Virgin Black

Virgin Black is one of those rare bands that not only attempt their own path in music, but succeed in producing something quite special. Sombre Romantic, their 2001 debut full-length following an EP entitled Trance two years prior, is a masterpiece, an emotive, expressive gothic doom album that relies not on bludgeoning riffs but subtle effects such as quiet piano interludes and the occasional Gregorian-styled vocal chant in order to convey melancholic and often haunting moods. At times the album feels more like a movie soundtrack than a simple collection of songs, with the band drifting from subdued vocal/guitar duets to aggressive riffing to quiet, moodier sections. They followed up that debut two years later with the very capable Elegant ... But Dying and then announced in 2007 that a trio of albums (one purely orchestral, one with band and orchestral, and one "normal" band release) would be released more or less simultaneously. Entitled Requiem - Pianissimo, Requiem - Mezzo Forte, and Requiem - Fortissimo, respectively, the first two did come out in 2007 and 2008, but the band broke up soon afterward, and only upon their reformation in 2018 did the third installment come out.

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Discography

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