Virgin Black

Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic-doom and symphonic metal influences. The group has released three full-length albums, with another two due for release in 2007. While members of Virgin Black have Christan beliefs, the band has often sought to explain that its music is an exploration of spirituality and attempts to highlight the difference between the Church and the spiritual aspects of Christianity. The group explains the meaning of its name as "the juxtaposition of purity and humanity's darkness".

Virgin Black was originally formed in Adelaid by guitarist Samantha Escarbe, vocalist and keyboards-player Rowan London.
In 1995, Virgin Black recorded a four-track self-titled demo in a doom/death style. Due to the rarity and demand for this recording, the band has speculated that it may be re-release at some point. Their "Trace" EP was released in 1998. This EP was later included as part of a special limited edition (U.S. only) with the band's debut album, "Sombre Romantic".
The group began recording their first full-length album Sombre Romantic in 1999. The album displays an expansively symphonic style with London contributing a diverse vocal style from shrieks and growls to soaring melodies and choral chants. On the strength of this self-released debut, Virgin Black signed to Germanys Massacre Records for Europe and also to the US label The End. Both labels then released Sombre Romantic in their territories.

After completing their second album during 2002, Virgin Black played at Germany's Wave Gotik-Treffen festival in 2003 and did a tour through the US west coast with Agalloch and Antimatter before returning to Australia and conducting a national tour. Ellegant...and dying featured Escarbe contributing cello and guest musician Sonia Wilkie playing flute. It was released in November and a month later the band appeared at the Metal For The Brain festival in Canberra. Early the following year, Virgin Black toured alongside Opeth in Australia, and later did a tour of the Australian east coast capitals with Sydney Black Metal ban Nazxul before making a start on their next recordings.

Virgin Black's next project began with London and Escarbe composing a series of scores for what was to become the three-volume Requiem set. On 1o March 2006, The End Records issued a press release explaining the upcoming releases. The first part of the trilogy, Requiem - Pianissimo, is a strictly classically-oriented album featuring the Adelaid Symphony Orchestra, choral singing, and solo singers. Requim - Mezzo Forte features music similar to the band's previous releases with the last part Requiem - Fortissimo primarily having a death/doom metal sound. The albums were recorded primarily as the duo of London and Escarbe over the course of almost two years, during which Rowan London suffered the death of his father. Originally designed to be released simultaneously in 2006, on 23 July, The Labels announced that the albums would instead be released during 2007 in a staggered time scale. The second part of the trilogy, Requiem - Mezzo Forte was issued first, on 3 April, 2007. With a new line-up of Escarbe, London, Grayh on bass and drummer Luke Faz. Virgin Black played some Australian shows with Arcturus in March and headlined the Elements of Rock Festival in Switzerland in April. Mark Kelson of The Eternal joined them as guest-guitarist for these live performances.
Virgin Black announced a US tour for June and July 2007, and played shows on the east and west coast of the U.S. with To/Die/For and headlined shows in Mexico City, Monterrey, and Guadalajara.

DISCOGRAPHY :

Virgin Black

• Released: 1995


• Format: demo

Trance

• Released: 1998


• Format: Studio Album (CD)

Sombre Romantic

• Released: 2000, 2001


• Format: Studio Album (CD)

Ellegant... And Dying

• Released: 2003


• Format: Studio Album (CD)

Requiem - Mezzo Forte

• Released: 2007


• Format: Studio Album (CD)