After the overwhelming success of “Wolfheart” the expectations of the press and the fans for the new MOONSPELL album could not have been greater. When “Irreligious” was released back in 1996, it probably left the whole metal scene awestruck. The black metal feeling of “Wolfheart” was more or less completely gone. Instead of taking the next logical step towards brutality and grimness, MOONSPELL took a turn to the side and offered eleven songs of beautiful melodies, bewitching lyrics and inner darkness. Be it “Opium”, Raven Claws”, Mephisto” or the monolithic ending track “Full Moon Madness”, every single song on “Irreligious” was and still is a proof of why MOONSPELL achieved massive success with this album. Just as the re-issue of “Wolfheart”, also “Irreligious” comes with ten previously unheard live tracks, recorded on the “Irreligious” tour back in 1996/1997. All tracks have been digitally re-mastered.
