MOONSPELL DARKNESS AND HOPE ALBUM CENTURY MEDIA RELEASE: SEPTEMBER 18, 2001 REVIEW: OCTOBER 16, 2001

First and foremost: "Darkness and Hope" is no "Sin/Pecado". If I have to place it somewhere on Moonspell's musical map, it would land closer to "Wolfheart", "Irreligous" and maybe "The Butterfly Effect". And that is kind of nice - if you are a die-hard, old school gothic metal-head. Part of me is, and I find "Darkness and Hope" to be a nice journey in to the dark metallic heart of these Portuguse.
I like "Firewalking", "Nocturna" and "Heartshaped Abyss" as much as the next song, but maybe I like "Os senhores da guerra" a little bit more. Mr Ribeiro sounds a tad bit more comfortable in his native tongue, than he does in English. And it's a shame it takes a song in Portugese to bring out the best in him, as there are eleven other tracks on the album, all in English. But that aside, Fernando Ribeiro is one of the best singers on the goth metal scene today.
Moonspell also could be one of the best, and not just first, goth metal bands. The problem is the reluctance to break new ground. "Sin/Pecado" was such an attempt, but as it didn't turn out well (in sales, I guess) Ribeiro and crew have turned to the safer, and a bit more boring, path. The industrial influences are at a minimum, but on an album where samplings are what lifts the music, that is a mistake.
And last: I know I'm not really supposed to review anything other than the music. But both you and I know that the artwork and finish of the album attracts almost as many buyers as a good review, and Moonspell surely has one of the most attractive covers and artwork around. Almost good enough to tip the scales to a better review too.

KALLE MALMSTEDT