Gothic Metal

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Gothic metal or goth metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music. Gothic metal combines the aggression of heavy metal with the dark melancholy of gothic rock. The genre originated during the early 1990s in Europe as an outgrowth of death/doom, a fusion of death metal and doom metal. The music of gothic metal is diverse with bands known to adopt the gothic approach to different styles of heavy metal music. Lyrics are generally melodramatic and mournful with inspiration from gothic fiction as well as personal experiences.

Pioneers of gothic metal include Paradise Lost, Theater Of Tragedy, The 3rd And The Mortal. Other pioneers from the first half of the 1990s include Type O Negative from the United States, Tiamat from Sweden, and The Gathering from the Netherlands. Norwegian band Theatre of Tragedy developed the "beauty and the beast" aesthetic of combining aggressive male vocals with clean female vocals, a contrast that has since been adopted by many gothic metal groups. During the mid-1990s, Moonspell, Theatres des Vampires and Cradle of Filth brought the gothic approach to black metal. By the end of the decade, a symphonic metal variant of gothic metal had been developed by Tristania and Within Temptation.

In the 21st century, gothic metal has moved towards the mainstream in Europe, particularly in Finland where groups such as The 69 Eyes, Entwine, HIM, Lullacry, Poisonblack and Sentenced have released hit singles or chart-topping albums. In the US, however, only a few bands such as Lacuna Coil, Evanescence have found commercial success.

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_metal

Sub-genre collaborators (shared with Symphonic Metal):
  • DippoMagoo


gothic metal top albums

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PARADISE LOST Icon Album Cover Icon
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MOONSPELL Wolfheart Album Cover Wolfheart
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THE GATHERING Mandylion Album Cover Mandylion
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MOONSPELL Irreligious Album Cover Irreligious
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PARADISE LOST Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us Album Cover Faith Divides Us - Death Unites Us
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TRIBULATION The Children of the Night Album Cover The Children of the Night
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TYPE O NEGATIVE Life Is Killing Me Album Cover Life Is Killing Me
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4.03 | 35 ratings
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PARADISE LOST In Requiem Album Cover In Requiem
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gothic metal Music Reviews

NEUROBOX Calm

Album · 1998 · Gothic Metal
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GwennyLOLmusic
"Calm' by Neurobox 1998.

This album is definitely different than their later releases, but there is still a similar sound. This album has a lot more metal influence than their later albums, which progressively get more and more rock opera. This album still has their unique style, sound, and lyrics. This album was before they really found their signature sound, but still has some of that sound and is very, very good.

Track 1, 'Indecent', starts with a scream and is really metal, but then when it comes to the verse its their distinct sound. '2:17' is mellow and unique, most of the track having a fun time signature. Track 3, 'Pacifiers & Pretzels' was featured on their 1999 s/t EP, which has yet to be resurfaced on the web. Track 5 if the original 1998 version of 'Temper', featured on their 2000's album, 'Eve'. This version of the track is far different than the later version, and it is much more mellow, experimental, and even has fully different lyrics and partially different song structure. The main connecting part is the bassline, which is the main riff in the 2000s version. The breakdown later on in the song is also the same in the 2000s version. 'Cold Dawn', track 8, is probably one of my favorite tracks from the album. The lyrics for multiple tracks commonly tease at potentially domestic abuse and other similar topics, but it is hard to tell due to the unique and abstract lyrics, but on Cold Dawn it is much more clear. Track 10, 'Juxtapose', is an short interlude transitioning into the following track. This track is instrumental, but in the CD booklet, for the lyrics for this track, they put a small poem, which is really unique. "Marked", track 12, also the last track on the album, talks a bit of Christian/catholic things, like slipping a cross on, being 'marked', and the lyric that repeats multiple times later on, "The devil's in your mind!" This song is written from the POV of a boy being framed for being satanic or something of the sort, or maybe its not being framed and is true.

This album is great but there is one main flaw: The screaming vocals are subpar. The vocals are great, but when Pete screams, its very unpracticed and crackly. Other than that one note, the album is great and I recommend you listen to it.

Listen to the album = https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrpOogyfjrvEjyVNfoJhxj6f32Nq6CfO7

DOWNLOAD = https://archive.org/details/neurobox-calm or https://hostb.org/36T9/Neurobox%20-%20Calm.zip (archive.org is down)

LYRICS = https://genius.com/albums/Neurobox/Calm

TYPE O NEGATIVE World Coming Down

Album · 1999 · Gothic Metal
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SilentScream213
Really running out of words for this band, and I do not get the acclaim. The guitar tone here is awful, and carries this static, poorly produced sound that makes it grate on my ears. The guitars sound thin, weak and annoying. The riffs are simple without evoking anything; they don’t sound sad or gloomy, they don’t sound evil or dark, they’re just there. Drumming is, similarly, repetitive and boring. For Doom/Gothic Metal, repetitive slow drumming is totally fine if it’s supporting well-crafted atmospheres or emotional performances, but this album is sporting neither of those qualities in spades. The vocals of Peter Steel continue to leave me unimpressed, and his lyrics do far worse. The stupid little skits found between certain songs are atrocious and not funny in the least.

Does the album have strengths? Yeah, I can recognize some. There is more presence of backing atmospherics such as keys, organs, choirs, which help add some density. They aren’t particularly… moody, but they sound nice enough. The variety in said backing elements is pleasant as well, with pretty much each song introducing some new sounds, keeping things fresh. The layering of instruments is done very well, though the terrible sounding guitars render this point null at times. The title track in particular has some great moments, but as it’s over 11 minutes, it’s still not consistently good. The ending of Everything Dies is similarly fantastic, but it’s hardly worth getting through 6 minutes of mediocre Gothic Metal.

I’ll just have to say it again… I don’t want my Gothic Metal filled with jokes, college frat humor and lacking emotion.

ATROCITY Gemini

Album · 2000 · Gothic Metal
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UMUR
"Gemini" is the sixth full-length studio album by German metal act Atrocity. The album was released through Motor Music in October 2000. It´s the successor the the covers album "Werk 80" from 1997 and there´s been one lineup change since the predecessor as drummer Michael Schwarz has been replaced by Martin Schmidt.

Atrocity is an odd act changing their style between each release and therefore it´s never a given what a new release will sound like. "Gemini" again sees the band venturing into new territory and they have definitely taken inspiration from their fellow countrymen in Rammstein here with repeated heavy chugging riffs and pumping driving beats (and occasionally techno influenced keyboard work), but contemporary gothic rock/metal acts like Paradise Lost and Tiamat are audibly also a big influence. So this is basically an industrial tinged gothic metal album featuring both German and English lyrics. Frontman Alexander Krull hasn´t always had the greatest control of his voice and on earlier releases some of the vocal styles he has experimented with have not worked very well. On "Gemini" it´s as if he has received vocal training or something in that vein, because the vocals are relatively powerful and well performed. His duets with his then wife Liv Kristine work well too.

"Gemini" is an album I can enjoy in parts and listening to a couple of songs now and again is entertaining enough, but the whole thing does become a little gimmicky and formulaic along the way. There´s little here which identify "Gemini" as an Atrocity album, and if I didn´t know, my first guess would be that Rammstein had picked up a couple of gothic metal influences and made an album slightly out of their comfort zone. Most of the tracks on the album are hard edged industrial beat pumped compositions but Atrocity have included a couple of cover tracks too in Simon & Garfunkel´s "Sound of Silence" and Lale Andersen/Norbert Schultze/Hans Liep´s World War II schlager "Lili Marleen". As a product "Gemini" features high quality production values and high level musicianship, but the songwriting isn´t particularly original or inspired and at this point Atrocity just seemed to be following trends. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

TIAMAT Prey

Album · 2003 · Gothic Metal
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UMUR
"Prey" is the eighth full-length studio album by Swedish metal act Tiamat. The album was released through Century Media Records in October 2003. It´s the successor to "Judas Christ" from 2002 and features the same quartet lineup as the predecessor plus guest female backing vocals by Sonja Brandt.

Stylistically the material on "Prey" are a continuation of the goth rock/metal style of "Judas Christ (2002)". The psychadelic Pink Floyd influences which already decreased greatly on the predecessor are now only present on album closer "The Pentagram", which features a nice mellow psychedelic rock sound and some soaring Gilmourish guitar leads. The remaining tracks range from heavy and hard rocking to mid-paced, slow, and laid back gothic tinged rock/metal. Lead vocalist/guitarist/keyboard player Johan Edlund doesn´t have the most distinct sounding voice, but his delivery is pleasant and suits the music well. The tracks are well composed, relatively catchy, and feature a melancholic atmosphere. It´s not dark and depressive music, but rather a tasteful and melodic melancholic take on goth rock/metal. Similar artists would be contemporary Paradise Lost and maybe Anathema.

"Prey" is packed in a powerful, detailed, and well sounding production job, which suits the material perfectly, and upon conclusion it´s another high quality release by Tiamat. If you enjoyed the last couple of albums this is not to be missed. A 3.5 star (70%) rating is deserved.

NEUROBOX Eve

Album · 2000 · Gothic Metal
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GwennyLOLmusic
This album, if you even just look at the songs, you will notice that almost EVERY OTHER SONG is an interlude. I both find this annoying, but also wicked. I love it when albums have a bunch of interludes. It is a bummer that they dont do this for later albums.

The album goes for a Rock/Metal Opera feel and I surprisingly love it. The lyrics and the melodies are unique, and totally get stuck in your head, like the chorus to Boeing '93, the pre-chorus on Ocho the Lovebud, the verses on Charmer, or the breakdown/chorus on Abracadabra.

Individual track notes. Charmer, track 21, holds an very upbeat and happy sound. I am not sure how to describe it (i suck at describing things) but it is a lovely song. Ocho the Lovebud track 6, has an introduction which i kind of hate, but its short and the song is kick ass. The pre-chorus is such a nice build up for the chorus, with a unique sound, but also not being anti-climatic. The end of one of the later repeats of the chorus really just hits (3:55). Boeing '93, track 4, is really clever with its lyrics. The chorus, "Mayday! Mayday! We're going down!" really works with the title and theme of the entire track, as well as the miscellaneous ambience heard over the track, seemingly progressively more audible. The later part includes lyrics such as "Why is everyone crying", followed by the singer imitating a young girl's voice saying "I'm too pretty to die", which really helps to put the idea of crashed flight into your mind, and also oddly adds a emotional connection to it. San Michele, track 23, is a nicer more acoustic track, where the singer sings from both a girls voice and a mans, resembling a man and wife singing together, as in an opera.

Favorite track: Ocho the Lovebud Least favorite track: CPR (Ignoring interludes)

gothic metal movie reviews

PARADISE LOST Draconian Times MMXI

Movie · 2011 · Gothic Metal
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Warthur
Released to celebrate the 16th anniversary of the classic gothic doom metal album, Paradise Lost's Draconian Times MMXI simply has them play through the entire album in order, then add on some encores from their wider discography at the end. It's a decent capture of the Paradise Lost live experience, though ultimately they stick close enough to the studio rendition to make this a little redundant in the end. If you're very keen on this specific period of the band's career - after their early pioneering death-doom work, before they steered away from metal entirely to explore other gothic realms prior to their 2000s return to metal - then it's probably worth it, but even then you might find you just prefer to spin the studio album again.

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