Portuguese gothic metal institution MOONSPELL have released their 13th studio album, "Far From God," via Napalm Records, and early reviews are hailing it as one of the strongest records of the band's four-decade career.
The album earned a 9/10 score, with critics calling it "the most MOONSPELL that MOONSPELL have ever been" and praising its eight tracks as "meticulously crafted gothic rock compositions with intermittent metal elements" that explore darkness "with remarkable finesse." The review singles out opening track "Cross Your Heart" as "absolutely exquisite," built on a post-punk foundation and elevated by atmospheric production and an immediately memorable guitar melody.
The tracklist runs: "Cross Your Heart," "Far From God," "Biblical," "The Great Wolf In The Sky," "Your Promise Of Light," "For The Love Of Mortals," "Our Freedom To Fall," and "Reconquista." The record stands, per the review, as "one of their most significant statements and, perhaps, the truest expression of their creative essence yet" — high praise for a band that has spent more than 30 years shaping the sound of gothic and doom metal out of Portugal.
Formed in 1992, MOONSPELL have built a reputation for restlessly reinventing themselves across records like "Wolfheart," "Irreligious," and "Extinct," while never losing the gothic core that made them one of Southern Europe's most influential metal exports. "Far From God" reportedly leans further into atmosphere and melody without sacrificing the band's heavier instincts, striking a balance longtime fans have praised in early reactions.
With critics already comparing the release favorably to the band's classic-era output, "Far From God" looks set to rank among 2026's most acclaimed metal albums. MOONSPELL are expected to tour behind the record, with further dates likely to be announced in the coming months following the album's arrival on shelves and streaming platforms this week.