Wolfheart
Wolfheart draws much of its character from the combination of heavy riffs and a strongly gothic atmosphere. On this 1995 debut, Moonspell introduce dark keyboards, acoustic passages and different vocal styles without pushing the guitars into the background. The album is theatrical, sometimes very obviously so, but has enough substantial music to support that presentation.
Wolfshade (A Werewolf Masquerade) makes the possibilities clear immediately. Its quiet, threatening opening grows into a song with several strong guitar ideas. Changes of mood keep the extended structure interesting. Fernando Ribeiro moves between rough singing and a deep, measured voice. That contrast helps give the music its identity, even when the delivery is not equally controlled throughout.
Love Crimes brings the rhythm further forward. The guitars and double bass drums give the song force, while melody and keyboards preserve its dark character. The band do not need to keep increasing the speed to sound heavy. Rhythm and atmosphere contribute at least as much to the effect.
Folk influences give Wolfheart another individual feature. Lua D' Inverno provides a gentler break and shows that this album's world extends beyond black metal or gothic rock alone. That space works best beside the heavier songs. Some slower, strongly gothic passages lose a little tension, and the deep singing can occasionally sound forced.
Alma Mater puts the guitar firmly back at the centre. Its recognisable riff and fierce performance make a convincing conclusion to the original album. Wolfheart is therefore more than a collection of dark effects. Beneath its theatrical surface sits a band able to write strong riffs and bring different musical influences into a recognisable whole.
