Interview Moonspell: Fernando Ribeiro

Artiest: Moonspell

Geïnterviewde: Fernando Ribeiro

Interview afgenomen in: Muziekcentrum Trix

Label: Napalm Records

Moonspell trad op 11 november 2012 op in Muziekcentrum Trix. De review hiervan kan u hier lezen. Samen met onder andere PAIN trokken ze Europa door onder de tournaam Into Darkness. Zanger Fernando Ribeiro stond ons te woord.

How are you today? Glad to play in Belgium again?

Yes, we’re coming here since 1995 and we love it here. We did festivals like Graspop and a show in Liège and also many club shows here.

Since this is the first big tour for the new album Alpha Noir in Europe, many of my questions will concern the new album. How are the reactions from the fans on the new album?

We are getting very good reactions. With a new album, people expect something new and fresh, but also links with the past. That is exactly what Alpha Noir has. It’s new and heavy, but it’s also darker and more gothic. Moonspell has the two, we play extreme metal but we also like the whole dark, gothic thing which is definitely a part of Moonspell. Like first there was Wolfheart which was more heavy and afterwards Irrelegious which was totally different. Then again with Memorial, we went the hard way again, which was sort of our comeback album. So there are both new and old elements present, a real link with the past.

You are only talking about Alpha Noir, but there is also Omega White as a bonus disc. These two albums are 2 contrasts. Was this an intended choice?

It’s a combination of what Moonspell always did, we have both sides, metal and gothic. But it was too much to put it on one disc, so we made two.

Why release it as a double album and not as 2 separate ones? Because now Omega White is just sort of a bonus disc.

Yes, it only comes with the deluxe version of Alpha Noir, but fans would want to buy it. Those who are really a fan or those who are interested enough in us, would buy it.

Concerning the album cover, is there a meaning behind it?

It has two female figures which is the signature. I really like the concept of the cover, it represents evil and light but with the two girls you don’t know which is which one, who is evil, who is not or who is alpha, who is omega? They aren’t branded. There is quite an ambiguity, are they going to fight, are they going to embrace each other or kiss each other… I think that is quite the meaning of the album, look at your heart and behavior. I really like the artist, he’s very good. It reminds me a little bit of pictures, German art that I’ve seen, it gives you a lot you can wonder about.

How did you guys stumble upon Napalm Records? Alpha Noir was the first album released with this label.

Indeed, yes. With the labels, we started very early in 1995 with Century Media. We had a great time there because they are also with a lot of our favorite bands. So we felt like we belonged to a certain scene, in a way that we had the convenience to make music on a European level. Back then only a few labels could do that and Century Media was one of them.

When we signed Memorial for SPV, we had a comeback and it was a very cool move that we did it for SPV because Century Media wanted to re-sign us again, but they were not so active as other labels. And eventually SPV got bankrupt after Night Eternal, they had bad business with bigger bands, actually not for bands like us for example Kreator was doing very well. So we had to find a new label, but first we wrote the album, we went into the studio and then it was time to search for a new label. It became Napalm because of their enthusiasm. I appreciate that and they are very cool to the fans whereas bigger labels aren’t. I’m very happy with them, with what they’re doing, their ambition, it’s very complete. I think it’s the right label.

How is it to tour with Pain on this Into Darkness tour?

It’s great, we’re old friends with Peter. We played occasionally with PAIN. It’s a nice atmosphere because everybody knows each other. Even though I was a bit unfamiliar with the PAIN catalogue, I think it really fits because they are very diverse as well, but the whole package is ok. For us it’s sometimes annoying to be in a package, to play with very extreme bands. Some of them I really like, but then when we come up, we are a bit more gothic sometimes and that doesn’t always fit. But we are having a great time now, yeah.

This isn’t the first time you visit Belgium this year. Last time you played in Huy an exclusive Belgian album release show. What do you remember about this show?

I remember it was fucking hot inside that night! We do a lot of package tours, but sometimes the people just want to see a Moonspell show, with our own music and atmosphere. And you see that in the audience, they are very enthusiastic. But as a band we need to be able to handle all circumstances, small stage, big stages, … Like it happened once that we played with Metallica for 50.000 people and then we were playing in Istanbul at a high school party which was actually cancelled. I believe that when people want to see Moonspell in a more raw and purer form, they should go to a club. This club is perfect for that. But in Huy it was very sweaty!

On Wacken earlier this year, you guys played an acoustic set. Was this on request of the organization or your own choice?

It was an invitation from Wacken. We did this special tour in theaters in Portugal. There were people from Germany and I think the word got across and Wacken this year not only wanted to make the festival like usual, but also with exclusive shows. So we brought four cellists and a small choir. We didn’t know what to expect on a metal festival you know, but I think it went wonderful, people really liked it. But it was a risk for both Wacken and Moonspell. We got a lot of compliments and people really liked it. We can be extreme but also very melodic. But it was something we designed to play in theaters, old churches and small festivals.

You played mostly old songs but in a different way. Any plans of recording an album like that?

We have plans, yeah, but right now we are focusing on our Alpha Noir – Omega White. We have to concentrate on the touring and such. But it’s just a plan, we’ll probably make something special with it.

What are Moonspell’s next plans for the future?

Well, we’ve been on the road now. Then we go back to Portugal and back to Miami. We’re going to do the Barge to Hell cruise, really something I’m looking forward to. And obviously, as we are in the area, we’ll do a Latin-America tour, Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Mexico. And then next year we also have a North-American tour, the US, and then after that we’ll do a second leg of the European tour to countries where we haven’t been like South France, Spain, …

Any summer festivals?

Yeah, summer festivals… We will see, that’s already one year from now and a lot can happen.

One last question, could you describe Moonspell in 3 words?

3 words… Dark as fuck!

That’s a nice description. Thanks for this interview.