Band:	Virgin Black
Album:	Requiem - Fortissimo
Style:	Doom metal, Gothic metal
Release date:	February 2008

01. The Fragile Breath
02. In Winters Ash
03. Silent
04. God In Dust
05. Lacrimosa (Gather Me)
06. Darkness
07. Forever

Australia's Virgin Black is one underrated band. After flooring the Gothic competition by releasing one masterpiece after the other, the band undertook a full-year of recording with a complete symphonic orchestra that gave birth to three albums under the project name "Requiem". While the first part of the trilogy Requiem - Mezzo Forte was a breathtaking album in their characteristic style, Requiem - Fortissimo deals with the dark side of their music.

Definitely heavier than its predecessor, Requiem - Fortissimo is another landmark for Virgin Black. Singer and mastermind Rowan London left his clean vocals home on this one. Growling from the first second to the last, this might take listeners by surprise. But true to himself, Rowan showcases once more that he is one of the best singers out there, managing to bring emotion, melancholy, and variation to his growls. At times, it sounds like Satan is in the house and can become quite disturbing if you are unprepared for this kind of vocals. Plus Rowan's vocals are often coupled with disturbing background vocals, either male or female. If I had to rename this album, this one would be called "Land of the Dead". It's so dark, it feels like we are projected into a twilight world where the dead are talking to the living.

The orchestra plays a big part in this record, despite the "fortissimo" tag that might let you believe otherwise. Virgin Black's artistic approach to music impresses me. Using all the advantages of the orchestra while building melodic riffs with Samantha Escarbe's guitars, the songs are all testimonies of the band's know-how. Above all, Virgin Black retains its slow, languishing atmospheres that turn anything they touch to gold. If you need an example of an album that can be dark and heavy without shredding and blasting 90% of the time, this record is for you.

A few melodies from Requiem - Mezzo Forte reappear along the tracks with a culmination point on 'Darkness'. But it is not some patchwork re-use, far from it! The arrangements are more than tasteful and the whole album flows easily and leaves the listener astounded. Now, I have to underline the fact that listening to this is an intense experience, and some of you might not be drawn to such music. However, as far as symphonic as concerned, the meeting of Virgin Black and the Adelaide Symphonic Orchestra fashioned a reference point for any Metal band, and really, for any band.

Set to be release in February 2008, Requiem - Fortissimo is going to establish Virgin Black to yet another level, and they might attract more fans with this devilish, dark melodic opus. It is what music should sound like: dark, heavy, melodic, intriguing. Now, I am looking forward to Requiem - Pianissimo, yet to be released. But for now, this album is going to top my charts for a while.


Highlights: 'Darkness', 'Silent' and 'God in Dust'