Virgin Black

Infobox musical artist |
Name = Virgin Black

---

Img_capt = Virgin Black at Elements of Rock in 2007
Img_size =
Landscape = Yes
Background = group_or_band
Origin = Adelaide, Australia
Genre = Symphonic metal
Gothic metal
Doom metal
Years_active = 1993 - present
Label = Massacre Records The End
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://www.virginblack.com Official Website]
Current_members = Rowan London
Samantha Escarbe
Grayh
Luke Faz
Past_members = Dino Cielo
Craig Edis
Ian Miller
Aaron Nicholls
Brad Bessel
Graham Billing
Mark Kelson (Tour Guitarist Only)

Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines gothic-doom and symphonic metal influences. Signed to The End Records (US) and Massacre Records (EU), the band has released 4 albums and 1 EP. Formed in 1993 in Adelaide, they have achieved international acclaim during their career, receiving praise from such magazines as "Orkus", "Metal Hammer" and "The Village Voice". [ Seward, Scott. [http://www.villagevoice.com/music/0339,seward,47228,22.html Dirging Down Under] . "The Village Voice". September 24-30 2003. retrieved on 2008-01-07]

Having changed their line-up several times, Virgin Black currently consists of the founding members and main songwriters Samantha Escarbe (guitar) and Rowan London (keyboard, vocals), with Grayh (bass) and Luke Faz (drums) joining in 2007. The group explains the meaning of its name as "the juxtaposition of purity and humanity's darkness".cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:g9frxq80ldte |title=Virgin Black |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author=Rivadavia, Ed |date= |work=Allmusic |publisher=]

Band history

Early days

Virgin Black was originally formed in Adelaide by guitarist Samantha Escarbe, and 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-released at some point.

Their "Trance" EP was released in 1998, and the group began gaining international recognition with that recording. This EP was later included as part of a special limited edition (U.S. only) with the band's debut album, "Sombre Romantic".

Record deal

The group began recording their first full-length album "Sombre Romantic" in 1999. The album displays an expansively cinematic, 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 Germany's Massacre Records for Europe and also to the US label The End. Both labels then released "Sombre Romantic" in their territories. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:abfpxql0ldfe |title=Virgin Black - Sombre Romantic |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author=Rivadavia, Ed |date= |work=Allmusic |publisher=]

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. "Elegant... 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 band Nazxul before making a start on their next recordings. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wxfqxqtald0e |title=Virgin Black - Elegant... and Dying |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author=Rivadavia, Ed |date= |work=Allmusic |publisher=]

"Requiem" trilogy

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 10 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 Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, choral singing, and solo singers. "Requiem - 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. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:fpfwxzu5ldhe |title=Virgin Black - Requiem - Mezzo Forte |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author=Rivadavia, Ed |date= |work=Allmusic |publisher=]

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.

The third part and the second installment in the "Requiem" trilogy, "Requiem - Fortissimo" was released in February 19, 2008 by The End Records. The Massacre Records release date remains unknown. [cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:w9frxzljldse |title=Virgin Black - Requiem - Fortissimo |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author=Rivadavia, Ed |date= |work=Allmusic |publisher=] Virgin Black will team up with Amorphis, Leaves' Eyes, and Samael for a North American tour this fall. [cite web |url= http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=93224 |title=Virgin Black Amorphis, Leaves' Eyes, and Samael: North American Tour Dates Announced - Mar. 19, 2008 |accessdate=2008-03-25 |author= |date= |work=Blabbermouth.net |publisher=Roadrunner Records]

tyle

In its music, Virgin Black combines elements of doom metal and classical music, and in its image, the band uses gothic aesthetics, which led a critic to describe their style as having influences of "dark wave with gothic atmosphere" [ [http://imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=1383 Imperiumi.net ] ] and "symphonic gothic-doom". [ [http://www.imperiumi.net/alb_2.php?id=6292 Imperiumi.net ] ] Rooted in Death/Doom, Virgin Black states their influences the British group My Dying Bride, the American gothic metal band Saviour Machine and 19th century classical music. "Sombre Romantic" features operatic elements combined with some doom and black metal influences, representing shrieking vocals, death growls and melodramatic tenor and baritone singing as well as choirs. Their sound is typically sorrowful representing mostly down-tempo arrangements. Occasionally the lead guitarist Samantha Escarbe plays a faster tremolo riffs typical for extreme metal, such as on "Drink the Midnight Hymn" from the debut album. Sometimes there are longer, mellow and emotional guitar solos such as on "Weep for Me". Certain songs such as "Walk without Limbs", combines ominous cello with programmed drums typical for Dark Wave music.

Virgin Black's lyrics are typically introspective, melodramatic and poetic, featuring gothic horror take on usually faith-based subjects. While members of Virgin Black have Christian 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 [ [http://www.virginblack.com/interview.html#violentsolutions Violent Solutions Magazine interview with Rowan London from the band's official website] ] . In response to a question on the "religious atmosphere" in their music, Rowan London responded: "We write our music and lyrics from a personal perspective, hence they do have a particular moral and meaning but we also encourage people to shape it to fit their specific situation. "Museum Of Iscariot" for example was written from a spiritual view point and is describing the struggle to step beyond the limitations that we all seem to put on ourselves. However, even though its written within a spiritual context it can also be applied to many different aspects of life. Its important to understand that we're not trying to act as if we know everything about life, it would just be great to see more people considering things other than purely the material world." [ [http://www.metalperspective.com/interviews/virgin_black_interview.php Metal Perspective interview with Rowan London] ]

Discography

Infobox Discography
Type = EP
Name = Virgin Black
Released = 1995
Label =
Producer =
Format = demo
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks = "Veil of Tears", "Black Corsage", "Mother of Cripples", "Anthem"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = EP
Name = Trance
Released = 1998
Label =
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks = "Opera de Trance", "A Saint is Weeping", "Whispers of Dead Sisters"
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Sombre Romantic
Released = 2000, 2001
Label = Massacre (Germany), The End (United States)
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Elegant... and Dying
Released = 2003
Label = Massacre (Germany), The End (United States)
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Requiem - Mezzo Forte
Released = 2007
Label = Massacre (Germany), The End (United States)
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

Infobox Discography
Type = studio
Name = Requiem – Fortissimo
Released = 2008
Label = Massacre (Germany), The End (United States)
Producer =
Format = CD
Chart position=
Certification =
Sales =
Singles =
from Album =
Writer =
Tracks =
Other info =

References

External links

Official websites

* [http://www.virginblack.com/ The Official Virgin Black website]
* [http://www.theendrecords.com/label/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32&Itemid=38 Official The End Records band page]
* [http://www.myspace.com/virginblackofficial Official MySpace page]

Virgin Black at online databases

*musicbrainz artist|id=c5809c0d-785e-414f-9f18-e6402420e4c7|name=Virgin Black
*last.fm|Virgin+Black|Virgin Black
*discogs artist|artist=Virgin+Black|name=Virgin Black