COMBO:Â Essential Goth/post punk/alternative bands + POCs in Goth/post punk/alternative bands masterpost
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Essential Goth/post punk/alternative bands
Hello weirdos! A lot of folks seem to be a little lost when first setting foot into the goth subculture and donât know where to go for band recommendations. Hereâs a list of important, influential bands that contributed to the goth subculture - along with several favs - I put together with Dean (angry punk pictured above).
In order to avoid classification issues, theyâre categorized by sound rather than specific genre. Keep in mind that this list is personal, and most importantly, ever growing! If you would like to add a band, submit your recommendations to the list here. I would love to have your contributions. So, here we go:
Bauhaus (1978-2008) âBela Lugosiâs Deadâ is a national anthem. Lead singer Peter Murphy has really pointy cheek bones.
Peter Murphy (1983-present) his solo work, not as angular as his facial features.
Love and Rockets (1985-present) Peter Murphy got stuck hanging upside  down on stage and the Bauhaus members formed a band without him.
Joy Division (1976-1980) Ian Curtis was an energetic dancer, to say the least. âLove Will Tear Us Apartâ and âTransmissionâ are famous songs.
The Sisters of Mercy (1980-present) Andrew Eldritch is not goth, he swears.
The Cure (1976-present) lead singer Robert Smith is a giant cat with red lipstick. He cries on stage and his tears cure cancer.
Cocteau Twins (1979-1997)
Sex Gang Children (1991-present)
Wire (1976-1980) seriously underrated. Would recommend the album âPink Flagâ.
Lydia Lunch amazing female singer. Try the album â13.13â.
Clan of Xymox (1983-present) are you kidding no oneâs voice is this deep.
The Chameleons (1981-2003) has the ability to sound woeful yet jolly.
The Mission (1986-present) âInto the Blueâ is a good start.
Depeche Mode (1980-present) dark and gloomy synths. Known for âPersonal Jesusâ, âEnjoy the Silenceâ, âNever let Me Down Againâ and a billion others.
Fields of the Nephilim (1984-present) vocalist Carl McCoy is a desert cowboy.
The March Violets (1981-present) listen to âThe Botanic Versesâ.
The Bolshoi (1983-1988) start with the album âFriendsâ.
The Danse Society (1980-present) try the album âHeaven is Waitingâ.
The Southern Death Cult (1981-1983) has a song called âFatmanâ. Ian Astbury teamed up with Billy Duffy from Theatre of Hate to create Death Cult which later became The Cult, another band worth checking out.
Play Dead (1981-1985) doesnât like being called goth. Musicians that donât like being labeled? Unheard of.
Corpus Delicti (1993-1998) name means âbody of crimeâ. Just saying.
Nosferatu (1988-present) actual vampires making music.
Mephisto Walz (1985-present)
The Wake pretty sure Eldritchâs cousin is in the video âChristineâ.
Echo & the Bunnymen (1978-present) known for âThe Killing Moonâ which you might remember from the movie Donnie Darko.
The Jesus & Mary Chain (1983-present) known for âJust Like Honeyâ.
Children on Stun (1991-present) would recommend the song âWhiskey a Go-Goâ, youâll beâŠ*lowers sun glasses* stunned.
Dead Can Dance (1981-present)
And Also the Trees (1979-present) the dictionary definition of âdark and broodingâ.
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (1981-present)
Magazine (1977-2011) listen to the album âReal Lifeâ.
Concrete Blonde (1986-present)
Gene Loves Jezebel (1980-present)
Tones on Tail (1982-1984) Daniel Ashâs (Bauhaus) illegitimate child side project.
Curve (1990-2005) Toni Halidayâs seductive alto voice against a backdrop of layered guitars and drum loops; fans of Curve generally regard Garbage as having stole their shtick and made it pop-friendly.
Bella Morte (1996-present)
LeĂŠther Strip (1988-present) with forays into industrial/ebm; Highly Recommend âSerenade For The Deadâ and âSelf-Inflictedâ.
Love Like Blood (1989-2011) the Sisters of Mercy and Type O Negativeâs German child.
The Merry Thoughts (1983-1998) another German band that sounds like the Sisters of Mercy.
A Pale Horse Named Death (2011-present) another Type O Negative offshoot, this band has the original drummer on vocals and their drummer on drums. Very dark and devoid of Type Oâs black humor, but still a great listen.
The Cruxshadows (1992-present) an alternative musical start for many. The important thing: spiky hair.
Deathrockers and undead punks:
Christian Death (1979-present) founded by Rozz Williams, but faced several line up issues (a second Christian Death featured Valor Kand rather than Rozz Williams). Known for âRomeoâs Distressâ. Start with âOnly Theatre of Painâ then âCatastrophe Balletâ.
Specimen (1980-present) features the cofounder of the Batcave. Best known for âKiss Kiss Bang Bangâ and Johnny Slut being awesome.
Cinema Strange (1994-present) listen to the album of the same name. Known for their acts on stage.
The Deadfly Ensemble similar in feel to Cinema Strange with the same âstory tellingâ aspect.
Voodoo Church (1982-present)
Misfits (1977-present) 1950s horror told by crazy guys with guitars and muscles. Personal favorite album: âStatic Ageâ. Singer Glenn Danzig went on to create Danzig. Also make your day better by listening to the âMonster Mashâ cover.
The Cramps (1976-2009) originators of âpsychobillyâ. Highly original and sleazy with class.
Alien Sex Fiend (1982-present) husband and wife that sound like legit extra-terrestrials. Proof that there is no such thing as taking yourself seriously.
The Damned (1976-present) lead singer, Dave Vanian, is a vampire.
Blood and Roses underrated. Listen to âYour Sin is Your Salvationâ.
The Birthday Party (1977-1983) pretty jazzy. Nick Cave, vocalist, likes to wear suits and release bats from caves.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds (1984-present) this guys is so interesting he is set apart from the Bad Seeds and he has a movie.
Virgin Prunes (1977-1986) known for âBaby Turns Blueâ.
The Psychedelic Furs (1977-present) remember the movie âPretty in Pinkâ? Well there. Try the album âPsychedelic Fursâ!
Anorexic Dread (1983-1985) short lived but worth knowing.
Flesh for Lulu (1982-present)
Lene Lovich âI Think Weâre Alone Nowâ
Skeletal Family (1982-present)
Klaus Nomi (1977-1983) the late artist sounded like he looked: surprised and hauntingly original.
The Morgans (mid 1990s-1996) try âHalf Girl Half Jesusâ.
Xmal Deutschland (1980-1990)
Siouxsie and the Banshees (1976-2002) pronounced âSuzyâ. I know you know, but I didnât at first. âSpellbound, âHappy Houseâ, âCities in Dustâ, plenty to listen to. And, Siouxsie Sioux rocks.
Killing Joke  (1978-present) where do I begin? Do I begin at all? You know what, it doesnât matter if you skip this entire list and just listen to this one band. Iâll spare you the essay and recommend the album of the same name, âLaugh? I nearly bought one!â, âDemocracyâ, âExtremities, Dirt and Various Repressed Emotionsâ and âPandemoniumâ. More than the sound are the lyrics, the members and the message.
1919 (1980-present) underrated to the extreme. Similar to Killing Joke in sound and vibe.
Nina Hagen (1971-present) sheâs wicked cool, in sound and style. And also sheâs German.
Type O Negative (1990-2010) American metal band with widely respected singer/bassist, the late Peter Steele.
The Stranglers (1974-present)
New Model Army (1980-present)
Public Image Limited aka PIL (1978-present) John Lydonâs [aka Jonny Rotten of Sex Pistols] post-punk band that created gems like âThe Order of Deathâ and âRiseâ.
Life of Agony (1989-present) Alternative metal band from Brooklyn. Had Type O Negativeâs original drummer after he left. Slightly thrashy, but sludgy and dark as well.
Witchy, âpsycho-delicâ or heavily historical:
Switchblade Symphony (1989-1999) would recommend the album âSerpentine Galleryâ.
Strawberry Switchblade (1981-1985) listen to earlier works.
Faith and the Muse (1993-present)
Soap & Skin (2008-present)
The Velvet Underground & Nico the album is known for the songs âVenus in Fursâ and âAll Tomorrowâs Partiesâ. Check out Nico, another wicked German artist.
Chelsea Wolf (2009-present)
Stevie Nicks (1981-present)
The Legendary Pink Dots (1980-present)
Black Tape for a Blue Girl (1986-present)
Sopor Aeternus & the Ensemble of Shadows (1989-present) taken straight from the Grim Reaperâs playlist.
Inkubus Sukkubus (1989-present) check out âCall Out My Name,â âVampyra,â and âBelladonna And Aconite.â
Rasputina (1992-present) historical influences with a storytelling twist.
Emilie Autumn somewhat controversial with fans, but excellent violinist.
Discombobulated former construction workers:
Skinny Puppy (1982-present) trĂšs important industrial band.
OhGr by Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy. ReCcoMeNd tHe AlbUm âwELtâ?
Einsturzende Neubauten (1980-present) post Throbbing Gristle -PS try them out as well- industrial.
Ministry (1981-present) famous for âEvery Day is Halloweenâ. Recommend earlier work and the album âTwitchâ. Their newer albums are more metal oriented.
KMFDM (1984-present) perverse, angry and awesome.
Front Line Assembly (1986-present)
Thrill Kill Kult (1987-present)
Nitzer Ebb (1982-present) English guy shouts over drum machines.
Front 242 (1981-present) Belgian guy kinda sings over drum machines.
Nine Inch Nails (1988-present) American guy screams over drum machines [early NIN], sings over distorted synths and guitars [later NIN].
Everything off of the Wax Trax! label circa 1990
Dead Kennedys (1978-1986) featured living people and some unforgettable tunes, notably from the album âFresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetablesâ.
Sex Pistols (1975-2008) So punk, much anarchy.
Bad Brains (1977-present) a mix of punk and reggae, a genre within itself that redefined the scene.
Black Flag (1976-present)
Minor Threat (1980-1983) accidentally slipped and gave birth to straight edgers.
Fugazi (1987-2002) with vocalist Ian MacKaye from Minor Threat.
Adolescents (1980-present) pfff, these guys are totally adults.
The Clash (1976-1985) âLondon Callingâ is trying to reach you.
Joan Jett a fine lady that doesnât give an inkling of care about her unfavorable reputation.
X-Ray Spex (1976-present) featuring the ever so awesome and PVCâs opposite, Poly Styrene.
Television (1973-present)
Bad Religion (1979-present) - note: skip âInto The Unknownâ, everything else is golden
Voltaire evil top hat wearer that was featured in an episode of Billy and Mandyâs Grim Adventures.
Creature Feature did you know? Edward Gorey and Danny Elfman had kids.
Nox Arcana creepy soundtrack for your lifeâŠor afterlife.
Tom Waits (1949-present) the essence of a Western.
David Bowie (1964-present) commonly referred to as âGodâ.
Leonard Cohen (1967-present) heâs Canadian.
Culture Club (1982-1986) just, Boy George.
Nico former Velvet Underground member, German ex-model singing songs titled things like âJanitor of Lunacyâ off-key.
The Smiths (1982-1987) Morrissey is like the Charlie Brown of British pop music: heâll never win, and therefore is One Of Us.
POCs in Goth/post punk/alternative bands masterpost
Hereâs a list of bands featuring members of color. Most are influential, others new discoveries or future freak gods. Thanks to research and helpful readers, hereâs a bit of sick sound suitable for all taste buds:
Goth, dark or industrial:
Creature Feature - Erik X is an evil composer and organ player with a special gift for raising the dead.
Plastique Noir -the Brazilian band that made the song âEmpty Streetsâ thatâs just too dark to handle.
O. Children - contrary to popular belief, Tobi OâKandi is not, in fact, a black reincarnation of Ian Curtis.
Thrill Kill Kult - sick industrial band with several poc members.
Android Lust - Shikhee is Bangladeshi, and she makes some of the best industrial music ever heard.
Malice Mizer and Moi Dix Mois
Corrupted - awesome japanese doom/sludge band that are considered super influential in the scene.
Light Asylum - heavy dark synth primarily. Itâs really fun and the front singer HAS A MIGHTY POWER.
Punk, hardcore or post-hardcore:
Bad Brains - why most of the bands on this list even exist.
Death - not to be confused with the metal band of the same way. Not that you could confuse the members in any way.
Rough Francis - founded by the sons of David Hackney of Death.
Pure Hell - afropunk taken literally.
X-Ray Spex - Poly Styrene was the energy and feel of the band. Actually, she was just energy and feel period. Fun fact: she was also bipolar.
TMGE - Japanese band named âThee Michelle Gun Elephantâ or as they prefer: JAPANESE BAND NAMED âTHEE MICHELLE GUN ELEPHANTâ.
Tamar Kali - powerful musician, especially known for âBootâ.
The Objex - Feloney Melonyâs got a wicked hawk and voice.
Stiffed - Santi White now performs solo as Santigold.
Midori - great jazz-punk fusion band.
Le Butcherettes - Mexican garage punk band.
Dev Hynes - a British musician who started out in a punk band Test Icicles then went solo as a folk/indie musician as Lightspeed Champion and now is doing an electronic/R&B thing as Blood Orange.
LâArc-en-Ciel - Okay, so these guys are Japanâs other most famous export. These guys got known outside of japan for doing some major anime theme songs (Fullmetal Alchemist, Gundam 00, NANA live action movie, etc) and were the first Japanese act to headline Madison Square Garden (Japanese rock bands really like New York for some reason). Their bassist tetsuya (formally known as tetsu) gets bonus points for being one of Japanâs only out LGBT celebrities (heâs Bi).
Gogol Bordello - self described as âgypsy punkâ. Singer Eugene HĂŒtz is Russian-Ukranian with Romani heritage and born with a âstache. Nearly crazier than Little Big and Korpiklaani combined.
The Bots - punk duo made of two brothers.
Bow Wow Wow - IIIIIII Waaaant Caaandy!!!
Ritualization - blackened death metal from Orléans, France
Martin Sorrondeguy - spoke out about US based Latino issues in many of his lyrics and was involved in bands Los Crudos, Limp Wrist and Needles.
Metal, funk/rap/reggae metal fusion or core:
Blasphemy - Black metal, the biggest irony on earth as Caller of the Storms remains one of the rare black musicians within the genre.
Babymetal - this Japanese trio is more metal than a viking woman on her period in the middle of a battlefield drinking the blood of her enemies to the sound of ImmortalâŠfor some at least.
Wicked Wisdom - Will Smithâs wife get a band?? Yes she Will.
Unlocking the Truth - these 13 year olds played in the streets of NYC before they opened for Living Colour.
Absolace - amazing metal from Dubai.
Living Colour - better than Dead Monochrome.
Kingâs X - more hard rock, but hey.
Bionic Jive - one of the better hip-hop/metal fusions.
Skindred - check out the album âRoots Rock Riotâ.
Ego Fall - a Chinese folk metal band and also Corbacâs fave. Mixing tradition with heavier sounds.
Static X - Japanese guitarist Koichi Fukuda & Mexican-American bassist Tony Campos.
Sepultura - the founding members are all Brazilian, currently their lead singer (Derrick Green) is black. âAriseâ is a massive album of pure metal awesomeness.
Tenger Cavalry - a folk metal band based out of Bejing who describe their style as âMongolian folk metalâ. Like this and youâd probably enjoy Ego Fall.
Cthonic - Taiwanese metal band whoâs lead singer is also the president for the Taiwanese branch of Amnesty International.Most of their music deals with their goal of an independent Taiwan and theyâre really REALLY great.
Invasion - a stoner/psych-metal band fronted by a valkyrie space wizard out of London.
Vodun - like invasion, marries punk, psychedelic, and doom metal influenced instrumentals with soul influenced vocals to create a unique and original takes on doom metal.
Animals as Leaders - most suggested band on this list and for good reason.
Body Count - Ice Tâs metal band rules. It would be a little tastier with ice cubes though.
Hirax - pioneering thrash/speed metal band (with hardcore influences). Katon De Pena is one of the most distinctive vocalists of the then-burgeoning California metal scene. Though they never achieved the success of some of their contemporaries like Metallica or Slayer, they have long been an insidersâ favorite and cited as an influence by bands ranging from Napalm Death to Cannibal Corpse to Darkthrone.
Melechesh - an Assyrian black metal band originating from Jerusalem whose lyrical themes include Mesopotamian mythology and occultism.
Iron Man - American doom metal band with PoC members.
Sex Machineguns - Japanese speed metal band.
Hibria - Brazilian power metal band.
Metallica - their first lead guitarist was Lloyd Grant. Here he is in their first recording.
Gevolt - Yiddish band from Israel.
The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza
X Japan - Probably Japanâs most famous metal export. These guys are the reason Visual Kei (basically Japanâs gothic metal scene) exists. All those flashy JRock bands wouldnât exist without X Japan. They also recently just played a huge show at Madison Square Garden.
Maximum the Hormone - Also known as âthe guys that did that weird opening and ending to death noteâ, MTH do a fantastic combination of metal, punk, and even pop. The best part about MTH is that their lyrics donât make sense even when translated so you can just have mindless fun listening to them even if you understand Japanese.
Suffocation - one of the most influential death metal acts of all time. Terrance Hobbsâ incredible mastery of the guitar allowed the band to blend complex technicality into the genre without sacrificing raw brutality.
Versailles Philharmonic Quintet
Year of the Dragon - founder was a member of Fishbone.
Flagitious Idiosyncrasy in Dilapidation (FID) - Formed in Tokyo. Rad ladies playing some super hard grindcore.
Sarcofago - Brazilian band
Acrassicauda - Iraqi heavy metal. There is a film called âHeavy Metal in Baghdadâ, about the band. Another documentary called Global Metal, which is by the same director as Heavy Metal: A Headbangerâs Journey, is highly recommended.
Sigh - one of the first japanese black mack metal bands led by a fierce lady.
Sabbat - Japanese black/thrash.
Blood Stain Child - rather epic sounding Japanese metal band with contrasting vocals and instrumentals.
Gallhammer - female Japanese extreme metal band of doom. The wickedest chicks, definitely recommend.
Avulsed - Spanish death metal band.
Necramynth - Korean black metal.
Crossfaith - japanese metalcore.
As they Burn - deathcore band from Paris, France.
Wolves and Jackals - blackened thrash/death metal from Atlanta, GA.
Infernal Revulsion - brutal death metal from Tokyo, Japan
Orange Sky - from Trinidad and Tobago.
Monuments - itâs got saxophone and itâs awesome.
Peelander-Z - watch the videos, youâll be happy you did.
For Today - if youâre into Christian metal.
Dream Theater - John Myung plays in the influential prog metal band with the aid of his majestic hair.
Alternative or too cool to label:
Bat for Lashes - Natasha Khanâs songs are ethereal.
Skunk Anansie - Skin is a fierce woman with a fierce voice. Also, her eyes will pierce through your soul.
Fishbone - literally unclassifiable: ska, punk, crazy coolâŠ
Dub War - often likened to Skindred. Not because the singer has dreads or anything. Or because itâs the same guy.
The Slack Republic - fairly new (2005), looking forward to more.
Pierce the Veil - theyâre really more âPunk Popâ than anything else. All members are Mexican.
Boris - japanese experimental metal band highly influential in the doom, stoner, noise rock scene.
Bleed the Pigs - great band with a singer who has an awesome colorful fro.
BIS (Brand-New Idol Society) - considered âalternative Japanese idolsâ, and have done some amazing things including recruiting a new member who was rumored to be a high school girl and turned out to be Junko Koshino, a famous fashion designer who is 74 yrs old. Their song + video for MURA-MURA is excellent.
Go Betty Go - chicano rock, âpop punkâ. Several of their songs are in Spanish.
Melt-Banana - Japanese noise rock band.
Bloc Party - singer is gay and black.
ELLEGARDEN - JAPANâS BEST 90s/EARLY 2000s POP PUNK ROCK EXPORT IâM NOT EVEN KIDDING. Part of what contributes to this is Takeshi Hosomi (singer/rhythm guitarist) writing Ÿ of the bandâs discography in perfect english. Unfortunately they went on hiatus in 2006, but that spawned two more fantastic bands: Takeshi does experimental progressive indie in the HIATUS (its the same guy I swear), and guitarist Shinichi Ubukata formedNothingâs Carved In Stone which is basically a Japanese alt. rock supergroup.
Nothingâs Carved in Stone
Shonen Knife - you canât talk about japanese girl rock without the literal originators of the movement/popularity. Because Kurt Cobain said he listened them, a HUGE surge of all girl bands started popping up over Japan.
The Pillows - alt rock band from Hokkaido.
(Hed) PE - (or Planet Earth) original sound described as âG-Punkâ, a fusion of punk rock and gangsta rap.
Skip the Use - with influence from various genres and a black lead.
Elsiane - Formed in Montreal. Fronted by Elsieanne Caplette. Trip-hop/downtempo.
Fall Out Boyâs bassist Pete Wentz English/German and Afro-Jamaican.
Cibo Matto - real cool duo.
Wormrot - grindcore from Singapour.
Toe - post rock from Japan.
Guitar Wolf - âJet Rock nâ rollâ.
Street Sweeper Social Club
Merchant Ships - post hardcore.
The Skints - reggae/dub/punk fusion.
White Town - bzangy deserves WAY more recognition! Youâve probably already heard âI Could Never be Your Woman.â
Drill Queen - Born Depressed is just the greatest song.
Death Grips - experimental rap.
Remember that submissions are closed but you can still submit to Song a Day here (on diningwithdana.net/submit) to have your favorite sounds featured on the blog!