Moonspell see “The Greater Good” in new video; reveal ‘Hermitage’ album details

photo credit: Rui Vasco

Moonspell have announced their new full-length studio effort, Hermitage, will be released on February 26th, 2021, via Napalm Records. Based on our conversation with frontman Fernando Ribeiro, the group kept their promise and released a new song before 2020 comes to an end. Today (19th), these Portuguese dark metal giants have unveiled a video for the

new track “The Greater Good.” The follow-up to 2017’s 1755 was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Paradise Lost, Primordial, Sólstafir, etc.) at the Orgone Studios in the UK. As expected, the upcoming record will take listeners on a dark journey, time through the darkest days of human existence as Ribeiro comments on the new song:

“’The Greater Good’ is a sociological concept implying the benefit of the public, of more people than oneself. To do which is better and more correct. Unfortunately, a lot of wrong-doing and pure evil actions were taken on behalf of this principle both by world leaders, and citizens. With a “screenplay” designed by myself, and put together by director Guilherme Henriques (Gaerea, Crippled Black Phoenix, Schammasch) ‘The Greater Good’ strikes at the deep contrast of our priorities as human beings. The plot evidentiated the daily clash between the problems we could never or never wanted to solve; and our “first world preoccupations”. The cult of the body versus the African famine; the killing of the innocent versus the second amendment; the beauty of monuments against the ugliness of violence. We are all responsible for the things we see here. For the greater good, for the greatest evil. It’s not a question of race, gender, class or education. It’s a question of conscience. It’s vital we renew our communities’ ties, our humanly behavior. Only we can save us from ourselves.”

Ribeiro continues to explain details on the forthcoming LP:

“We know that we are entering the final years of our career as musicians: the winter of our lifetime. We don’t care about people saying we’re still young at heart, or “leading” wolves in a pack. We are not! But we do care about how those around us feel about us, and this album is all about how we feel, our answers to your questions. Under these circumstances, we feel our musical stakes are higher than ever. For us, it’s not about likes or algorithms, reach, or opportunity of growth. We only care about the music. Music does come first on this album you will hold in your hands soon enough.

The record is about turning our backs to the conventions of modernity. We are currently convincing ourselves that it’s all about us, that we (humanity) are everything. That the world revolves around us. However, ipsi facto, we are nothing and nothing revolves around us. MOONSPELL’s goal, on these last turns around the Sun, is to write the best music we possibly can. To tell you a few stories with our lyrics, to be close to you in these times of distancing. We wish not to tease you or to influence you or to sell you our fish. We want to sit down with you at your table and feast together upon our notes and words. Like if we were close friends, like back in the time where music matters the most. In your bedroom listening to music, without having to post our smart remarks about it, inviting the hate in.

Hermitage is an open-hearted invitation to simplicity. To be humble. To be thankful. To serve you solace. Provide you comfort, entertainment. We sincerely hope this call reaches you. That you kindly accept what we offer. That you take our music with you to the place you must feel as yours. To your secret place, to your hermitage. Blessed be.”

Watch the clip below and pre-order the album here: