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Top 10 Gothic Metal Albums


Requiem

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On 20/03/2017 at 9:15 AM, BlutAusNerd said:

Interesting. I don't listen to a ton of gothic metal, but I would like to dig through my collection for research and participate in this.

 

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That would be cool. I would really be interested to see what people who weren't into the genre listed as their favourites. That would take some digging, but I'm sure most in the internet age could cobble together a list, even if they were least worsts!

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8 hours ago, TheDemonicWoman said:

Gothic metal is ****** sensational and with the many bands, there is something for everyone. Really doesn't matter if you love extream death metal like I do. I am sure you will also love symphonic and gothic metal like I worship.

I love bands like Xandria, Therion, Metalwings etc

Nice post! Therion are awesome, especially the 'Theli' and 'Vovin' albums. They were part of that great 90s scene. Who else are you into? 

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20 hours ago, BlutAusNerd said:

When I finally get my list together, you'll be able to remove your wrist that had ages past been cemented in eternal mourning to your brow and proclaim that you're no longer alone... 

One of the hardest things in creating a list of gothic metal is to figure out what is actually gothic metal and not simply romantic doom, or darkened pop metal, or symphonic melodic metal. In the end I just went with albums and bands that gave me the gothic vibe, had forlorn lyrical topics, maybe a violin or two. To paraphrase Fenriz: "Gothic metal isn't about one sound, it's about a feeling you get". 

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7 minutes ago, Requiem said:

One of the hardest things in creating a list of gothic metal is to figure out what is actually gothic metal and not simply romantic doom, or darkened pop metal, or symphonic melodic metal. In the end I just went with albums and bands that gave me the gothic vibe, had forlorn lyrical topics, maybe a violin or two. To paraphrase Fenriz: "Gothic metal isn't about one sound, it's about a feeling you get". 

I don't think it's so much that as that Gothic metal has a lot of crossover with other metal styles. Gothic black metal, Gothic doom, Gothic/symphonic metal, etc... you just don't hear of a lot of it that stands on its own. Sort of like how speed metal is often found as power/speed metal, speed/thrash metal, heavy/speed metal, but seldom just as speed metal. Kind of an interesting concept I guess. I'm sure my list will have lots of those combinations in it, but I think even I'll be surprised at how it actually shakes out.

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7 minutes ago, BlutAusNerd said:

I don't think it's so much that as that Gothic metal has a lot of crossover with other metal styles. Gothic black metal, Gothic doom, Gothic/symphonic metal, etc... you just don't hear of a lot of it that stands on its own. Sort of like how speed metal is often found as power/speed metal, speed/thrash metal, heavy/speed metal, but seldom just as speed metal. Kind of an interesting concept I guess. I'm sure my list will have lots of those combinations in it, but I think even I'll be surprised at how it actually shakes out.

I think that's pretty much what I was saying. I like the idea that we're being somewhat liberal with genre boundaries for gothic metal. I know how much it pains you to see a band mislabelled by genre ;) 

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I kept the same criteria as Requiem: one album per band, otherwise it would likely be dominated by two bands. And I use 'gothic' as a descriptor rather than the common genre definition. I provided some brief notes for each album. This is only a rough idea of my top ten as it is hard to include only ten.  

 

Theatres des Vampires - Bloody Lunatic Asylum

An absolute masterpiece. TdV really had something special going on in the late 90s/early 00s before they changed their direction and split with their vocalist. 

 

Cradle of Filth - The Principle of Evil Made Flesh

It's brutal, ugly, and utterly atmospheric in its funereal gloom. One of many masterpieces that the band has released. 

 

Darkness of Blood - A Dream of Vampires in Astral Dementia

It doesn't get any more vampiric than this obscure masterpiece, trust me. This is a blood overdose.   

 

My Dying Bride - As the Flower Withers

Whist essentially being a death metal album, it does display some gothic touches here and there. Some of their later albums may wear the descriptor better but, nevertheless, this is my personal favourite of theirs.  

 

Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions

I normally wouldn't refer to Dimmu Borgir as gothic but this particular album is. I think this was due to the changes in line-up and it's no surprise that it is very similar to Mirrored Hate Painting, only more majestic. 

 

Moonspell - Wolfheart

I have a difficult time choosing between this and Irreligious but I think I prefer Wolfheart stylistically.  

 

Deinonychus - The Weeping of a Thousand Years

An anomaly amid their catalogue, Deinonychus decided to fully immerse themselves in gothic atmospheres on this album. 

 

Evenfall - Still in the Grey Dying

Excellent album, similar to early Theatres des Vampires.  

 

Anathema - The Silent Enigma

Excellent album, more engaging than their debut. I prefer earlier Anathema over their later stuff. 

 

Paradise Lost - Icon

I am not entirely sure this is my favourite of theirs but Icon, along with Gothic and Draconian Times, represents Paradise Lost at their best. 

 

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21 hours ago, Vampyrique said:

I kept the same criteria as Requiem: one album per band, otherwise it would likely be dominated by two bands. And I use 'gothic' as a descriptor rather than the common genre definition. I provided some brief notes for each album. This is only a rough idea of my top ten as it is hard to include only ten.  

 

Theatres des Vampires - Bloody Lunatic Asylum

An absolute masterpiece. TdV really had something special going on in the late 90s/early 00s before they changed their direction and split with their vocalist. 

 

Cradle of Filth - The Principle of Evil Made Flesh

It's brutal, ugly, and utterly atmospheric in its funereal gloom. One of many masterpieces that the band has released. 

 

Darkness of Blood - A Dream of Vampires in Astral Dementia

It doesn't get any more vampiric than this obscure masterpiece, trust me. This is a blood overdose.   

 

My Dying Bride - As the Flower Withers

Whist essentially being a death metal album, it does display some gothic touches here and there. Some of their later albums may wear the descriptor better but, nevertheless, this is my personal favourite of theirs.  

 

Dimmu Borgir - Spiritual Black Dimensions

I normally wouldn't refer to Dimmu Borgir as gothic but this particular album is. I think this was due to the changes in line-up and it's no surprise that it is very similar to Mirrored Hate Painting, only more majestic. 

 

Moonspell - Wolfheart

I have a difficult time choosing between this and Irreligious but I think I prefer Wolfheart stylistically.  

 

Deinonychus - The Weeping of a Thousand Years

An anomaly amid their catalogue, Deinonychus decided to fully immerse themselves in gothic atmospheres on this album. 

 

Evenfall - Still in the Grey Dying

Excellent album, similar to early Theatres des Vampires.  

 

Anathema - The Silent Enigma

Excellent album, more engaging than their debut. I prefer earlier Anathema over their later stuff. 

 

Paradise Lost - Icon

I am not entirely sure this is my favourite of theirs but Icon, along with Gothic and Draconian Times, represents Paradise Lost at their best. 

 

Awesome choices. There are a couple there that I'm not familiar with and will have to check out. 

I have to say, I'm surprised to see one of the first couple of albums from Theatre of Tragedy and Tristania missing. Are you into these albums? 

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I remember thinking early Theatre of tragedy was ok but not really my thing. I like Tristania but I only own their debut Widow's Weeds and I'm not too familiar with them beyond their early albums. 

My list is a rough idea my top ten, and it is partial to my tastes in music in general. It wasn't really meant to be an ideal representation of gothic metal; rather, it was my favourite albums that tangentially or directly fall within the scope of gothic when used as a descriptor. There are many albums that I could have included but it is hard to narrow it down to ten. 

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On 13/08/2017 at 0:30 PM, Vampyrique said:

I remember thinking early Theatre of tragedy was ok but not really my thing. I like Tristania but I only own their debut Widow's Weeds and I'm not too familiar with them beyond their early albums. 

My list is a rough idea my top ten, and it is partial to my tastes in music in general. It wasn't really meant to be an ideal representation of gothic metal; rather, it was my favourite albums that tangentially or directly fall within the scope of gothic when used as a descriptor. There are many albums that I could have included but it is hard to narrow it down to ten. 

I updated this thread because I wanted to explain my choices better. Plus I remembered that I'd forgotten Saturnus which I feel really does fit the gothic metal framework that I'm working in just as much they do a doom one. 

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3 hours ago, Requiem said:

I updated this thread because I wanted to explain my choices better. Plus I remembered that I'd forgotten Saturnus which I feel really does fit the gothic metal framework that I'm working in just as much they do a doom one. 

Martyre is definitely a Gothic metal album, it doesn't have much to do with doom at all. 

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  • 4 weeks later...

My top 10 Gothic Metal Albums

1 Tristania - Widow's Weeds

2 The Sins of Thy Beloved - Lake of Sorrow

3 The Gathering - Mandylion

4 Tristania - Beyond The Veil

5 Sirenia - An Elixir For Existance

6 Draconian - Sovran

7 Trail of Tears - Disclosure in Red

8 Sirenia - At Sixes And Sevens

9 The Gathering - Always...

10 Theatre of Tragedy - Theatre of Tragedy

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5 hours ago, Earendel said:

My top 10 Gothic Metal Albums

1 Tristania - Widow's Weeds

2 The Sins of Thy Beloved - Lake of Sorrow

3 The Gathering - Mandylion

4 Tristania - Beyond The Veil

5 Sirenia - An Elixir For Existance

6 Draconian - Sovran

7 Trail of Tears - Disclosure in Red

8 Sirenia - At Sixes And Sevens

9 The Gathering - Always...

10 Theatre of Tragedy - Theatre of Tragedy

Excellent list!

'Lake of Sorrow' is really high here. I really need to finally buy this. I couldn't find a new copy on ebay so maybe I'll try discogs. Interesting to see both classic Tristania albums but only Theatre of Tragedy's debut creeping in at number 10. Great to see another Sirenia fan. I see you lean towards their early few albums, which I also love, although I do prefer their two of their last three.

Love your number 1! 

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9 hours ago, Requiem said:

Excellent list!

'Lake of Sorrow' is really high here. I really need to finally buy this. I couldn't find a new copy on ebay so maybe I'll try discogs. Interesting to see both classic Tristania albums but only Theatre of Tragedy's debut creeping in at number 10. Great to see another Sirenia fan. I see you lean towards their early few albums, which I also love, although I do prefer their two of their last three.

Love your number 1! 

Thank you!  I found Lake of Sorrow and Perpetual Desolation  available in CD format on amazon. I love Theatre of Tragedy's first three albums. Albums released after Aegis are not for me. They're have too much electronic influences. Not my cup of tea. Tristania is my beloved gothic metal band. I simply adore Widow's Weeds and Beyond The Veil! I think Widow's Weeds is essence of gothic metal. To be honest I love all Tristania albums with Vibeke on vocals. I miss her so much. I really like Sirenia. Especially their two first albums as you can see. Also Perils of The Deep Blue and The Seventh Life Path are amazing :)

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I agree with you 100% on all of this! All the opinions you’ve posted are mine too. 

If you haven’t already, check out the latest Sirenia album ‘Dim Days of Dolor’. It could almost be my favourite of theirs.

And yes, the first three Theatre of Tragedy and the Vibeke Tristania albums (especially the first two) are stunning!

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