For those looking for some goth mixed with touches of black metal you can’t go wrong with Portugal’s Moonspell. 20years after the release of the “Under The Moonspell” E.P. in 1994, Moonspell release album number ten. Composition wise, album opener ‘Breathe’ utilizes some interesting arrangement ideas; beginning with a Stratovarius-like keyboard and a deep melodic Peter Steel (Type O Negative) vocal, then quickly launching into this blast of aggression before coming back down again to the initial melody. The structure alternates back and forth within this idea for the entire song. A progish use of creativity with peaks and valleys.

Title track incorporates those trademark dark riffs, a swirling keyboard, tribal drums, melodies, rough then melodic vocals for the chorus with accompanying orchestrations. ‘Medusalem’ is more straight forward in arrangement and holds off on the heavy vocal, uses complimenting keyboards for a goth metal chorus. Also has a great guitar and keyboard solo. Reminds me of a song from the band Poisonblack. ‘The Last of Us’ also follows a similar format. Acoustic guitar and keyboard establish a strong rhythmic melody for ‘Domina’. ‘Funeral Bloom’ kicks up the delivery a notch but still maintains a gothy sensibility given that keyboard. Keyboard and orchestrations sets a tone for ‘A Dying Breed’ behind the modern rock guitar, and again, adds a different texture to the ‘The Future Is Dark’ giving it at times an 80s feel. A grand ballroom sounding piano and horns add perfect ominous atmosphere to the goat headed deity ‘La Baphomette’.

Moonspell looking to make my Top 10 Albums for 2015.