Virgin Black
Requiem - Mezzo Forte
Listen #1: I thought this was interesting; listen #2: I started feeling the power and rhythms; then, after listen #3: WOW! This CD is the second part of a trilogy, with part one described as almost entirely a classical music/orchestra sound, and part 3 is to be an all-out barrage of heaviness and death growls. Knowing this in advance helps to greatly understand and appreciate the transition found here, which is a collision of the two styles with a superb balance and mixture, starting very beautifully, and getting increasingly more mixed and ending with power and heaviness. Featuring beautiful orchestration, layered melodic singing, an amazing mix of powerful crunching guitar chords and plodding drums, this was truly a powerful experience. This journey sounds so much like the soundtrack to a movie; I could easily see this made into an opera. A listen through with the lyrics in hand helps to understand some of the wording. After that, turn it up in surround sound, sit back and close your eyes to experience an emotional musical journey like few others. If you only like your music loud and extreme, this may not be for you; but if you can appreciate the blend of styles (man, can I ever) then this is a blessing. I eagerly await the other two installments.
[The End] Jeff McCormak
This album review was originally published in the July/August Issue (#126) of HM Magazine. Order the Print Version to read tons more reviews. You can do this online or find this issue on newsstands. You can NOW read this entire feature in the current online edition of HM Magazine. Future digital issues can be purchased online for $1.99, and digital subscriptions will be only $6.
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