Virgin Black
Requiem - Mezzo Forte
The End


Several months ago, a friend commented, after following my reviews in this very publication, that I seemed to be very jaded with today's metal bands. And admittedly, having been a fan of this often-evolving genre of music for almost two decades now, this is probably very true to the mark. But then, along comes an album like 'Requiem - Mezzo Forte' that offers me that small glimmer of hope. 'Requiem...' is in fact an album that once again proves that Virgin Black are not only one of our local scene's best musical collaborations, but in fact, one of Australia's.

Core members, tenor vocalist Rowan London and guitarist Samantha Escarbe, have returned with their third magnificent opus, along with a new bassist, added soprano Susan Johnson, and - lets not fail to mention - the backing of Adelaide's very own Symphony Orchestra.

A requiem is of course a mass held to offer prayers for somebody who has died and 'Requiem - Mezzo Forte' clearly sums this musical odyssey up in all its haunting and magnificent grandeur, from the sombre opening of Requiem Kyrie to the crushing, morose, Midnight's Hymn. This is music that Anathema and My Dying Bride should have continued making today. Oh, and that beautiful melancholy riff of Esarbe's that comes walloping in at the 2:20 minute mark of Domine is definitely worth the price of this album alone.

There are probably not enough positive adjectives in the English language to describe Virgin Black and the music that they create so I will finish of by saying 'Requiem - Meza Forte' is simply put, quite smashing.

Mark Grimshaw