ao mundo
Orgulhosamente sós
Glória antiga, volta a nós!
Alma mater!
Breaking waves announce my Bride
It is the only way the Sea could sing
Legends of Lusitanian pride
He sings the words I cannot spring
At the Moon Mountain six wolves cry
Your lost glory we'll regain or die
For I am her only child
And she is my dearest mystery
Pagan Gods in conspiracy
For the sword of Tyranny
Mother Tongue has spoke to thee
In the strongest way they've ever seen
World can't you see?
I am not alone in my belief.
Alma mater!
Virando costas ao Mundo
Orgulhosamente s's
Gloria Antiga, volta a nos!
Alma mater!
Mother Tongue has spoke to Me
In the strongest way I've ever seen
I know that she sees in Me
Her proudest child, her purest breed
She speaks to Me in colors
I can't really understand
I only know that they are ours
and to those I'll proudly bend
For I am her only child
And she is my dearest mystery
From an ancient throne I defy the world
To kneel before the powers within.
For I am her only child
And she is my dearest tragedy
World can't you see it?
I am not alone in my belief.
Virando costas ao Mundo
Orgulhosamente s's
Alma mater!
Moonspell's song Alma Mater is an ode to the mother tongue, the language that has been passed down from generation to generation. The song begins with the singer acknowledging the strength of the language and how it is tied to their identity. They believe that their mother tongue sees them as their proudest and purest child. The language speaks to them in colors that they may not fully understand, but they acknowledge that they are a part of it and will proudly bend to it.
The singer speaks of an ancient throne and defies the world to kneel before the power that lies within. They believe that they are the only child of their mother tongue, and it is their dearest mystery. The chorus, "Alma Mater" which means nurturing mother in Latin, is a call to the deep roots of their heritage, asking for its return and the reminder that they are never alone in their belief.
The song takes a turn, and the narrative switches to a lost love, represented by the sea. At the Moon Mountain, six wolves cry out to regain their lost glory. The singer's mother tongue speaks to them in the most profound way, and they are not alone in their belief. The song ends with a repetition of the chorus, with the singer proudly turning their back to the world, standing alone and gloriously to reclaim their heritage.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother Tongue speaks to Me
The artist feels a strong connection to their native language
In the strongest way I've ever seen
The artist feels that their connection to their native language is very strong
I know that she sees in Me
The artist feels that their native language recognizes some talent or quality within them
Her proudest child, her purest breed
The artist feels that their native language considers them one of its greatest products
She speaks to Me in colors
The artist perceives a richness and nuance in their native language
That I can't really understand
Despite their connection, the artist feels that there is still much to learn about their native language
I only know that they are ours
The artist feels a sense of ownership over their native language
And to those I'll proudly bend
The artist is willing to submit to their native language's authority and influence
For I am your only child
The artist feels a personal, unique connection to their native language
And you my dearest mystery
The artist finds the intricacies of their native language fascinating and mysterious
From an ancient throne I defy the world
Despite opposition, the artist will remain loyal to their native language
To kneel before the Power within
The artist recognizes a force or essence within their native language that commands reverence
World can't you see it?
The artist is frustrated that others cannot recognize the value of their native language
Am I alone in my belief?
The artist wonders if they are the only one who feels so attached to their native language
Virando costas ao mundo
Rejecting the world
Orgulhosamente sós
Proudly alone
Glória antiga, volta a nós!
Ancient glory, come back to us!
Breaking waves announce my Bride
The artist sees their love for their native language as something natural and powerful
It is the only way the Sea could sing
The artist perceives their native language as something that harmonizes with the natural world
Legends of Lusitanian pride
The artist acknowledges the cultural heritage behind their native language
He sings the words I cannot spring
The artist looks to some other source, such as nature or the divine, for poetic inspiration
At the Moon Mountain six wolves cry
The artist invokes an image of wild, natural power that can help them defend their native language
Your lost glory we'll regain or die
The artist is willing to go to great lengths to preserve the cultural significance of their native language
And she is my dearest tragedy
The artist recognizes the fragility and vulnerability of their native language
Mother Tongue has spoke to thee
The artist urges others to listen to the wisdom and beauty of their native language
World can't you see?
The artist is frustrated that others cannot perceive the value of their native language
Alma Mater!
Hail to the mother
Lyrics © RESERVOIR MEDIA MANAGEMENT INC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@wildmanfisher
This song makes me proud to be Portuguese even though I'm Dutch
@brozio77
'i'm italian and i'm proud too to be portuguese. great moonspell
@ksvvas6482
Erik van Doorn , same here! I am Bulgarian but I feel like I grew up in Portugal :)
@zecapina6240
i am portuguese and i say and i say heavy again is the best music in the world germany is up there with great bands
@blacksunlori
I am Hungarian, Transylvanian blood, respect, I love this band!
@peterdemeter553
@@blacksunloriÜdv.! Én is szeretem őket!És már elég régóta...(Irreligious)
@tonalnagual5630
As a Brazilian it gives me goosebumps when they sing in Portuguese my mother tongue, great band. Respect to Portugal! Abraços aos irmãos Headbangers portugueses viva o Metal.
@powerofthought2294
É a língua, irmão. A nossa língua transporta qualquer coisa transcendental que talvez o futuro nos venha a mostrar!
@user-en8vb9th5v
E por que não escreveste em português se tão orgulhoso ficas?
@MrWhitet7
@@user-en8vb9th5v existe sempre um revoltado ao virar da esquina. Obrigado paraquedista.