- BAND -
MONS LVNÆ current's Line-Up:
- Célia Ramos: Voice;
- Hugo Gomes: Guitar and Programming;
- Fernando Marques: Guitar;
- Jorge Martins: Bass;
- João Monteiro: Drums.
During the summer of 1998, and by the hand of three friends, MONS LVNÆ
came to existence. From the three founder members (Cuca, Luis Tito and Hugo
Gomes) only the guitar player Hugo Gomes still remains at the current line-up of
the band. The name MONS LVNÆ (Latin for Mount of the Moon) was suggested a year
and a half later by the bass player Rodrigo Machado, who discovered the name in
a book that concerned Portuguese castles and History of
Portugal.
During the early years the sound of the band was more Melodic black
metal oriented, with fast guitar riffs, screaming voice, ambient keyboards and
blast beat drums (made using a sampler). But in 2001 with the entrance of the
female singer Catarina Gomes, the rythm of the band began to slow down,
following straight into the direction of Goth/Folk Metal, with the alternation
between male (Fernando Marques) and female (Catarina Gomes)
voice.
In 2002 the band releases their first Demo which was called “IMPERIVM
LVNÆ” (Empire of the Moon), through the hands of Catarina Gomes (Female Voice),
Fernando Marques (Male Voice, Bass Guitar and Programming), Luis Tito (Electric
Guitar) and Hugo Gomes (Electric Guitar and Programming). The production was at
charge of Hugo Gomes which recorded at home, and even though it was very
amateurish this Demo-CD was able to gather a small attention by the media and by
the public of Portuguese underground.
In June of 2004 with Ana Figueiredo on the Flute and Ares on the Bass
Guitar as a guest musician, MONS LVNÆ steps on stage by the very first time,
playing all the four songs that were meant to be recorded for their second
Demo-CD as well as some of “IMPERIVM LVNÆ”. On December of the same year, MONS
LVNÆ performed a concert in which the last song to be played had the
participation of Tiago Lopes on the Drums… for the very first time MONS LVNÆ was
counting with a human drummer and not with a sample machine.
In February of 2005, MONS LVNÆ releases their second Demo-CD which was
called “REVIDERE AD VITAM” (Return to Life). Again the production was in charge
of Hugo Gomes, and although it was far from being perfect it had a lot more
improvements concerning to it’s predecessor. This is the first audio recording
from MONS LVNÆ where the flute can be heard, and also the female voice as a
leading voice (no male voice was recorded). Although there was much hope and
expectation surrounding “REVIDERE AD VITAM”, the band’s work didn’t gather much
attention and had some harsh criticism, especially concerning the
voice.
On June of 2006, with Célia Ramos on the leading vocals and Gualter
Charrua on the bass guitar, MONS LVNÆ returns to the stage after a year and a
half of silence. Also by this time, the band was working out on a new
release.
On April of 2007, with Célia on Vocals, Ana on the Flute, Hugo and
Fernando on Guitars and Back Vocals, Gualter on Bass Guitar and Tiago on Drums,
“Seven Winds” (initially called “Kyrie”, but it was changed due to some
disagreement within band) was released. This work has the best production that
the band had so far, and with no doubt is the best work from MONS LVNÆ in all
musical levels. On “Seven Winds” three songs from the past were rerecorded, and
also five new songs were released. The band’s new work had a very positive
acceptance throughout the world and also in Portugal.
On July of 2007, MONS LVNÆ achieves the second place on “Vieira Rock
2007” music contest, which took place on the beautiful city of Vieira do Minho,
in the North of Portugal. It was kind of an historical achievement, since rarely
metal bands can achieve this kind position in a general music contest here in
Portugal. MONS LVNÆ is expected to return on Vieira do Minho in
2008.
After three years of silence, and when many thought the band was dead, MONS LVNÆ returned on stage at 13th July of 2012, for a farewell concert to bass player Kaj who now currently lives in his homeland Norway. Jorge Martins is now charged with the bass duties.
At the present days, the band is focused on the pre production of it's fourth release wich will be recorded, mixed and mastered in a professional studio, and also the band is rehearsing both older and newer songs to be
performed live in a near future.
MONS LVNÆ's Time Line:
*Fernando Marques replaced the bass for the guitar with the departure of Luís Tito.
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