[avatar user=”Martin” size=”100″ align=”left” /]
You’re a beast, evil one.
I first discovered Moonspell way back in 1995 when I first heard “Vampiria” on a compilation album I believe (I don’t remember the name of the album now). For younger readers these were the days before the internet really took off and to discover bands I bought a lot of death and black metal compilations albums. Yep, it is hard now to imagine a world without YouTube now but there it was. I was then lucky enough to catch them on their very first tour supporting Morbid Angel and Immortal, the first date of that tour being in Glasgow. The last time I saw them was back on the Sin/Pecado tour, also in Glasgow, and I think that was the last time they played here (in 1997 or 1998). It’s been a long time coming but they’ve finally returned to Scotland supporting their last album, the incredible Extinct, and I definitely wasn’t going to miss this one.
First up tonight are Swiss band Soulline who describe themselves on their FaceBook page as “epic melodic death metal”. They’re not a band I’m familiar with but they were formed back in 2000 and have recently released their fourth album Welcome My Sun. I had no preconceptions about this band and when they first hit the stage, kicking off with “The Curse in Our Minds” from their We Curse, We Trust album, I have to admit I found myself quite enjoying their brand of metal. While they opened with a song from their second album all but two of their songs tonight came from their latest album Welcome My Sun.
While they’re not an overly technical band, the drumming is solid, the guitar solos aren’t going to keep Steve Vai up at night but fit in well with the songs, and the singer doesn’t have the greatest range in the world but despite this the end result works quite well. The band have some really great guitar riffs and the song-writing skills to produce some catchy memorable material. While there only around forty people in when they first start their set the venue continues to fill up while they are playing. I’m not sure if there were any fans of the band when they first came on, I didn’t see anyone singing along, but I’m sure they gained some tonight after their overall strong performance. If I had to be picky I’d say that I’d like to have heard some more variety in pace, as most of the material was generally mid-paced, the singing was slightly one dimensional and I would have liked to have heard some more variety there, and I’d like to have seen some more intricate drumming. Don’t get me wrong though if you’re going along to see Moonspell on this tour I’d recommend you go along early and catch these guys.
Set list:
- The Curse in Our Minds
- No Exception
- Welcome my Sun
- Still Mind
- Right Here Right Now
- Broken My Madness
- Anvils
- Rise Up
- Drunk
As darkness floods the venue, and smoke fills the stage, a cheer goes up and Moonspell hit the stage with “Breathe” from their latest album Extinct. Initially standing next to the speaker I had to move as the volume was ear splittingly loud right next to it. Moving into the centre just a few rows from the front and the volume no longer threatens to blow my ear drums, the sound is also better here. Right from the off the sound in the venue sounds great. While a lot of bands will play a token few tracks from their newest album, then play all the old classics, Moonspell instead play six out of fifteen tracks from the new album. They’re obviously very happy with it as are the crowd here in Glasgow who give each track a great reception. The rest of the set is made up mainly from the first two studio albums Wolfheart and Irreligious, both great albums.
The band have really gone all out in, not just playing the songs, but in creating a show, an experience, and an atmosphere. The drum kit is really something to behold with it’s rams skull in the centre and horns encompasing the kit (check out Lara Vischi’s photo gallery). The keyboard has been made up to look like a pipe organ, like something out of the Phantom of the Opera, and the vertical jets of smoke shooting columns of fog upwards towards the ceiling really add to the mood. Moonspell really are a band born to play in darkness and fog.
By the third song singer Fernando Ribeiro looks like he’s feeling the heat as sweat runs down his face. It may be March in Scotland, and freezing outside, but this small venue is packed and sweltering inside.
While the new album is great the highlights for me were probably the older tracks such as “Opium” and of course “Vampiria”. Fernando appears on stage wearing a cape for the latter song, a red light illuminating him from below and singing the intro with his arms stretched wide in a Hammer Horror pose that Christopher Lee would have been proud of. The girls in the crowd, and possibly some blokes I don’t know, perform the scream at the end of the song. Awesome track.
“I say it’s the last song for tonight and you guys are going to give me a tremendous boo, alright? This is the last song for tonight Glasgow Scotland”, the audience here oblige by booing, Fernando folds his arms looks around and announces “I was more impressed in Manchester with the boo” he jokes winding up the crowd which results in louder boos from Glasgow. The band launch into another one of their all time classics “Alma Mater” before leaving the stage for the encore. Quite a few hands punching the air for this one and the crowd sings along as Fernando also punches the air with his mic stand.
For the encore, during the guitar solo on “The Future is Dark”, we’re treated to a snow machine to stunning effect. I think the last time I saw a snow machine was at a Kamelot gig and it left me wondering why more bands don’t use it, at least I wondered up until the point where one of the stage hands ran on with a towel desperately trying to dry up the floor and guitar pedals. A great effect though.
The band finish up with the awesome “Full Moon Madness” and I hope it’s not another eighteen years before Moonspell visit these shores once again. Their set, a mix of aggression and more subdued Gothic moments, was amazing to watch. I would have liked to have seen them playing “Raven Claws” and “Scorpion Flower” (both of which need a female vocalist though) but I guess everyone here tonight had their favourites and it must be difficult to pick a set from such an extensive back catalogue. Great gig and a great night. Thank you Moonspell.
Set list:
- Breathe (Until We Are No More)
- Extinct
- Night Eternal
- Opium
- Awake
- Domina
- Last of Us
- Malignia
- Em nome do Medo
- Vampiria
- Ataegina
- Alma Mater
Encore:
- Everything Invaded
- The Future is Dark
- Full Moon Madness
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SoulLine: official | facebook | twitter | youtube
