When released, 'Wolfheart' was eulogized in many reviews. I got it and it was something very different I'd heard to that day. 'Wolfheart' blew like a fresh wind through metal music scene. After seven years, it has been imitated by many, but as usual, results have been just pale imitations at their best.

'Wolfheart' was a new step for Moonspell, as it is their first full length album. Moonspell mix dark metal with folk and gothic music and some heavy metal influences. 'Wolfheart' has a pioneering spirit, or should I say a spirit of progression. Moonspell managed to fit romantic horror nicely with the music. At its heart, 'Wolfheart' is like a better Hammer Films production (e.g. 'Horror of Dracula' (1958) or 'Vampire Circus from 1971). It has same kind of feeling. Those movies have very individual use of colors and I kind of hear those tones in this music. Go figure that! Moonspell uses ethnic influences very well and it can be heard most clearly on 'Trebraruna', which has Portuguese lyrics. Nice one!

The songs were never composed in that hit mould, as the band started to do with 'Sin / Pecado' (1998). Every track here is different to each other and some of the longer songs are varying, but everything came from same source. The music isn't very heavy by nowadays standards, but it is that feeling which works as it should. The music ranges from fragile (e.g. 'An Erotic Alchemy') to heavy outlet (absolutely great 'Alma Mater'). Instruments sound very organic, expect synths. The synths are mostly well utilized, rising atmosphere, but sometimes they sound more toyish and might even lower the feeling (just listen to 'An Erotic Alchemy'). They have some horror movie sountrack influences, surely. The production isn't polished, and it works that way. It makes 'Wolfheart' feel like it comes from guys' souls, the factor way more important than high quality sound.

Most of the lyrics are in English (maybe about 90%) and the rest are in the band's native tongue, offering nice variety. Fernando "Langsuyar" Ribeiro's pronuncing isn't good, but it adds another dimension into the uniqueness of the band. It might be a bit hard to internalize at first, though. Both clean and growled vocals can be heard. Female vocals are sung by Birgit Zacher (of Century Media fame with Sentenced, Tiamat etc.). Sometimes, male vocals are badly overacted, like on 'Vampiria'. It just sounds too funny and breaks the momentum. But growled vocls are great, and more venomous screams really rule.

Stylish cover artwork lifts the atmosphere even more, so 'Wolfheart' was a huge step into a right direction from earlier works of the band. It remains my favourite Moonspell album, together with next one, 'Irreligious' (1996). And there can't be much a better closer that 'Alma Mater' is! Wow!!!

Rating: 9- (out of 10) ratings explained

Reviewed by Lane
09/01/2002 13:48