After the release of a self-titled demo album in 1996, the group began gaining international recognition with 1998's "Trance" EP, signing with the End Records a year later.
Boasting a complex cinematic sound both gothic and metallic in nature, their debut album "Sombre Romantic" followed in 2000 and saw their core lineup augmented by choirs and string sections in the studio, the better to embellish their grandiose mood metal.
The second album "Elegant...and Dying" (2003) has a sad, epic but romantic sound. The extremely emotional arrangements are further enhanced by Rowan London's unique mournful yet poetic singing style. The songs are presented with numerous angles and at times coming out as soundtrack scores, at others as classical compositions or even as subtle weeping lullabies that make the music as dynamic as it is dark and passionate.
On March 10, 2006, The End Records announced in a press release that Virgin Black would be releasing three albums. The trio of albums is collectively titled "Requiem". First, "Requiem - Pianissimo", a strictly classically-oriented album featuring instrumentation from the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, choral singing, and solo singers. Second, "Requiem - Mezzo Forte", built on the styles Virgin Black used in their previous albums, with the band and the orchestra complimenting one anothers' sound and given roughly equal prominence. Lastly, "Requiem - Fortissimo", also featuring a classical influence, but primarily having a death doom metal sound heavier than anything Virgin Black had ever played before.
The centerpiece album, "Requiem - Mezzo Forte", was released in May 2007, coinciding with a show at the Elements of Rock festival in Switzerland followed by "Requiem - Fortissimo" in February 2008. The last in the series, "Requiem - Pianissimo" was released in November 2018.
Official webpages:
http://www.myspace.com/virginblackofficial
http://www.facebook.com/virginblackofficial
...And I Am Suffering
Virgin Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My cries fill the air, my cries fill the air
The fangs of suffering tear at my bosom
And refuse to release their hold
When will my sorrow begin to pale
When will my sorrow begin to pale
Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine
When will my sorrows begin to pale
I have been struck and I am suffering
When will my sorrow begin to pale
The song "...And I Am Suffering" by Virgin Black is a bleak and melancholic work of art that delves into the depth of human suffering. The lyrics are gut-wrenching and visceral, painting a picture of a despairing soul crying out to God in the midst of intense pain and sorrow. The first line, "My God be upheld in our distress," is a plea for divine intervention, a cry for help in the midst of unbearable suffering. The repetition of "my cries fill the air" underscores the overwhelming nature of the singer's agony, while "the fangs of suffering tear at my bosom/And refuse to release their hold" paints a vivid picture of the singer's physical and emotional pain.
The line "When will my sorrow begin to pale" is a desperate cry for release, an attempt to find a glimmer of hope in the midst of the darkness. And yet, the repetition of the line also underscores the agonizing sense of helplessness that comes with deep and persistent suffering. The Latin phrase "Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine" translates to "Let perpetual light shine on them, O Lord," and it serves as a reminder of the singer's ultimate fate: death. The final lines, "I have been struck and I am suffering/When will my sorrow begin to pale," show that even though the singer is still in the grip of agony, there is a sense of resignation to the inevitable end.
Line by Line Meaning
My God be upheld in our distress
In this time of turmoil and pain, I pray that my God will remain strong and present.
My cries fill the air, my cries fill the air
I cannot contain my pain and anguish, and my cries echo out into the world.
The fangs of suffering tear at my bosom
The intense agony I am experiencing feels as though it is physically tearing at my heart.
And refuse to release their hold
Despite my attempts to rid myself of this suffering, its grip on me remains unyielding.
When will my sorrow begin to pale
I long for the day when the intensity of my grief and sorrow will lessen.
When will my sorrow begin to pale
My sorrow is so overwhelming that I repeat this desperate question.
Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine
May eternal light shine upon us, O Lord.
When will my sorrows begin to pale
Once again, I express my longing for relief from this unrelenting pain.
My cries fill the air
Once again, the depths of my distress spill forth in uncontrollable cries.
I have been struck and I am suffering
I have endured a painful blow and am now enduring the repercussions.
When will my sorrow begin to pale
For the final time, I express my yearning for my sorrow to lessen.
Contributed by Kennedy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@OpethFan444
Saw these guys open for Opeth in sydney.. they were so freaking good.. the singers voice is amazing. i mean he can hit the high notes and then awesome growls... the crowd werent much into it.. (most of them slayer fans) but they got a fan out of me :)keep up the good work..
@DeathAndMajesty
Saw this band with Amorphis saturday not knowing anything of them. It was much heavier than their album versions. ALL of the true metal fans applauded and cheered. This band was truly epic.
@rick_fortune
Not often I am floored by a piece of music but this is stunningly beautiful...
@thankGodforDavidG
definitely great guitar riffs by Samantha Escarbe, the soprano voice of Susan Johnson. Truly a class performance !
@FidaMohammadMelancholia
I only find my shelter in the place where this music comes from... like I was made of it.. I can't express how much I'm thankful for composing this! thnx really
@adamclark52
I just saw these guys open for Amorphis last Saturday. At first I thought they weren't going to be very good, but I think everyone in the crowds jaw literally dropped during their first song (Domine). Really impressive.
@JhonyUrielOficial
Essa música faz bem à minha alma.
@Wilkins777
This song gets me every time!
@BLACKSABBATH930
masterpiece
@__Dimos__
Such a hypnotizing beauty in this song, and yet so much emotion-awakening..... I fell I'm crying deep down inside, but no tears ever fall.Just can't.. Trust me...being able to cry is a gift. And I've lost it.. Bleeding inside, but no scars can be ever seen....