Last year’s remake of their earliest work, ‘Under Satanae’, was a fine experiment from the hand of Portugal’s dark sons, Moonspell, but seen in the rear-view mirror, I would have preferred that they’d just gone straight onto the recording of the new material instead. There is SO much good quality music on this album!

The album encompasses all the wonderful dark elements of Moonspell that I have come to love over the years, and on ‘Night Eternal’, the brutality is perfectly mixed with the pop elements that Fernando and his cohorts master equally well.

From the sheer colossal bombast of Moon in Mercury to the airplay friendly tones of Scorpion Flower and Dreamless (Lucifer and Lilith), Moonspell move through the sounds of an experienced band who know how to put together captivating songs.

I’m crazy about the harmonies of the intro riff of Spring of Rage and the reminiscence of Full Moon Madness that can be heard in First Light. And there’s the elements of Fields of the Nephilim pastiche of Dreamless. And the Arabic touches of At Tragic Heights and First Light. And the ever-evading darkness that is Moonspell’s trademark.

There are many cool details to be found here, and I suggest you go out and have a listen for yourself. ‘Night Eternal’ ought to satisfy both new and old fans of the band.