Episode 42 of the MetalCast show podcast features a 49-minute audio interview with drummer Miguel "Mike" Gaspar of the Portuguese metal band MOONSPELL. Mike talks about the recording of the group's new album, music and politics, extremism in metal, MOONSPELL history and many other interesting subjects. He also gives a "mini interview in Portuguese after the English version. Episode 42 also features songs from the newest releases of SIGH, PARADISE LOST, MOONSPELL, AMORPHIS, PRIMORDIAL, THERION and more.

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MOONSPELL is currently in pre-production with Waldemar Sorychta (GRIP INC., LACUNA COIL, TIAMAT) for the follow-up to the acclaimed 2006 effort "Memorial". The band is scheduled to enter Antfarm studios in Denmark in January 2008 with producer Tue Madsen (THE HAUNTED, DARK TRANQUILLITY, HALFORD) to begin recording the CD for a tentative late spring/early summer release via SPV.

In a recent interview with MetalIsrael.com, vocalist Fernando Ribiero stated about the group's new material, "it is indeed sounding powerful and soulful and it'll be a great follow-up to 'Memorial'. Both natures of MOONSPELL the more melodic and progressive and the more brutal and dark are even better balanced this time."

MOONSPELL's last release was the "Under SatanÆ" CD, which consisted of re-recordings of the band's legendary EP "Under the Moonspell" (1994) as well as their first demo "Anno SatanÆ" and their sole track as MORBID GOD, "Serpent Angel". All songs were re-arranged and revamped in order to "underline their revered distinction as underground classics but now with a mature dark energy and class," according to a press release. The CD was recorded at Antfarm with Tue Madsen and charted in the band's home country, where the group played the album in its entirety at a one-off show at the Lisbon Coliseum in front of 3,500 fans.

In other news, MOONSPELL singer Fernando Ribeiro has just finished translating "I am Legend" by Richard Matheson into Portuguese. The major motion picture adaptation starring Will Smith is coming out on December 14 (two weeks later in Portugal) and the book will be released the same month.

Watch fan-filmed video footage of MOONSPELL performing live at this year's Wacken Open Air festival in Wacken, Germany: