Much like buses, Moonspell livestreams also must come in twos as the masters of gothic metal are treating us to a brace of long-awaited shows filmed in front of 300 socially distanced but still ravenous fans. Night one is a most welcome run-through of the groundbreaking Irreligious, which celebrates its 25th anniversary; the second evening focuses on their most recent record, Hermitage, and serves as a welcome reminder that the veterans have plenty of tricks left up their sleeves. Before the shows, frontman Fernando Ribeiro confessed that “It has been challenging to keep the band together and the fans motivated” in the wake of the pandemic, but if there were any onstage jitters from them, you’d never know as their performances are full of power and poise – not least during A Poisoned Gift and Raven Claws. Their singer, in particular, relishes being back in front of an audience and he works the fired-up crowd in their home country’s capital of Lisbon with ease. Both a celebration of their past and present, each of Moonspell’s sets is magical in its own right, but watching them tear through new cuts like Entitlement for the very first time is a particular treat.
EDWIN MCFEE