Frankly, I lost all interest in Moonspell after Sin/Pecado; the dead horse called Memorial will not resurrect either the mighty Moonspell, nor rekindle my interest in the band.

Open minded as I am, Sin/Pecado was a futile, if not pathetic, attempt to break out of the Gothic metal stereotype the band had been affiliated with, and create a more accessible sound/style. But all in all, it was nothing but a dry, stale dish, leaving a bitter taste in the mouth after the palate had gotten used to the exquisite flavors left by the beautiful and unique Irreligious…

Since then, Moonspell has released another three full lengths, Memorial not included, and according to rumors it has tried to repent for its selling out, converting its mellowness and accessibility with power and heaviness. Or so they say…

I cannot attest to the above mentioned of course, Memorial being the first thing I've heard from these Portuguese since Sin/Pecado, but I do know, however, that Memorial is a mundane musical effort that lacks anything that made Moonspell a curiosity and a novelty in the realms of (Gothic) metal: gone are the folklore-oriented influences, semi-Eastern passages, the genuine Gothic atmosphere (black and white Bella Lugosi vampire B-movies' atmosphere and the like…), Fernando Ribeiro's deep, velvety, erotic bass-baritone that could melt any resistance still left in a woman and transform her into the queen of the damned between the sheets is nothing but a pale shed of what it once was, only four albums away into the past…

Memorial is a well crafted, melodic Goth/death metal with neither authentic Gothic dark vibes nor the death metal brutality and lunacy. It walks on safe ground (maybe too safe) lacks any experimentation or renewal and is – retrospectively judging – a major step backwards from any accomplishment done by this very talented band through its debut EP and first two full-lengths, which have been – and still are – a landmark in Gothic, folklore-inspired, dark metal.

Memorial is metal indeed: it is not yet another Sin/Pecado, it is in fact semi-heavy and quarter-dark, and comparing this with so much crap being released these days it outshines many, but if adventurous is what your music needs to be – seek elsewhere! (4/10)