If you had to hand an alien one record and say “this is gothic metal,” Irreligious would be the answer. Moonspell’s second full-length, originally released through Century Media in 1996, is one of those rare albums that didn’t just define a genre — it became the genre’s ideal form. Produced at Woodhouse Studios in Germany, Irreligious arrived as a seismic shift from the black metal fury of Wolfheart: here, Fernando Ribeiro and company fully embraced the darkened elegance of gothic rock, weaving it through heavy metal with a precision, atmosphere, and emotional gravity that no band has since replicated with such ease. From the sinister spoken-word intro of Perverse… Almost Religious through the hypnotic pulse of Opium, the ritual weight of Awake! (featuring a recording of Aleister Crowley reciting his own poem), the swooning menace of Mephisto and Herr Spiegelmann, to the monolithic closing anthem Full Moon Madness — every track earns its place, and every track has lasted. The album also marks the debut of guitarist Ricardo Amorim, who would go on to become the band’s primary songwriter. This Chilean limited edition digipack, released by Rawforce Productions in 2022, is the ideal regional format to own this masterpiece: 500 copies, original artwork, glossy booklet with full-colour cover sticker, manufactured in Chile.

Si hubiera que entregarle a un alienígena un solo disco y decirle “esto es gothic metal,” Irreligious sería la respuesta. El segundo álbum de estudio de Moonspell, originalmente publicado por Century Media en 1996, es uno de esos discos raros que no solo definieron un género — se convirtieron en la forma ideal de ese género. Grabado en Woodhouse Studios en Alemania, Irreligious llegó como un giro sísmico desde la furia black metal de Wolfheart: aquí Fernando Ribeiro y compañía abrazaron plenamente la elegancia oscura del gothic rock, entretejida con el heavy metal con una precisión, atmósfera y gravedad emocional que ninguna banda ha replicado con tal facilidad. Desde el intro de palabra hablada de Perverse… Almost Religious hasta el pulso hipnótico de Opium, el peso ritual de Awake! (con una grabación de Aleister Crowley recitando su propio poema), la menaza lánguida de Mephisto y Herr Spiegelmann, hasta el himno cierre monolítico Full Moon Madness — cada tema se gana su lugar y cada tema ha perdurado. El disco marca también el debut del guitarrista Ricardo Amorim, quien se convertiría en el compositor principal de la banda. Esta edición digipack chilena limitada, publicada por Rawforce Productions en 2022, es el formato regional ideal para tener esta obra maestra: 500 copias, artwork original, booklet lustroso con sticker de portada a todo color, fabricado en Chile.

1. Perverse… Almost Religious 01:07
2. Opium 02:46
3. Awake! 03:05
4. For a Taste of Eternity 03:51
5. Ruin & Misery 03:47
6. A Poisoned Gift 05:33
7. Subversion 02:42
8. Raven Claws 03:13
9. Mephisto 04:56
10. Herr Spiegelmann 04:33
11. Full Moon Madness 06:47