Moonspell Family Tree
This is a project aimed at making it easy to see who inspired the bands you love or even hate. For this I try not to use any influences that the band don’t claim themselves. There will be a focus on predecessors but successors will be added as they site the band. These trees become more and more interactive as new bands are added, allowing you to click any band that has a tree and jump to it.
We want our lists to be better. If you know something that belongs on this list, let us know. When in doubt we will leave it out, so we need reliable sources.
Moonspell at the core are a Gothic Metal band. Over the years they have played with elements of Doom Symphonic, Melodic Death, Black and Goth Rock with the Gothic elements remaining a core feature of the band. The lineup has been fairly constant with only a few changes with early guitar players and a few bass players over the years. The core lineup has been vocalist Fernando Ribeiro (Langsuyar), guitarist Ricardo Amorim (Morning Blade), drummer Miguel Gaspar (Mike/Nisroth), and keyboardist Pedro Paixão (Passionis/Neophytus). Most recently there has a been a change in drummers. Early guitar players appearing on the first album were João Pereira and Duarte Picoto. On bass there has been João Pedro Escoval (Tetragrammaton/Ares), João Pereira (J.M. Tanngrisnir), and since 2003, Aires Pereira (Ahriman). Guitarist Luís Lamelas (Malah/Fenrir) only appeared on some early demos. Newest drummer Hugo Ribeiro has yet to appear on any albums.
Leonard Cohen
Nick Cave
Fernando says he was influenced by 70’s and 80’s metal without naming bands. He says he liked a mix of metal and gothic and would see bands like Testament and others like Dead Can Dance.
Fernando mentions liking black metal bands like Immortal and Darkthrone because of their resemblance to Bathory. He also mentions liking Emperor and Marduke as well as Possessed.
Fernando named some non typical bands he liked; 16 Horsepower, and Bohren & der Club of Gore
When it come to lyrics and poetry, Fernando names Michael Gira has his favorite. He also names Johan Edlund from Tiamat, Dani Filth (Cradle of Filth), Aaron from My Dying Bride, Leonard Cohen, Nick Cave, and Jim Morrison.
In an interview with Metal-Rules.com Fernando names an artist as being a favorite but I believe the writer misunderstood what he said. He writes “Gaping Friday(?)”. I have no idea what he might have said and the interview is likely a transcriptions of and audio interview that is not available.
Guitarists João and Duarte were on the first album. I’m unsure of their influences.
Ricardo has been on guitar since 1995. I haven’t been able to find him discussing influences.
Bassist Sérgio Crestana was on several albums and had a big hand in writing on The Butterfly Effect.
Bassist Aires Pereira has been part of the band and writing process for since Alpha Noir. I’m unsure of his influences.
Several members have mentioned some Middle-Eastern inspired elements in the band’s music.
Miguel has stated his early influences were old death and black metal, but he didn’t name specific bands.
Pedro said most of his influence come from more gothic stuff rather than metal.
Bands influenced by Moonspell!
As this project advances, bands will be added here…
Sources:
https://crypticrock.com/interview-fernando-ribeiro-of-moonspell/#:~:text=It's%20something%20that%20evolved%20with,Nick%20Cave%2C%20and%20Leonard%20Cohen.
https://rocknrolljournalist.com/2017/10/the-top-10-albums-of-fernando-ribeiro-moonspell.html
http://musicandriots.com/our-interview-with-fernando-ribeiro-of-moonspell/
https://aslongasitsblack.com/2019/11/06/of-dream-and-drama-and-poetry-the-writings-of-moonspells-fernando-ribeiro/
https://www.metal-rules.com/2005/08/24/moonspell-vocalist-fernando-ribeiro/
http://www.metalforcesmagazine.com/site/feature-moonspell-08-18/
https://metalnation.com/moonspell-interview-the-philosophy-of-hermitage/
https://www.moshville.co.uk/interview/2016/04/interview-miguel-mike-gaspar-from-moonspell/
http://www.therockpit.net/2012-Articles-Interviews/Interview-Moonspell-Miguel-Gaspar-May-2012.php
https://search.blabbermouth.net/news/moonspell-drummer-says-his-band-helped-create-goth-metal-with-1996s-irreligious-album/
https://www.metal-rules.com/interviews/Moonspell_MikeGaspar.htm
https://www.metal-rules.com/2015/04/18/moonspell-interview-with-pedro-paixao/