Well the goth metal masters Moonspell are back with their 13th album marking nearly thirty years of gothic metal. The bands unique brand of heavy music has captured the imagination of countless fans for years, and this latest offering is simply building on that impressive legacy. These are songs that are full of the sorrow of our times but also that tie into classic tropes that made the band so special in the first place. Nevertheless, this is one of the most interesting and thoughtfully produced offerings from the band in a long time and it's a delight to really sink your teeth into it.
Hermitage impresses because of the breadth of the sound, as captured and mixed by the one and only Jamie Gomez Arellano at Orgone Studios in England. There is a tormented sense of vile humanity behind this record and dark, larger than life imagery that serves to make it a delightful offering. It's such a delight to sink your teeth into the meaty riffs and vivid imagery of tracks like 'Common Prayers'. The playing as a general rule is impressive with burly guitars counterbalancing big vocals both screamed and growled. This is one of Moonspell's most dynamic works to date and it shows, there is really just a lot to pick apart on this one.
Moonspell are, as always impressive and a delight to spend time with on Hermitage. It sees the band building on what always made them great and reminding us that goth metal still has a very meaningful place in the euro-metal canon. This is a thrilling offering that will keep devout fans coming back and probably even turn heads of a few people newer to the band. It's a fitting next step for these legends and Hermitage proves that these old dogs still have a bit of fight left in them and cool ideas to really last a lifetime.
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