 Virgin Black is an Australian doom metal band that was formed in 1993
by Samantha Escarbe (guitars) and Rowan London (keyboards and vocals). The band
first came to my attention with their seamless melding of classical and doom
metal styles on their superb Elegant… and Dying album but it was only earlier
this year that I stumbled upon the first release of their planned Requiem
trilogy.
The trilogy is made up of Requiem: Pianissimo, Requiem: Mezzo Forte
and Requiem: Fortissimo in that order. However, Requiem: Mezzo Forte was the
first album to be released in 2007 with Fortissimo coming out earlier this year
and Pianissimo set for release later this year. All three albums were written
and recorded together and the staggered release date is the work of the record
company.
Requiem: Mezzo Forte, the first album to be released in the trilogy,
is pretty much in the same vein that the band has come to be known for. The duo
of Escarbe and London continue to mix symphonic elements in their gothic doom
sound.
The album opens with the majestic Requiem, Kyrie and the choirs,
female vocals and superb melody lines pretty much ensured that this was going
to be a bit special even for Virgin Black’s admittedly high standards. The
consistency in songwriting is maintained right through the album. Again, a song
by song review is pointless for this kind of album because I think the songs
need to be heard from start to finish and preferably on a really good setup.
Like their best work up to this point, it’s the dynamics between the
softer classical influenced pieces and the soaring epic sounding heavy parts
that make Virgin Black so special. Case in point is the superb In Death with
its soft, brooding opening before it goes off into this heavy section that
retains all of the melancholy while attaining a truly epic and majestic feel.
I struggle to describe this music properly. I could call it symphonic
gothic doom but it’s not exactly early Lacrimus Profundere or early Theatre of
Tragedy. It’s a lot better than anything My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost have
done in years. It’s bombastic, epic, completely over the top and at times
sounds like a film soundtrack but all of this is achieved without once losing
out on the crushing melancholy that is the hallmark of the best doom metal.
Samantha Escarbe and Rowan London are terrific composers and these
songs just flow seamlessly till you’re done with the album. While the duo's
knowledge of classical music certainly comes to the fore on this recording,
it's their superb sense of gothic romanticism mixed with the occasionally heavy
dirge like riffing that takes Requiem: Mezzo Forte to a whole new level for the
band.
Requiem: Mezzo Forte is a stunning album and essential listening even
if you only have the slightest interest in doom metal.
Label - the End Records
Year of Release - 2007
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