Virgin Black

Virgin Black
Virgin Black at Elements of Rock in 2007
Background information
Origin	Adelaide, Australia
Genres	Gothic metal, Doom metal, Symphonic metal, Christian metal
Years active	1995–present
Labels	Massacre Records The End
Members	Rowan London Samantha Escarbe Dave Mason Matthew Enright
Past members	Grayh Luke Faz Dino Cielo Craig Edis Ian Miller Aaron Nicholls Brad Bessel Graham Billing

Virgin Black is an Australian band that combines Gothic metal, Doom metal and symphonic metal influences. Signed to The End Records (for the United States) and Germany's Massacre Records (for Europe), the band has released 4 albums and 1 EP. Formed in 1995 in Adelaide, they have achieved international acclaim during their career, receiving praise from such magazines as Orkus, Metal Hammer and The Village Voice.

Having changed their line-up several times, Virgin Black currently consists of the founding members and main songwriters: Samantha Escarbe (guitar) and Rowan London (keyboard, vocals), with Grayh (bass) and Luke Faz (drums) joining in 2007. The group explains the meaning of its name as "the juxtaposition of purity and humanity's darkness".

Virgin Black was originally formed in Adelaide by guitarist Samantha Escarbe, and vocalist and keyboards-player Rowan London. In 1995, Virgin Black recorded a four-track self-titled demo in a doom/death style. Due to the rarity and demand for this recording, the band has speculated that it may be re-released at some point. Their Trance EP was released in 1998, and the group began gaining international recognition with that recording. This EP was later included as part of a special limited edition (U.S. only) with the band's debut album, Sombre Romantic.

The group began recording their first full-length album Sombre Romantic in 1999. The album displays an expansively cinematic, symphonic style with London contributing a diverse vocal style from shrieks and growls to soaring melodies and choral chants. On the strength of this self-released debut, Virgin Black signed to Germany's Massacre Records for Europe and also to the U.S. label The End. Both labels then released Sombre Romantic in their territories.