Gothic metal (or goth metal) is a subgenre of heavy metal music. Death/doom (also known as deathdoom and doomdeath) is an extreme heavy metal subgenre This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. An electric guitar is a type of Guitar that uses pickups to convert the vibration of its steel-cored strings into an electrical current which is made louder The electric bass guitar (also called electric bass, or simply bass; ˈbeɪs as in "base" is a Stringed instrument played primarily with the The drum is a member of the percussion group technically classified as a Membranophone. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a Musical keyboard. This is a list of gothic metal bands. Gothic metal is a subgenre of Heavy metal music. It combines the dark melancholy of gothic rock with the aggression of heavy metal. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. The genre originated during the early 1990s in Europe as an outgrowth of death/doom, a fusion of death metal and doom metal. Death/doom (also known as deathdoom and doomdeath) is an extreme heavy metal subgenre Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other 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. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance.

Pioneers of gothic metal include Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Anathema, all from the north of England. Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. My Dying Bride is a British Doom metal band formed in 1990 Biography My Dying Bride was formed in June 1990 after lead guitarist Andrew Anathema are an English band from the city of Liverpool, which together with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, helped to develop the 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. Type O Negative is a Heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. Tiamat is a Metal band that formed in Stockholm Sweden in 1988 The Gathering is a Dutch band which came to fame in the second half of 1990s with vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. 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. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Theatre of Tragedy are a Norwegian band from Stavanger, originally assembled in 1992 and best known for their earlier albums which provided a great deal of influence The term clean vocals is used to describe melodic and clear singing styles During the mid 1990s, Moonspell and Cradle of Filth brought the gothic approach to black metal. Moonspell is a Portuguese Black metal / Gothic metal band with Death/doom metal elements formed in 1989 as Morbid God Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, By the end of the decade, a symphonic metal variant of gothic metal had been developed by Tristania and Within Temptation. Symphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe Heavy metal music that has symphonic elements that is elements that sound similar to a Tristania is Gothic metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Within Temptation is a Dutch rock band The band was founded

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. The 69 Eyes are a Finnish rock band They are signed to EMI / Virgin Records Finland Entwine is a Finnish Gothic metal band Biography Entwine was originally assembled as a Death metal band Kaamos in 1995 by HIM is a rock band from Finland formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, Lullacry is a melodic metal band with Gothic metal influences that hails from Helsinki, Finland. Poisonblack is a Finnish Gothic metal band helmed by singer/guitarist Ville Laihiala, vocalist of the now disbanded Sentenced. Sentenced was a doom / Gothic metal and in the beginning Melodic death metal band formed in 1989, in the town of Muhos, Finland In the US, however, only a few bands such as Lacuna Coil and Evanescence have found commercial success. Lacuna Coil is an Italian Gothic metal band formed in 1994. Formerly known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal Evanescence is an American

History

Precursors

Heavy metal

The first Black Sabbath album has been identified by some as the first 'Goth-rock' record. Black Sabbath are an

Heavy metal music is perceived by many members of the goth subculture as the "crass, crude macho antithesis of everything that their music represents. The goth subculture is a contemporary Subculture found in many countries This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. "^[1] In contrast to the "softer" and "more feminine" character of gothic music, the heavy metal genre is typically associated with aggression, sexism and masculinity. ^[2] Despite this difference, "a few bold souls have identified Black Sabbath’s eponymous 1969 debut album as the first ever 'Goth-rock' record. Black Sabbath are an Black Sabbath is the self-titled debut album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath. "^[1] The author Gavin Baddeley notes that the title track of the album "describes a satanic rite, complete with driving-rain and tolling bell sound effects, while the cover focuses on a black-cloaked, spectral-looking girl in a graveyard, shot through a sickly pale ochre filter. Gavin Baddeley is an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan, and an experienced Journalist who has worked for The Observer and Metal Hammer "^[1] Other commentators have described Black Sabbath as the "absolute prototype gothic heavies"^[3] and observed that by separating the band's music "from their heavy metallic connotations", one "could cull a killer Goth album from their first five LP's, with every future reference point and requirement intact. "^[4] Deriving their name from a 1969 Boris Karloff horror film,^[5] Black Sabbath has also been credited as the pioneers of the doom metal subgenre^[6] from which some of the earliest gothic metal bands started from. Boris Karloff ( 23 November, &ndash 2 February,) was an English actor who emigrated to Canada in the 1910s Black Sabbath ( Italian title I Tre volti della paura) is a 1963 Italian Horror film directed by Mario Bava Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal

The "vaguely medieval, minor-key sounds" of Rainbow, Dio and Judas Priest has also been described as "gothic" prior to "the emergence of goth rock as a post-punk genre. Rainbow was a Hard rock and heavy metal band formed by former Deep Purple guitarist Ritchie Blackmore in 1975. Dio is an American heavy metal band led by Vocalist Ronnie James Dio, who formed it in 1982 after leaving Black Sabbath. Judas Priest are an English heavy metal band formed in 1970 in Birmingham. Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s "^[7] The bands Blue Öyster Cult and Iron Maiden have featured some gothic lyrics in their music on songs such as "(Don't Fear) The Reaper" and "Phantom of the Opera. Blue Öyster Cult is an American rock band formed in New York in 1967 and still active in 2008 For other uses see Iron maiden. " Phantom of the Opera " is a song from Iron Maiden 's debut album Iron Maiden. "^[8] The Danish metal band Mercyful Fate had also demonstrated "a Gothic obsession with evil and the occult. The Kingdom of Denmark ( ˈd̥ænmɑɡ̊ (archaic ˈd̥anmɑːɡ̊ commonly known as Denmark, is a country in the Scandinavian region of northern Europe Mercyful Fate is an influential Danish heavy metal band often cited among the influences in the Black metal, Thrash metal, Power metal "^[9] Frontman King Diamond continued exploring his interest in gothic storytelling after leaving the band for a solo career under his own moniker,^[10] issuing "a series of concept albums which told Gothic horror tales with sound effects and song. King Diamond (born Kim Bendix Petersen, June 14, 1956, Copenhagen, Denmark) is a Grammy Award nominated heavy "^[11] His 1988 album "Them" featured an "extravagant adventure in gothic storytelling. "^[12] During the 1980s, the former Misfits frontman Glenn Danzig also "occupied the no man's land between Goth and heavy metal. The Misfits are an American Glenn Danzig (born Glenn Anzalone on June 23, 1955) is an American singer Songwriter, Musician, Entrepreneur "^[11] With the dissolution of his second band Samhain in 1988 and the creation of his own eponymous act, Danzig went on to combine heavy metal riffs with "a heavily romanticized, brooding, gothic sensibility. Samhain was a Death rock / Horror Punk band formed by singer Glenn Danzig in 1983 Danzig is an American Heavy metal band that fuses dark lyrics and imagery with Blues-rock influences "^[13]

The Swiss group Celtic Frost was another precursor to gothic metal, translating the influence they drew from gothic rock acts Bauhaus and Siouxsie & the Banshees into their own albums. Switzerland (English pronunciation; Schweiz Swiss German: Schwyz or Schwiiz Suisse Svizzera Svizra officially the Swiss Confederation Celtic Frost were an influential heavy metal band from Zürich, Switzerland. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. Bauhaus were an English rock band formed in Northampton in 1978 Siouxsie & the Banshees were a British rock band which formed in 1976 ^[14] The band's "radical fusion of violent black metal and elements of classical music" was dubbed "avant-garde" and had a huge impact "on the evolution of European heavy metal. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Classical music is a broad term that usually refers to mainstream music produced in or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and Secular music Avant-garde metal or experimental metal is a subgenre of Heavy metal music characterised by the use of innovative Avant-garde elements large-scale "^[15] Christofer Johnsson of the symphonic metal band Therion cites Celtic Frost's 1987 album Into the Pandemonium in particular for playing a key role in the development of the "gothic and symphonic wave of bands" in the 1990s, noting further that neither his group Therion nor Paradise Lost "would have sounded the way we did without Celtic Frost. Christofer Johnsson (born August 10 1972 in Stockholm 's suburb is a Swedish musician Symphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe Heavy metal music that has symphonic elements that is elements that sound similar to a Therion is a Swedish Symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987 Into the Pandemonium is the 1987 (see 1987 in music) Album by avant-garde Thrash metal band Celtic Frost. Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. "^[16]

Goth rock

Goth rock had emerged as an offshoot of post-punk in the 1980s but by the end of that decade, the genre had splintered into different directions with bands such as The Cure, Mission U.K. and Siouxsie & the Banshees incorporating "more pop and alternative elements" while The Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim and Christian Death took on a "heavier, sometimes metal-influenced approach. This article is about the musical style of gothic rock For the goth scene in general see Goth subculture. Post-punk was a popular musical movement in the mid to late 1970s following on the heels of the initial Punk rock explosion of the early 1970s The Cure are an English rock band that formed in Crawley, West Sussex in 1976 The Mission (known as The Mission UK in the United States) were a Gothic rock band formed in 1986 from the splinters of the freshly-dissolved rock band The Sisters The Sisters of Mercy are an English Gothic rock band that formed in 1980 Fields of the Nephilim is a Gothic rock band formed in Stevenage, Hertfordshire in 1984. Christian Death is an American Deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979 "^[17] The Sisters of Mercy was one of the leading goth bands of the 1980s, playing "a slow, gloomy, ponderous hybrid of metal and psychedelia, often incorporating dance beats. "^[18] The band only released three full length albums with the debut First and Last and Always released in 1985. First and Last and Always, the debut album by UK band The Sisters of Mercy was released on March 11 1985, on band's own label Merciful Their last album Vision Thing arrived in 1990 as one of the earliest attempts to mix gothic music with heavy metal. Vision Thing, the third and last album by UK band The Sisters of Mercy was released in 1990 on band's own label Merciful Release (under distribution ^[19] Fields of the Nephilim had also released only three studio albums before their initial dissolution in 1991. ^[20] They have since reformed, released more albums and been recognized for their influence on the "glut of metal bands" in the early 21st century "that incorporated obvious elements of goth into their sound - especially detected in their appreciation of symphonic and keyboard sounds (as well as their fashion sense). "^[21]

According to the All Music Guide, "goth metal first emerged during the early to mid-'80s, centered around Los Angeles' so-called 'death-rock' scene headed by Christian Death. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Los Angeles (lɑˈsændʒələs los ˈaŋxeles in Spanish) is the largest City in the state of California and the American West Deathrock (or Death Punk) is a term used to identify a fusion of Punk rock and Gothic rock which incorporates elements of horror and spooky atmospheres "^[7] Acclaimed as the "founding fathers of American goth rock," Christian Death went through a major personnel change in 1985 with the departure of the band's leader and founder Rozz Williams. Rozz Williams ( November 6, 1963 – April 1, 1998) born Roger Alan Painter was an American Deathrock vocalist most ^[22] Guitarist Valor Kand took over the reins and under his leadership, Christian Death subsequently pursued a more metal-oriented direction. ^[22][23] In particular, their 1988 album Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ has been described by critic Steve Huey as "heavy goth-rock bordering on metal. "^[24]

Origins

The Peaceville Three

Nick Holmes is the vocalist of the pioneering Paradise Lost. Nick Holmes (born England, January 7, 1971) is a British singer and vocalist of the band Paradise Lost. Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. The group is known to have influenced many subsequent bands in the genre. ^[25]

As a musical style, gothic metal "truly began in the early 1990s in the north of England" with the three bands Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride and Anathema representing "the core of the movement. Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. My Dying Bride is a British Doom metal band formed in 1990 Biography My Dying Bride was formed in June 1990 after lead guitarist Andrew Anathema are an English band from the city of Liverpool, which together with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, helped to develop the "^[26] All three bands were signed to Peaceville Records during the early 1990s and have since been known as the Peaceville Three. Peaceville Records is a British independent metal -oriented record label ^[27] They had roots in "frenetically abrasive death metal, but they were also influenced by what Paradise Lost vocalist, Nick Holmes, described as the 'really bleak, dark sound' of Dead Can Dance. Nick Holmes (born England, January 7, 1971) is a British singer and vocalist of the band Paradise Lost. Dead Can Dance is a band comprising Lisa Gerrard ( Contralto) and Brendan Perry ( Baritone) "^[28] Paradise Lost was the first to form in 1988 in Halifax, England. ^[29] Their debut album Lost Paradise was released in 1990 and "helped define the rules of doom/death metal: grinding, de-tuned anthems of woe topped with death metal-style guttural vocals" while demonstrating that the band was "already reaching for realms unknown to their then-amateurish abilities and latent promise. Lost Paradise is the debut album of the Heavy metal band Paradise Lost. Death/doom (also known as deathdoom and doomdeath) is an extreme heavy metal subgenre "^[30] The band was "evolving at a fast clip" and in the following year, their second "aptly titled album" Gothic came as "something of a departure for the band's earliest fans. Gothic is the second full-length album released by British Heavy metal band Paradise Lost. "^[31] With a "less deliberate, more energetic arrangements," the album featured a "slightly cleaner approach to guitar crunch" and "cautious use of keyboards and even female vocals, which together added atmospheric nuances to the group's ultra-depressive power chords. "^[31] Gothic was a chart success across Europe, particularly in Germany,^[32] and has since been acclaimed as "one of the most influential albums" in heavy metal music for creating the gothic metal genre. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. ^[33] Their 1992 album Shades of God continued the transition^[34] while the follow up 1993 album Icon represented "a turning point" for the band with the experimental use of synthesized strings, timpani, piano and angelic female vocals. Shades of God is the third album by Paradise Lost. It features the use of growling noticeable in the band's previous efforts although shows the beginning of the Icon is the fourth studio Album recorded by British band Paradise Lost. ^[35] By the time of 1995's Draconian Times album, Paradise Lost's music firmly stood "between stark, oppressive goth rock and crunching heavy metal. Draconian Times (1995 is the fifth album released by British metal act Paradise Lost. "^[36] With these five albums, the band had created "a bold collection of songs that sounded like Black-era Metallica played by a group who loved the Sisters Of Mercy. Metallica (also known as The Black Album) is the self-titled 5th studio Album by the American heavy metal band Metallica is an American heavy metal band that formed in 1981 in. "^[37] They have since been recognized as the band that "originally laid the gothic seed that other bands have been nicking and reaping in recent years. "

Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride credits Dead Can Dance, Swans and Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds as inspirations. Aaron Stainthorpe (born November 12 1968 is the vocalist for Doom metal band My Dying Bride. My Dying Bride is a British Doom metal band formed in 1990 Biography My Dying Bride was formed in June 1990 after lead guitarist Andrew Dead Can Dance is a band comprising Lisa Gerrard ( Contralto) and Brendan Perry ( Baritone) Swans was an influential American Post-punk band active from 1982 to 1997 led by singer songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are an Australian rock band with multinational personnel fronted by Nick Cave. ^[38]

Also from Halifax, My Dying Bride was formed in 1990. My Dying Bride is a British Doom metal band formed in 1990 Biography My Dying Bride was formed in June 1990 after lead guitarist Andrew An EP Symphonaire Infernus Et Spera Empyrium "sparked a lot of interest" upon its release in 1992. Symphonaire Infernus et Spera Empyrium is the second EP by death/doom metal band My Dying Bride. ^[39] Their first full-length release As The Flower Withers followed shortly after in the same year. As the Flower Withers was the first album by Yorkshire -based Doom metal band My Dying Bride. The album was critically acclaimed by the press and "turned the Doom genre on its head. "^[40] They added a violinist to their line-up for their 1993 sophomore effort Turn Loose the Swans. Turn Loose the Swans was the second album by the British Doom metal band My Dying Bride. On this "groundbreaking" album,^[40] the group introduced a "much greater element of dark romanticism to their doomy music. "^[41] Vocalist Aaron Stainthorpe explains the band's pursuit of this direction:

Their 1995 album The Angel and the Dark River "marked a shift in the band's strategy, for the first time dropping the death growl of Stainthorpe in favour of a 'clean' vocal delivery. The Angel and the Dark River is the third album by the British doom / Death metal band My Dying Bride. cf Death rattle, a sound sometimes made by the dying A death growl, also known as death metal vocals, gutteral vocals The term clean vocals is used to describe melodic and clear singing styles "^[40] The rest of the group "followed suit, setting aside any death metal influences, carefully using violins and keyboards to enhance the group's brooding excursions" into "fauna-wilting gothic doom metal. "^[42] While the album was more experimental, the music was still sorrowful. ^[41]

Also forming in 1990, the Liverpool based band Anathema released a "highly acclaimed" EP The Crestfallen in 1992. Liverpool ( is a City and Metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary Anathema are an English band from the city of Liverpool, which together with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, helped to develop the The Crestfallen is an EP by the British Doom metal band Anathema. ^[43] The "crushing emotional doom/death" of this EP remained on their 1993 debut full-length Serenades,^[44] "the most traditional doom-styled album in their catalog. Serenades is the debut full-length album of the British Doom metal band Anathema. "^[45] Their juxtaposition of the fragile and ferocious "fostered a keen fan base. "^[43] Pentecost III was recorded in 1994 as another EP "that nonetheless ended up long enough to have qualified as a full-length. Pentecost III is an EP by the British Doom metal band Anathema. "^[45] The year 1995 saw the release of this EP as well as the departure of Darren White. Guitarist Vincent Cavanagh took over vocal duties for their subsequent album The Silent Enigma released later in the same year. Vincent Cavanagh (born August 29, 1973) in Liverpool is an English Singer and Guitarist best known as the founder of British The Silent Enigma is an album by the British Doom metal band Anathema. The album "marked an important turning point in the band's sound" with critics drawing upon comparisons to Pink Floyd, "bringing new appreciation from a more mainstream band of listeners but also causing a withdrawal of support from hardened Doom fanatics. Pink Floyd are "^[43] Like My Dying Bride, this transition involved leaving behind their traditional death metal sound. ^[46] They continued experimenting with their 1996 album Eternity,^[43] "stretching its songs into sorrowful, orchestrated epics" that "quickly proved to be their most original work to date. Eternity is an Album by the British Doom metal band Anathema. "^[45] While Anathema's music has "changed a lot," their "main features remained a heart-rending melancholy and intensity. "^[47]

Other pioneers

Type O Negative, performing at the Columbiahalle in Berlin, Germany, was one of the earliest gothic metal bands. Type O Negative is a Heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. Berlin is the capital city and one of sixteen states of Germany. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe.

Across the Atlantic ocean, Peter Steele had formed Type O Negative in 1990 out of the remnants of his former thrash metal band Carnivore. Peter Steele (born Peter Ratajczyk on January 4 1962 in Brooklyn New York, U Type O Negative is a Heavy metal band from Brooklyn, New York City. Thrash metal (sometimes referred to simply as thrash) is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal that is characterized by its fast tempo and aggression Carnivore was a Thrash metal band formed by Peter Steele (later of Type O Negative fame and was formed out of the ruins of the Brooklyn hard ^[48] With their debut album Slow, Deep and Hard in 1991, the New York based outfit pursued a "melodramatic goth rock style" that "encompasses long songs built on simple riffs, theatrical shouting vocals, churchy-sounding organ and vocal-harmony passages, and the odd mechanical noise. Slow Deep and Hard is Type O Negative 's first album released on Roadrunner Records in 1991 New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous "^[49] The Origin of the Feces followed in 1992 but it was their third album Bloody Kisses in 1993 that became their breakthrough album^[50] with a "twistedly affectionate send-up of goth rock conventions" and lyrics that "gleefully wallow in goth clichés - sex, death, Christianity, vampires, more sex, and death. The Origin of the Feces is the second album by Brooklyn band Type O Negative, which was released in 1992. Bloody Kisses is the third album by Brooklyn band Type O Negative. "^[51] The album has since sold nearly a million copies in the United States,^[50] a surprise success that "obliged Goths to take notice" of the group. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the ^[52] Three years followed before the release of the follow up October Rust in 1996, a "critically acclaimed goth metal epic"^[50] that expanded "on the more pop-oriented tracks of its predecessor. October Rust is the fourth album by Type O Negative. It was released in 1996 and has a more Gothic rock feel than earlier albums "^[48] Type O Negative's trademarks have since included "downtuned, fuzzy guitars"^[53] and a "deep baritone croon"^[54] from Peter Steele, an "intimidatingly large, sarcastically self-deprecating original, whose dry, dirty one-liners and morbid machismo challenge those who insist the archetypal Goth is a po-faced androgyne. "^[55] Type O Negative has since been recognized as a pioneer of the genre. In a review of their 2007 album Dead Again, critic Greg Prato of the All Music Guide declared that "before Type O Negative, there was really no such thing as goth metal. Dead Again is a 1991 Psychological thriller / Neo-noir directed by Kenneth Branagh, starring Branagh and his then-wife "^[56]

Tiamat, seen here at the 2006 Hard Rock Laager, has been recognized for producing some of the most "overtly Gothic material" from Scandinavia. Tiamat is a Metal band that formed in Stockholm Sweden in 1988 Hard Rock Laager is a two day rock and metal festival held annually in a field in the small Estonian village of Vana-Vigala. ^[57]

The year 1988 saw not only the formation of Paradise Lost but another early gothic metal pioneer, the Swedish band Tiamat. "Sverige" redirects here For other uses see Sweden (disambiguation and Sverige (disambiguation. Tiamat is a Metal band that formed in Stockholm Sweden in 1988 Their debut album Sumerian Cry arrived in 1990 and featured "slightly above average death metal. Sumerian Cry is the debut album from the Swedish then- Death metal band Tiamat. "^[58] Their third album Clouds was released in 1993 as the band's first turning-point, "starkly reducing speed and heaviness for melody and atmosphere. Clouds is the third full length album from Tiamat. Track listing "In a Dream" – 512 "Clouds" – 340 "^[59] The album made an impact on the European metal community for its atmospheric doom metal approach "enhanced with keyboards which are never out of place or over-used. "^[60] Despite that impact, guitarist and vocalist Johan Edlund was dissatisfied with the group's musical progress and fired almost every other member of the group,^[61] effectively turning Tiamat into his own personal project. Johan Edlund (born March 9 1971) is a Swedish Singer, Guitarist and keyboardist who is the leader of the bands Tiamat ^[62] The next album Wildhoney was unveiled in 1994 as an "artistic and commercial breakthrough, fully realizing the sound hinted at on previous releases and eliciting effusive praise in metal circles for its brooding, Gothic atmospherics. Wildhoney is the critically acclaimed 1994 album by Tiamat. Released after their worldwide tour with Entombed and Unleashed, the record made the band "^[61] The album featured an interplay of contrasts between delicate acoustic guitar, gentle whispering vocals and angelic choruses on the one hand and massive riffs, industrial grind and death metal grunting on the other. ^[63] On subsequent releases, Tiamat moved further into gothic territory with Johan Edlund "dropping the metal growling in favor of an unearthly croon. "^[64] The result has seen critics comparing Edlund's vocals to the Sisters of Mercy's Andrew Eldritch, "alongside musical comparisons to Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds. Andrew Eldritch (born Andrew William Harvey Taylor, 15 May 1959) is the frontman Singer, Songwriter and the only remaining original "^[57]

As far back as 1985, Celtic Frost had used female vocals for some songs on their To Mega Therion album. To Mega Therion is the second album by the Thrash/Black Metal band Celtic Frost. ^[65] Paradise Lost began making similar use of female vocals from their very first album Lost Paradise in 1990. Lost Paradise is the debut album of the Heavy metal band Paradise Lost. ^[30] Inspired by the use of female vocals on Paradise Lost's second album Gothic, The Gathering released their debut album Always... in 1992 with growling vocalist Bart Smits supported by female singer Marike Groot. The Gathering is a Dutch band which came to fame in the second half of 1990s with vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen. Always (1992 is the debut album of the Dutch band The Gathering. Bart Smits (born March 17, 1972 in Oss) is a Dutch heavy metal Singer. ^[66] The music on the album was "firmly rooted in the dark, midtempo style of gothic and doom metal. "^[67] Their second album Almost a Dance arrived in the following year with new vocalist Niels Duffhues, "a strange choice for the band. Almost a Dance is the second studio album of the Dutch band The Gathering, released in 1993 by Foundation 2000. Niels Duffhuës (born January 8, 1973 in Oss) is a Dutch Multi-instrumentalist, Composer and Writer. "^[68] Duffhues' "punk-ish" and "alt-rock" style of singing was widely seen as out of place with the music,^[67][68] a perception that was shared by the band themselves. ^[69] The album was "largely written off as a result"^[68] but critic Adrien Begrand of PopMatters notes in hindsight that the understated use of singer Martine van Loon on the album "showed where a good female presence could potentially take the music. PopMatters is an international Webzine of cultural criticism Its scope is broadly cast on all things pop culture "^[67] The Gathering decided to drop the use of male vocals altogether and instead brought in a lead female vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen for their third full length Mandylion, an album that "saw the band adventurously breaking away from the Gothic Doom fare of previous works. Anneke van Giersbergen (born March 8, 1973) is the former Singer of the Dutch band The Gathering, now involved in Mandylion is an Album by the Dutch band The Gathering, released in 1995 by Century Media Records. "^[70] The result was considered a "groundbreaking achievement" upon its release in 1995^[71] with critics lavishly describing it as a "masterpiece"^[72] and "the perfect pinnacle of gothic metal. "^[73] The Gathering's "introspective atmosphere owed a creative debt to Dead Can Dance, and established them as a leading band in their native Holland. "^[57]

Development

Gothic black metal

The "dark cemetery dotted with crosses and gnarled, bared branches" is a recognisable element of the gothic film genre^[74] and can be seen here in the backdrop of this live performance from Moonspell in 2006, Spain. Moonspell is a Portuguese Black metal / Gothic metal band with Death/doom metal elements formed in 1989 as Morbid God

The Portuguese band Moonspell's debuted in 1994 with Under the Moonspell, "one of the more worthy black metal releases of the early '90s. Portugal, officially the Portuguese Republic (República Portuguesa is a country on the Iberian Peninsula. Moonspell is a Portuguese Black metal / Gothic metal band with Death/doom metal elements formed in 1989 as Morbid God Under the Moonspell is a mini album released by Moonspell in 1994 "^[75] The music on this EP was "atmospheric with folk and Middle Eastern influences,"^[76] drawing inspiration from Dead Can Dance^[57] through the use of guest musicians on the flute, violin, timpani, gongs and Arabic vocals. ^[77] On the strength of this EP, the band became "the frontrunners" in the Portuguese metal scene and were offered a recording deal by the "major German independent label Century Media Records. Century Media Records (CMR is an independent rock Record label with offices in the United States, Brazil, Germany, "^[77] It was through this label that they released their first full length album Wolfheart in 1995, making a transition into gothic metal^[78] by "incorporating the genre's trademark elements" of "morbid lyrical schemes, dreary and melancholy riffs, ambient keyboards" and "demonic chorales. "^[79] While the music of Moonspell has "always flirted between Metal music and Darkwave and Gothic,"^[80] the inspiration for this first album was still black metal groups like Celtic Frost and Bathory. Bathory was a Swedish heavy metal band formed by Quorthon in 1983 ^[81] Their next album Irreligious in 1996 was inspired instead by the goth pioneers Type O Negative,^[81] a group that they soon toured with. Irreligion is a lack of religion indifference to religion or hostility to religion ^[77] Other influences that Moonspell has recognized include the goth rock acts Mission U. K. , the Sisters of Mercy and "especially" Fields of the Nephilim. ^[80] Wolfheart had "caused a minor sensation on the European underground with its epic metallic hymns" while Irreligious had "reinforced their position as heralds of the Gothic metal movement. "^[57] By the time of their fourth album Butterfly Effect in 1999, Moonspell had "quickly evolved into one of the major players of the European goth-metal scene. The butterfly effect is a phrase that encapsulates the more technical notion of sensitive dependence on initial conditions in Chaos theory. "^[82] In the process however, the band has strayed from their black metal roots. ^[83]

The English outfit Cradle of Filth has combined black metal's "distinctive angry guitars and tortured vocals" with "strong, although sometimes cliched, Gothic imagery, ever since their 1994 debut album The Principle of Evil Made Flesh. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland The Principle of Evil Made Flesh is Cradle of Filth 's debut album released in 1993. "^[84] While other groups "tried to use goth flourishes in their music," Cradle of Filth made "goth conform to heavy metal, not the other way around. "^[85] The "blatant goth influence" came in the form of "lengthy keyboard intros, intermittent operatic female vocals, and Dani Filth's black 'n' blood take on romantic poetry. Dani Filth (born Daniel Lloyd Davey) is the Lyricist, Vocalist and founding member of the British Extreme metal band Cradle of Filth "^[86] They also added "a Sisters of Mercy style of melody to the singing. "^[85] The debut album received a mixed reception but nonetheless "made waves in the early black metal scene, putting Cradle of Filth on the tips of metalheads' tongues, whether in praise of the band's brazen attempts to break the black metal mold, or in derision for its 'commercialization' of an underground phenomenon that was proud of its grimy heritage. "^[86] The band then went through some changes in their line-up as members departed the group to form another gothic metal act The Blood Divine with former Anathema vocalist Darren White. The Blood Divine was a British Goth metal band founded by Paul Allender and brothers Paul and Benjamin Ryan after the three left Cradle of Filth ^[87] Cradle of Filth's second album Dusk... and Her Embrace arrived in 1996 as a "gothic epic of bloodcurdling proporptions"^[88] and the group subsequently "enjoyed a streak of notoriety through the late '90s into the turn of the century that would be hard for a music fan to miss. Dusk and Her Embrace is Cradle of Filth 's second full-length album "^[85]

The gothic black metal approach has since been pursued by a number of other bands, particularly in Italy with such groups as Theatres des Vampires,^[89] Graveworm,^[90] Cadaveria^[91] and Drastique. Italy (Italia officially the Italian Republic, (Repubblica Italiana is located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe, and on the two largest Theatres des Vampires is an Italian Extreme gothic metal / Gothic rock band with strong black metal influences mostly noted for the predominant theme of Graveworm is a Melodic black metal band with extremely heavy influences from Gothic metal, Doom metal, (on older albums and Death metal The Extreme metal band Cadaveria was born in April 2001 forged by the erstwhile Opera IX personnel Cadaveria and Flegias (a Drastique (formerly known as Drastic) is an avant-garde Gothic metal band from Italy with Progressive metal and Symphonic black ^[92] Other exponents include Samsas Traum from Austria,^[93] Enslavement of Beauty from Norway^[94] and the all female Astarte from Greece. Samsas Traum is an Avantgarde band from Germany fronted by Alexander Kaschte Austria (Österreich ( officially the Republic of Austria (Republik Österreich Enslavement of Beauty is a symphonic black metal band from Norway. Norway ( Norwegian: Norge ( Bokmål) or Noreg ( Nynorsk) officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Constitutional Astarte is an all-female Black metal band from Athens, Greece. Greece (Ελλάδα transliterated: Elláda, historically, Ellás,) officially the Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δημοκρατία ^[95]

Beauty and the beast

Liv Kristine helped to pioneer the beauty and the beast approach. Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull (born February 14, 1976 in Stavanger, Norway) better known as Liv Kristine, is the former Vocalist

The term "beauty and the beast" refers to an aesthetic contrasting "angelic" female vocals with male growls or aggressive singing. ^[96] Paradise Lost and The Gathering had already made use of this technique on some songs from their earlier albums but it was the Norwegians Theatre of Tragedy that first released an entire album devoted to this approach with their self-titled debut in 1995. Theatre of Tragedy are a Norwegian band from Stavanger, originally assembled in 1992 and best known for their earlier albums which provided a great deal of influence Theatre of Tragedy is the self-titled debut album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. A second album Velvet Darkness They Fear arrived in the following year. Velvet Darkness They Fear is the second album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy. ^[97] Both albums were marked by the juxtaposition of death metal growlings by Raymond Rohonyi and soprano vocals by Liv Kristine. Raymond István Rohonyi (born July 20, 1975 in Stavanger) is a Norwegian heavy metal Singer. Liv Kristine Espenæs Krull (born February 14, 1976 in Stavanger, Norway) better known as Liv Kristine, is the former Vocalist ^[98] The result has since received a mixed critical legacy. Vincent Jeffries of All Music Guide derided the "odd but supremely recognizable vocal contrasts" on their first album for taking on a "comic proportion"^[99] while Vincent Eldefors of Tartarean Desire acclaim the same album as "a true masterpiece from the pioneers of new doom/goth metal music. "^[100] Steve Huey, also from All Music Guide, thought that the band had not fulfilled their potential with their second album^[101] while Pedro Azevedo of Chronicles of Chaos felt that the same album was one of the year's best. Chronicles of Chaos is an extreme metal Webzine. It focuses on artists that are generally outside the metal Mainstream, and occasionally covers other forms ^[102] Liv Kristine offers an explanation for the stark differences in opinion:

Theatre of Tragedy's third album Aégis in 1998 saw the band "venturing into fresh musical territory. Aégis is the third music album of Norwegian metal band Theatre of Tragedy, and the last album of their musical period defined by gothic "^[97] The piano was replaced by electronic keyboards while Raymond Rohonyi opted to discard his death growls in favor of a "soft, spoken, sometimes whispering voice. "^[103] The music was more clean and soft,^[103] "stripped of guitar harshness" but with a "near flawless execution" that "prompted many European critics to award Aégis perfect review scores. "^[97]

Other bands that contrast aggressive male vocals and clean female vocals continued to emerge in the late 1990s. Trail of Tears had formed in 1994^[104] while Tristania and The Sins of Thy Beloved were formed in 1996. Trail of Tears is a Norwegian Gothic / Symphonic black metal band originally formed in 1994 under the name of Natt. Tristania is Gothic metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. The Sins of Thy Beloved is a Gothic-doom metal band from Bryne Norway. ^[105][106] All three Norwegian groups released their debut albums in 1998. Tristania stood apart from the others with their use of three distinct vocal styles in the "operatic soprano Vibeke Stene, clean-singing counter-tenor Østen Bergøy, and harsh, black metal-style shrieker Morten Veland. Vibeke Stene (pronounced vih-beh-kie (born August 17, 1978) is a Norwegian female singer Tristania is Gothic metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Morten Veland (born December 4, 1977) was one of the founding members of the Norwegian Gothic metal band Tristania. "^[107] Their second album Beyond the Veil in 1999 made use of a ten members choir and featured violin passages from Pete Johansen of The Sins Of Thy Beloved,^[108] earning "rave reviews" across Europe. Beyond the Veil is the second full-length album by Norwegian Gothic metal band Tristania. ^[107] By then, the band had risen to "the top of the goth metal heap"^[109] with their "lush, symphonically enhanced" approach. ^[107] They were "dealt a potentially crippling blow" when singer, guitarist and principal composer Veland left the group to form Sirenia. Sirenia is a Gothic metal band from Stavanger, Norway which incorporates a mixture of Gothic metal and Symphonic metal, as well as ^[107] Tristania has continued to prosper with subsequent releases^[110] and has since been "regarded as one of the world's premiere goth metal bands. "^[107]

For over a decade, this beauty and the beast aesthetic has flourished with many representatives across the European continent. ^[96] Some examples include Draconian from Sweden,^[111] Macbeth from Italy,^[112] Penumbra from France,^[113] Silentium from Finland^[114] and Undish from Poland. Draconian is a Swedish Gothic doom band formed in 1994 that creates songs of atmospheric melodic and emotive characteristics Macbeth is a Italian Gothic metal band formed in 1995 Signed to Dragonheart Records, they have been releasing albums since 1998 and have toured Europe This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. Silentium (previously called " Funeral " is a Finnish Gothic metal band Finland, officially the Republic of Finland ( is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of northern Europe. Undish is a Gothic metal Biography Undish was originally known as Graviora Manent and was formed in 1991 by Robert Baum (drums and vocals Michal Christoph Poland (Polska officially the Republic of Poland ^[115] Cradle of Filth has also been known to make use of this approach through guest female vocalists such as Liv Kristine and Sarah Jezebel Deva. Sarah Jane Ferridge (born 25 February 1977 in Forest Gate, East London, England) better known by her stage name Sarah Jezebel ^[116] A few critics have since lament that the approach has been "done to death by countless bands"^[117] to the point that it has become something of a cliché in the genre. ^[118]

Symphonic gothic metal

Sharon den Adel of the influential band Within Temptation. Sharon Janny den Adel (born July 12, 1974 in Waddinxveen, South Holland) is a Dutch rock soprano and composer best known as the lead singer Within Temptation is a Dutch rock band The band was founded

Tristania was not the only gothic metal band that brought a symphonic edge to their music. Influenced by the Peaceville trio of Paradise Lost, Anathema and My Dying Bride, the Dutch band Within Temptation was founded in 1996. Within Temptation is a Dutch rock band The band was founded ^[119] A debut album Enter was unveiled in the following year, followed shortly by an EP The Dance. For the album by post-rock band Russian Circles, see Enter (Russian Circles album Enter is the debut studio Album by The Dance is the first EP from Dutch rock band Within Temptation. ^[120] Both releases made use of the beauty and beast approach delivered by vocalists Sharon den Adel and Robert Westerholt. Sharon Janny den Adel (born July 12, 1974 in Waddinxveen, South Holland) is a Dutch rock soprano and composer best known as the lead singer Robert Westerholt (born January 2, 1975, Waddinxveen) is the founder of and Guitarist in the Symphonic metal band Within Temptation Their second full length Mother Earth was released in 2000 and dispensed entirely with the death metal vocals, instead "relying solely on den Adel's majestic vocal ability. Mother Earth is the second studio album by Dutch rock band Within Temptation. "^[120] The album was a commercial success with their lead single Ice Queen topping the charts in Belgium and their native Netherlands. " Ice Queen " is the first single of Dutch rock band Within Temptation from their second studio album Mother Earth, a million selling ^[121] Their third album The Silent Force arrived in 2004 as an "ambitious project featuring a full orchestra and 80-voice choir accompanying the band. The Silent Force is the third studio Album by Dutch rock band Within Temptation, released on November 15, 2004 "^[122] The result was another commercial success across Europe^[122] and introduced "the world of heavy guitars and female vocals" to "a mainstream audience. "^[123]

Within Temptation's brand of gothic metal combines "the guitar-driven force of hard rock with the sweep and grandeur of symphonic music. "^[122] The critic Chad Bowar of About.com describes their style as "the optimum balance" between "the melody and hooks of mainstream rock, the depth and complexity of classical music and the dark edge of gothic metal. Aboutcom is an online source for original information and advice and is among the top 15 US Websites ( Nielsen Online Spring 2008 "^[124] The commercial success of Within Tempatation has since resulted in the emergence of a large number of other female-fronted gothic metal bands, particularly in the Netherlands. ^[125]

Another Dutch band in the symphonic gothic metal strain is After Forever. After Forever is a Dutch symphonic metal band relies on the use of both Soprano vocals and Death grunts Their music is also influenced ^[126] Their debut album Prison of Desire in 2000 was "a courageous, albeit flawed first study into an admittedly daunting undertaking: to wed heavy metal with progressive rock arrangements and classical music orchestration - then top it all of with equal parts gruesome cookie-monster vocals and a fully qualified opera singer. Prison of Desire is the debut album of Dutch Symphonic metal band After Forever. "^[127] A second album Decipher followed in 2001 with music that was described by guitarist Sander Gommans as being in the style of Within Temptation. Decipher is the second album from Dutch Symphonic metal band After Forever, released in 2001 Sander Gommans is a Dutch musician He founded Symphonic metal band After Forever (which was called Apocalypse before with Mark Jansen in 1995 ^[128] Founding member, guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen departed After Forever only a few months after the release of this album. Mark Jansen, (born December 15 1978 in Holland) is a Heavy metal musician ^[129] Jansen would go on to form Epica, another band that performs a blend of gothic and symphonic metal. Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. ^[130] A debut album The Phantom Agony emerged in 2003 with music that combines Jansen's death grunts with the "angelic tones of a classically trained mezzo-soprano named Simone Simons, over a lush foundation of symphonic power metal. The Phantom Agony is the first full-length studio album by Dutch Symphonic metal band Epica. Simone Simons (born Hoensbroek, January 17, 1985) is a Dutch Mezzo-soprano singer who is the lead vocalist of Symphonic metal Power metal is a style of Heavy metal music combining characteristics of traditional metal with Thrash metal or Speed metal, often within "^[131] The music of Epica has been described as combination of "a dark, haunting gothic atmosphere with bombastic and symphonic music. "^[132] Like Within Temptation and After Forever,^[133] Epica has been known to make use of an orchestra. ^[134] They have gone even further though in releasing an entirely orchestral non-metal album in 2005 as The Score - An Epic Journey. The Score - An Epic Journey is the third album of the Dutch Symphonic metal formation Epica, released in 2005 ^[135] Their 2007 album The Divine Conspiracy was a chart success in their home country. The Divine Conspiracy is the fourth full-length studio album by Dutch Symphonic metal band Epica. ^[136]

The Netherlands is known for its large number of symphonic gothic metal bands^[137] with such other bands as Autumn^[134], Imperia,^[138] Nemesea^[139] and the Within Temptation offshoot Delain. Autumn is a dutch band formed in 1995. Members Current Jan Munnik - keyboards Jan Grijpstra Imperia is a Gothic metal band with opera influences from the Netherlands. Nemesea is a Dutch female-fronted rock band formed in 2002 in Groningen. Delain is a Dutch Symphonic metal band The band was founded by the ex- Pianist of Within Temptation, Martijn Westerholt. ^[140] Other representatives across Europe include Angtoria from Sweden,^[141] Delight from Poland,^[142] Elis from Liechtenstein,^[143] and the German bands Atargatis^[144] and Xandria. Angtoria is a Symphonic metal band composed of British singer Sarah Jezebel Deva (of Cradle of Filth) and Swedish brothers Chris Rehn Delight is a Polish Gothic metal band They are currently signed to Roadrunner Records. Elis is a Gothic metal band from Liechtenstein, formed in 2003 after the split of Erben der Schöpfung in 2002 The Principality of Liechtenstein (Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a tiny doubly landlocked Alpine country in Western Europe, bordered by Switzerland Atargatis is a Symphonic metal band from Germany, formed in 1997 in Regensburg. Xandria is a band founded in Bielefeld, Germany in 1997. The band's music combines elements of Symphonic metal and Symphonic rock with light ^[145]

This blend of symphonic and gothic metal has also been arrived at from the opposite direction. The band Nightwish from Finland began as a symphonic power metal act^[146] before introducing gothic elements on their 2005 album Once,^[147] particularly on the single Wish I Had an Angel. Nightwish is a symphonic Power metal band formed in 1996 in the town of Kitee, Finland. ONCE (pronounced /onθe/ or Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles (National Organization of the Spanish Blind is a Spanish foundation founded " Wish I Had An Angel " was the second single for Finnish symphonic power metal quintet Nightwish 's fifth studio album Once ^[148] They continued to mix their style of "bombastic, symphonic and cinematic" metal with a gothic atmosphere on their next album Dark Passion Play in 2007. Dark Passion Play is the sixth studio album of Finnish quintet Nightwish, released on September 26 2007 in Finland, September 28 in ^[149] The Swedish group Therion also introduced gothic elements to their brand of symphonic metal on their 2007 album Gothic Kabbalah. Therion is a Swedish Symphonic metal band founded by Christofer Johnsson in 1987 Gothic Kabbalah is the title of a Double album by Therion. It was released in Europe on January 12, 2007. ^[150][151]

Commercial success

With the release of their sixth album One Second in 1997, Paradise Lost brought a more commercial and pop-oriented direction to the genre they had helped created. One Second is the sixth album release by Paradise Lost. Following Draconian Times, the album reflected the group's first complete departure Praised by Ed Rivadavia of All Music Guide as a "radical but impressive departure," the album drew comparisons to Depeche Mode with nothing remaining "of their early death/doom metal origins. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. Depeche Mode (dəˌpɛʃˈmoʊd are an English Electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. "^[152] Subsequent albums "progressively experimented with electronics and pop elements, with the guitars gradually getting pushed further into the background. "^[37] The result was "an accessible sound and a strong emphasis on catchy choruses. "^[153] While One Second became the group's best selling album,^[154] they are known to have lost some fans in the process. ^[37][154] Despite attaining "a huge reputation in Europe, where all of their albums have sold strongly,"^[32] the group's status as "the progenitors of gothic metal" has been "constantly overlooked, both in their homeland and the US, possibly because of their determination to never make the same record twice. "^[27]

In contrast, Cradle of Filth has become "one of the very biggest names" in their black metal genre with impressive albums sales^[116] and mainstream appearances on MTV,^[155] a level of success that has attracted accusations of "selling out" by the "black metal faithful. MTV ( Music Television) is an American Cable television network based in New York City. "^[84] Moonspell too has "lost a lot of fans who couldn't keep up with the changes" to their music. ^[81] Nonetheless, the band has continued to experience success with their 2006 album Memorial debuting at number 1 on their native Portuguese charts. Memorial is Moonspell 's seventh full-length album released on April 24, 2006 by SPV. ^[77] They were rewarded with the "Best Portuguese Act" award at the 2006 MTV European Music Awards,^[156] a feat matched by Within Temptation in the following year with the "Best Dutch & Belgian Act" award. The 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards was presented on November 2 2006 simultaneously at Bella Center and Rådhuspladsen, in Copenhagen, Denmark The MTV Europe Music Awards 2007 took place on November 1, 2007 in Munich, Germany at the Olympiahalle. ^[157] Within Temptation further received recognition as their country's best selling artist at the 2007 World Music Awards. The World Music Awards (founded in 1989 is an international awards show that annually honors Recording artists based on their worldwide sales figures which are provided by the ^[158]

Cristina Scabbia fronts the popular and commercially successful Lacuna Coil. Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia (born June 6, 1972 in Milan, Italy) is one of the two vocalists in the Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil is an Italian Gothic metal band formed in 1994. Formerly known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal

The Italian band Lacuna Coil has also become one of "premiere act" of the gothic metal genre. Lacuna Coil is an Italian Gothic metal band formed in 1994. Formerly known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal ^[159] Like the other "beauty and the beast" bands, the group employs both a female and a male vocalist in Cristina Scabbia and Andrea Ferro. Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia (born June 6, 1972 in Milan, Italy) is one of the two vocalists in the Italian Gothic metal band Andrea Ferro (born August 19, 1973) is the male vocalist of Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. Formed in Milan in 1994, they released a demo tape in 1996 strongly influenced by Paradise Lost and Type O Negative. Milan (Milano Milan (listen) is one of the largest cities in Italy, located in the plains of Lombardy. ^[160] The band "turned a lot of heads in Italy's ambient/goth scene" with their self-titled EP in 1998. Lacuna Coil is an EP by the Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil, released on April 7, 1998, by Century ^[161] Their debut album In a Reverie was released in 1999 with a style that bore "some similarities to contemporaries like the Gathering and Moonspell. In a Reverie, released 1999 is the first Album by Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil. "^[162] Lacuna Coil's music was also "more accessible than many of their peers. "^[163] A second album Unleashed Memories arrived in 2001 but it was their third full length Comalies that became their breakthrough album, "highly praised by the metal world after its release in October 2002. Unleashed Memories, released March 20, 2001 (see 2001 in music) is the second album by Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Comalies is an Album by Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil, originally released October 8, 2002 on Century Media "^[161] On the strength of Comalies, Lacuna Coil became the most successful artist in the history of their label Century Media Records as well as the highest selling rock act in their home country Italy. Century Media Records (CMR is an independent rock Record label with offices in the United States, Brazil, Germany, ^[159] The band has also achieved the distinction of being the first and, as of late 2007, the only European gothic metal band to successfully break into the United States market with radio airplay^[96] and impressive album sales. ^[159] Their highly anticipated^[164] fourth album Karmacode was similarly successful, debuting at number 28 on the Billboard charts. Karmacode is the fourth full-length album by Italian Gothic metal band Lacuna Coil, released on March 31st 2006 in several countries The Billboard charts are music sales airplay and digital ranking reports distributed to the general public by Billboard magazine ^[159] The Comalies and Karmacode albums "reportedly sold nearly 1 million units combined worldwide, a good chunk of that in the States. "^[96]

In 2003, the rock group Evanescence from Arkansas, United States also found commercial success with the release of their debut album Fallen. Evanescence is an American Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Fallen is the first full-length Album by American Alternative metal band Evanescence. ^[165] Their style brought a gothic twist to nu metal^[166] with critics drawing comparisons to other nu metal acts like P.O.D.^[167] and Linkin Park. Nu metal (sometimes named new metal or nü metal) is a musical genre that emerged in the mid 1990s which fuses influences from grunge and Alternative POD, initials standing for Payable On Death, is a rock band from San Diego California. Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. ^[168] Further comparisons have since been drawn between Evanescence and gothic metal groups like Within Temptation^[169] and Lacuna Coil. ^[170] Critic Adrien Begrand of PopMatters wryly notes that while Lacuna Coil "had been tirelessly building a fanbase in Europe since the late 1990s with their listener-friendly brand of goth metal," they had been overshadowed by "a bunch of corn-fed kids from Arkansas with a big publicity machine behind them [taking] the very sound the Italian sextet had helped pioneer, and present it to the American suburban goth kids in a much more pop-oriented, dumbed down variation. "^[171] Cammila Albertson of All Music Guide similarly locates Evanescence as one step further from gothic metal, offering the description of the band as "a pop version of an already diluted brand of metal. "^[170] While Fernando Ribeiro of Moonspell concurs that Evanescence is not a metal band,^[172] Aaron Stainthorpe of My Dying Bride feels the American group is doing something similar to his own band, only in a more commercial direction. ^[173] Gregor Mackintosh of Paradise Lost notes a generation gap between his group and Evanescence, suggesting that Paradise Lost has only influenced Evanescence indirectly through other acts like Lacuna Coil. Gregor Mackintosh (born June 20 1970 is a British guitar player main composer and lead guitarist in the metal band Paradise Lost. ^[174] The success of Evanescence has been recognized for opening "new grounds" for gothic metal bands to "explore and conquer. "^[175]

Ville Valo of HIM cites Type O Negative and the Peaceville Three as some of his influences. Ville Hermanni Valo ( (born 22 November 1976 is a Finnish Singer, Songwriter, and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM HIM is a rock band from Finland formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, ^[176]

Another act that has attracted both commercial success and controversy is the band HIM. HIM is a rock band from Finland formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, The group has "not only dominated the charts in their native Finland but also across Europe and in particular Germany. "^[177] Their debut album arrived in 1997 as Greatest Lovesongs, Vol. 666 with music that "combines metal with '80s rock and some goth influences. Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666 is the debut album by Finnish band HIM. "^[178] HIM began moving towards a more "polished pop" direction on their next album Razorblade Romance in 2000. Razorblade Romance is the second studio album by HIM, released on 19 December 1999 in Finland and 24 January 2000 in the rest of Europe ^[179] The band describes their "Sabbath-meets-Depeche Mode sound" as Love Metal,^[180] the title of their fourth album in 2003. Depeche Mode (dəˌpɛʃˈmoʊd are an English Electronic music band formed in 1980 in Basildon, Essex. Love Metal is HIM 's fourth album released on 14 April 2003 The Digipak edition of this album also includes the bonus track "Love's Requiem Their subsequent release two years later Dark Light was their breakthrough album in the United States with a debut at number 18 on the Billboard charts,^[181] a feat exceeded when their next album Venus Doom in 2007 made a debut at number 12. Venus Doom is the sixth studio album by Finnish rock band HIM, released on 14 September 2007 ( Germany, Finland, Sweden ^[182] With a "reputation as teenage-girl entertainers,"^[179] many listeners of heavy metal music are "quick to shun and make fun of those who admit to listening the Finnish band. "^[183] Critic Lance Teegarden of PopMatters notes that HIM is not "not the sort of act that conjures up a lukewarm response [as] people either like them or discredit them outright. "^[184] Vocalist Ville Valo contends that the reason why so many rock fans dislike his band is because they are afraid to embrace their feminine side, noting that "calling your band H. Ville Hermanni Valo ( (born 22 November 1976 is a Finnish Singer, Songwriter, and frontman of the Finnish rock band HIM I. M. is about as close to gay as you can get in naming your band. "^[185]

In the 21st century, Gothic metal has enjoyed a strong mainstream presence in Finland with many representatives enjoying commercial success. In addition to the aforementioned HIM,^[186] the bands Charon,^[187] Entwine,^[188] For My Pain...,^[189] Lullacry,^[190] Poisonblack,^[191] Sentenced,^[192] The 69 Eyes^[193] and To/Die/For^[194] have all found their singles or albums hitting the top ten of the Finnish charts. Charon is a Finnish Gothic metal band from Raahe, Finland. Biography Charon was founded in 1992 by Antti Karihtala Teemu Entwine is a Finnish Gothic metal band Biography Entwine was originally assembled as a Death metal band Kaamos in 1995 by For My Pain (often abbreviated “FMP” or just “FMP” is a Gothic metal supergroup from Oulu, Finland, featuring members from Lullacry is a melodic metal band with Gothic metal influences that hails from Helsinki, Finland. Poisonblack is a Finnish Gothic metal band helmed by singer/guitarist Ville Laihiala, vocalist of the now disbanded Sentenced. Sentenced was a doom / Gothic metal and in the beginning Melodic death metal band formed in 1989, in the town of Muhos, Finland The 69 Eyes are a Finnish rock band They are signed to EMI / Virgin Records Finland Mary-Ann redirects here for the Gilligan's Island character see Mary Ann Summers To/Die/For (often abbreviated TDF Of these band, Sentenced notably formed as far back as 1989^[195] with their early albums in the melodic and blackened death metal vein. Melodic death metal (also referred to as melodeath) is a Subgenre of Death metal which combines the melody of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal Blackened death metal (also called "death/black metal" or "black/death metal" depending on which style is dominant is a Fusion genre of Extreme metal ^[196] For My Pain. . . was formed as a supergroup with members from other prominent bands in Finland including Nightwish, Embraze, Eternal Tears of Sorrow and Reflexion. SuperGroup is a Reality show on the channel VH1. The show puts together five Heavy metal musicians packed into a large mansion that must play a show after Nightwish is a symphonic Power metal band formed in 1996 in the town of Kitee, Finland. Embraze is a group from Kiiminki, Finland. Their music can be described as a combination of traditional metal and dark/gothic elements Eternal Tears of Sorrow (commonly abbreviated to EToS) is a Finnish Melodic death metal band Reflexion is a Gothic metal band from Finland. The band was first created in 1996 for long time they played without a vocalist ^[197]

Etymology

Gothic is a term that is "difficult to pin down. "^[198] Some commentators have suggested that there is an underlying Goth ideology, mindset or a set of common values but there is "little agreement about precisely what this might involve. "^[199] The author Gavin Baddeley describes the gothic aesthetic in the following way. Gavin Baddeley is an ordained Reverend in the Church of Satan, and an experienced Journalist who has worked for The Observer and Metal Hammer

The term gothic entered heavy metal music with the release of Paradise Lost's Gothic album in 1991. Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. Gothic is the second full-length album released by British Heavy metal band Paradise Lost. ^[201] Since then, fans have often been at odds with one another as to "which bands are, or most definitely are not, authentically Gothic. "^[202] It is also a common sight to find musicians associated with gothic music "disowning their Goth audience" and distancing themselves from the label, with notable examples including Rozz Williams of Christian Death and Andrew Eldritch of The Sisters of Mercy. Rozz Williams ( November 6, 1963 – April 1, 1998) born Roger Alan Painter was an American Deathrock vocalist most Christian Death is an American Deathrock band formed in Los Angeles, California in 1979 Andrew Eldritch (born Andrew William Harvey Taylor, 15 May 1959) is the frontman Singer, Songwriter and the only remaining original The Sisters of Mercy are an English Gothic rock band that formed in 1980 ^[203] In the gothic metal subgenre, members from such groups as After Forever,^[204] HIM^[205] and Nightwish^[206] have similarly downplayed or dismissed the gothic label from their music. After Forever is a Dutch symphonic metal band relies on the use of both Soprano vocals and Death grunts Their music is also influenced HIM is a rock band from Finland formed in 1991 by vocalist Ville Valo, guitarist Mikko Lindström, Nightwish is a symphonic Power metal band formed in 1996 in the town of Kitee, Finland.

Characteristics

Music

The music of gothic metal is generally characterised by its dark atmosphere. ^[207] The adjective "dark" is commonly used to describe gothic music in general while other terms that are less frequently used include deep, depressing, romantic, passionate and intense. ^[208] Gothic metal has also been described as "a combination of the darkness and melancholy of goth rock with heavy metal. "^[209] All Music Guide defines the genre as a fusion of "the bleak, icy atmospherics of goth rock with the loud guitars and aggression of heavy metal" and further notes that "true goth metal is always directly influenced by goth rock - ethereal synths and spooky textures are just as important as guitar riffs, if not moreso. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. "^[7]

Gothic metal is a varied genre with bands pursuing many different directions, from "slow and crushing variations" to "orchestral and bombastic. "^[201] The doom metal background of early pioneers like Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride has been taken up in earnest by groups like Artrosis,^[210] Ava Inferi^[211] and Draconian. Doom metal is a form of Heavy metal music that typically employs very slow Tempos low-tuned guitars and a much 'thicker' or 'heavier' sound than other metal Paradise Lost are a Heavy metal band formed in 1988 in Halifax, England. My Dying Bride is a British Doom metal band formed in 1990 Biography My Dying Bride was formed in June 1990 after lead guitarist Andrew Artrosis is a Polish Gothic metal band founded in 1995 in Zielona Góra. Ava Inferi was created in Almada Portugal by guitarist and songwriter Rune Eriksen (aka Blasphemer Mayhem). Draconian is a Swedish Gothic doom band formed in 1994 that creates songs of atmospheric melodic and emotive characteristics ^[212] The black metal approach of Cradle of Filth and early Moonspell can be found in such subsequent bands as the aforementioned Graveworm, Drastique and Samsas Traum while the symphonic metal approach of Tristania and Within Temptation can be found in other groups like the aforementioned Epica, After Forever and Autumn. Black metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It often employs fast tempos shrieked vocals highly distorted guitars played with Tremolo picking, Moonspell is a Portuguese Black metal / Gothic metal band with Death/doom metal elements formed in 1989 as Morbid God Graveworm is a Melodic black metal band with extremely heavy influences from Gothic metal, Doom metal, (on older albums and Death metal Drastique (formerly known as Drastic) is an avant-garde Gothic metal band from Italy with Progressive metal and Symphonic black Samsas Traum is an Avantgarde band from Germany fronted by Alexander Kaschte Symphonic metal or opera metal is a term used to describe Heavy metal music that has symphonic elements that is elements that sound similar to a Tristania is Gothic metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Within Temptation is a Dutch rock band The band was founded Epica is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded by guitarist and vocalist Mark Jansen subsequent to his departure from After Forever. After Forever is a Dutch symphonic metal band relies on the use of both Soprano vocals and Death grunts Their music is also influenced Autumn is a dutch band formed in 1995. Members Current Jan Munnik - keyboards Jan Grijpstra Other variations include the death metal of Trail of Tears,^[213] the folk metal of Midnattsol^[214] and the alternative metal of Katatonia. Death metal is an extreme subgenre of heavy metal. It typically employs fast tempos heavily distorted guitars deep growling vocals morbid lyrics Trail of Tears is a Norwegian Gothic / Symphonic black metal band originally formed in 1994 under the name of Natt. Folk metal is a sub-genre of Heavy metal music that developed in Europe during the 1990s Midnattsol is a Symphonic metal and Folk metal band from Germany and Norway. Alternative metal is an eclectic form of Heavy metal music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. This article is about the band Katatonia not to be confused with the Welsh Pop-Rock band Catatonia. ^[215]

Lead female vocalists are a common presence in the gothic metal genre. One of the earliest was Anneke van Giersbergen of The Gathering, depicted above. Anneke van Giersbergen (born March 8, 1973) is the former Singer of the Dutch band The Gathering, now involved in The Gathering is a Dutch band which came to fame in the second half of 1990s with vocalist Anneke van Giersbergen.

There is also a diverse range of vocal styles in gothic metal. Male singers in the genre range from the guttural growls and black metal shrieks of Dani Filth^[84] and Morten Veland^[107] to the clean counter-tenor vocals of Østen Bergøy^[107] and the baritone range of Peter Steele. Dani Filth (born Daniel Lloyd Davey) is the Lyricist, Vocalist and founding member of the British Extreme metal band Cradle of Filth Morten Veland (born December 4, 1977) was one of the founding members of the Norwegian Gothic metal band Tristania. Tristania is Gothic metal band from Norway, formed in the end of 1996 by Morten Veland, Einar Moen and Kenneth Olsson. Peter Steele (born Peter Ratajczyk on January 4 1962 in Brooklyn New York, U ^[54] For the female singers, the different vocal styles includes the screams and growls of Cadaveria,^[216] the "poppy" vocals of Tanja Lainio from Lullacry^[217] and the operatic soprano style of Vibeke Stene from Tristania. The Extreme metal band Cadaveria was born in April 2001 forged by the erstwhile Opera IX personnel Cadaveria and Flegias (a Lullacry is a melodic metal band with Gothic metal influences that hails from Helsinki, Finland. Vibeke Stene (pronounced vih-beh-kie (born August 17, 1978) is a Norwegian female singer ^[107] There are more female singers in gothic metal than there are in any other heavy metal subgenres^[201] but female vocals are neither necessary nor synonymous with the genre. Liv Kristine of Theatre of Tragedy and Leaves' Eyes notes that the gothic tag is often misinterpreted and points out that "not every band with female vocals is a gothic band. Theatre of Tragedy are a Norwegian band from Stavanger, originally assembled in 1992 and best known for their earlier albums which provided a great deal of influence Leaves' Eyes is a symphonic Gothic metal band with folk elements from Norway and Germany assembled in 2003, shortly "^[96] The genre is also known to attract more female fans relative to other subgenres of heavy metal music. ^[218]

Lyrics

The lyrics of gothic metal are known to be "epic and melodramatic. "^[209] For the three English bands that helped to pioneer the genre, their sorrowful and depressive lyrics reflect their background in doom metal. ^[219] The music of My Dying Bride has been noted as "dripping with treachery and pain" from a "lyrical fascination with deceit and transgressions of every variety. "^[220] Lyrics that focus on suicide and the meaningless of life can be found in Anathema^[46] while Paradise Lost too has "never lost their depressive edge. Anathema are an English band from the city of Liverpool, which together with Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride, helped to develop the "^[221]

The Italian gothic black metal band Theatres des Vampires manifests a deep interest in the vampire myth, a common staple of gothic horror fiction. Theatres des Vampires is an Italian Extreme gothic metal / Gothic rock band with strong black metal influences mostly noted for the predominant theme of Vampires are mythological or folkloric revenants who subsist by feeding on the blood of the living ^[222]

Gothic fiction, a literary genre that blends horror and romance, has been a source of inspiration for the lyrics of many gothic metal bands like Cadaveria,^[223] Cradle of Filth,^[224] Moonspell,^[225], Theatre des Vampires^[226] and Xandria. Gothic fiction (sometimes referred to as Gothic horror) is a genre of literature that combines elements of both horror and romance. Horror fiction is broadly Fiction in any medium intended to scare unsettle or horrify the audience As a Literary genre of High culture, romance or chivalric romance refers to a style of heroic Prose and verse Narrative Théâtre des Vampires is the home of a Parisian Vampire Coven from the earlier books in Anne Rice 's The Vampire Chronicles series Xandria is a band founded in Bielefeld, Germany in 1997. The band's music combines elements of Symphonic metal and Symphonic rock with light ^[227] Critic Ed Rivadavia of the All Music Guide identifies drama and mournful beauty as requisite elements of the genre. allmusic (previously All Music Guide) is a Metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ^[110] For My Dying Bride, the subjects of "death and misery and lost love and romance" has been approached repeatedly from different angles. ^[228] The common gothic theme of lost love^[229] is a subject that has been tackled by such gothic metal bands as Theatre of Tragedy^[230] and Leaves' Eyes. ^[231]

Lyrics based on personal experiences is another common feature of many gothic metal bands such as Anathema,^[232] Elis,^[233] Tiamat,^[234] Midnattsol^[235] and The Old Dead Tree. Elis is a Gothic metal band from Liechtenstein, formed in 2003 after the split of Erben der Schöpfung in 2002 Tiamat is a Metal band that formed in Stockholm Sweden in 1988 Midnattsol is a Symphonic metal and Folk metal band from Germany and Norway. The Old Dead Tree is a gothic Doom metal band from the city of Paris, France founded in 1997 ^[236] Graveworm moved away from fantasy stories in favor of personal lyrics after finding them more suitable for their style of music. ^[237] The lyrics of fellow Italians Lacuna Coil also do not feature any "fantasy stuff or something that you cannot find in reality" as their co-vocalist Cristina Scabbia finds it desirable that people can relate themselves to her band's lyrics. Lacuna Coil is an Italian Gothic metal band formed in 1994. Formerly known as Sleep of Right and Ethereal Cristina Adriana Chiara Scabbia (born June 6, 1972 in Milan, Italy) is one of the two vocalists in the Italian Gothic metal band ^[238] Similarly, the band Lullacry features lyrics on the subjects of "love, hate, passion and pain" because a person "can easily connect to a song" with lyrics "about human relationships. "^[239]

See also

• List of gothic metal bands

Notes

References

• Baddeley, Gavin (2002). Gothic Chic: A Connoisseur's Guide to Dark Culture. London: Plexus Publishing Limited. ISBN 0859653080.  
• Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. London: Rough Guides. ISBN 1843531054.  
• Bukszpan, Daniel (2003). The Encyclopedia of Heavy Metal. New York: Barnes & Noble Publishing. ISBN 0760742189.  
• Day, Peter (2006). Vampires: Myths and Metaphors of Enduring Evil. New York: Rodopi. ISBN 9042016698.  
• Gunn, Joshua (2007). Dark Admissions: Gothic Subculture and the Ambivalence of Misogyny and Resistance. Durham: Duke University Press, 41-65. ISBN 0822339218.  
• Kavka, Misha (2007). The Gothic on Screen. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 209-228. ISBN 0521794668.  
• Kilpatrick, Nancy (2004). The Goth Bible: A Compendium for the Darkly Inclined. New York: St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0312306962.  
• Hoskyns, Barney (2004). Into the Void: Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath. London: Omnibus Press. ISBN 1844491501.  
• Kahn-Harris, Keith (2007). Extreme Metal: Music and Culture on the Edge. Oxford: Berg Publishers. ISBN 1845203992.  
• Leguay, Stephane (2006). Carnets noirs: musiques, attitudes, cultures gothiques, électroniques & industrielles Acte 1 La scène internationale. Paris: E-dite. ISBN 284608176X.  
• Punter, David (2004). The Gothic. Malden: Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 0631220631.  
• Sharpe-Young, Garry (2007). Metal: The Definitive Guide. London: Jawbone Press. ISBN 9781906002015.  
• Thompson, Dave (November 1994). Undead Undead Undead.  

External links

• Goth metal at the All Music Guide
• Gothic metal at About.com