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  1. Requiem

    Top 10 Gothic Metal Albums

    This sort of thing is all the rage at the moment on the forums and is sorely lacking here. Here is my top 10, following the one album per band rule. If a band straddles the doom or black genres I've gone with an album that (sort of) fits the gothic metal genre. @Vampyrique I've updated and filled out my list. 10a. Sirenia - 'Perils of the Deep Blue' (2013) Morten Veland's project has now really become his main event, with many more Sirenia albums now in existence compared with his Tristania work. This album is arguably my favourite of the Sirenia material. It has an epic scale but it's catchy and engaging all the way through, with a phat yet luscious production. This is the second last yet best album he would record with Ailyn on vocals. She has such a special voice. 10b. To/Die/For - 'Jaded' (2003) This is from the rock side of the genre. To/Die/For were untouchable for catchy melodic music around this era, and this album is just brilliant. Jape's deep voice was in its prime and the songs here are all gothic rock anthems. 9. Saturnus - 'Martyre' (1999) The final release from the Kim Larsen lineup of Saturnus, this album begins with the beautiful choir of '7' before launching into one of gothic metal's most exquisite moments with that riff from 'Inflame Thy Heart'. This album is just full of near perfect riffs and near perfect vocals with the spoken word, mid range bark and full deep growl. Spinetingling. 8. Moonspell - 'Irreligious' (1996) We are now officially in masterpiece territory. This is one of many classics from the 90s as you can see from the list. Tracks like 'Opium' and 'Full Moon Madness' are timeless. 7. Tristania - 'Widow's Weeds' (1998) A true gothic album, this contains choirs, creaking church doors, organs and some incredible metal. Morten Veland's second appearance on the list. That guy is a genius. I went with this, their debut, over the more upbeat 'Beyond the Veil' because this has the real ivy-on-manor-house-walls feel that perfectly sums up the genre. 6. Theatre of Tragedy - 'Aegis' (1998) I was so tempted to put 'Velvet Darkness They Fear' in this spot rather than 'Aegis', but I think 'Aegis' just wins out due to some nice memories of a girl from university who used to like listening to this when we were being intimate. The band dropped the growls and replaced them with Raymond's dulcet speaking voice, and they amped up the repetitive catchiness and sweetness. What they ended up with was a beautiful album and me getting laid. 5. My Dying Bride - 'Like Gods of the Sun' (1996) This album really changed my life. Technically I would class 'The Angel and the Dark River' as gothic metal as well, and on a good day I prefer that album, but this album just fits the vibe of gothic metal so perfectly. When I first heard the title track on Australian radio back in 96 I knew I'd found the next level. This is dark with fabulous twin guitar harmonies and a great violin sound back when it was still original. Oh man I love this album. 4. Paradise Lost - 'Draconian Times' (1995) Paradise Lost are responsible for so much in this genre. This album is nearly perfect in its production, artwork, texture and sophistication. When I discovered this album back in about early 1996 I thought this band was the classiest metal band I'd ever come across. 3. Cradle of Filth - 'Dusk and Her Embrace' (1996) Writing out these little reviews is bringing home how important this genre is to me. Cradle's 'Dusk' album is a theatrical masterpiece. Romantic keyboards, epic soundscapes, beautiful gothic riffs and some of Dani's best lyrics. Amazing artwork too. 2. Anathema - 'Alternative 4' (1998) Is this gothic metal? It's close enough and I'm running with it. The violin, piano and mournful guitar riffs all work on crushing the heart with some of Vincent's best vocal lines and Duncan Patterson's best lyrics. Yes, 'Fragile Dreams' and 'Inner Silence' are well recognised classics, but check out 'Lost Control' and 'Feel' for crying out loud. Just amazing. I used to have 'Feel' on a tape that I had recorded from the radio back in 1998. God, what an era. 1. Type O Negative - 'October Rust' (1996) And here's number 1. This isn't just my favourite gothic metal album of all time (which is bloody saying something, let me tell you), but it's also probably my favourite album of all time of any genre (if that's even possible to call). Peter Steele and Josh Silver are just so far beyond the rest of the planet on this album that it's hard to believe it was created by humans. Songs like 'Love you to Death', 'Red Water (Christmas Mourning', 'Wolf Moon' and 'Haunted' are untouchable. 'Be My Druidess' has one of the greatest ending riff/vocal lines of all time. Everything about this album is romantic, emotional and gothic.
    1 point
  2. Skadi

    Top 10 Gothic Metal Albums

    I just found this thread by pure luck and I'm so glad I did! You all have shared amazing lists (Saturnus rules), I'm even discovering Virgin Black thanks to this thread. It's nice to see a good discussion on Gothic Metal, something that's been lacking in recent years. Anyway, I just wanted to share my list. I'll follow the rule of one album per band. 10. Tiamat - Prey I was about to put Wildhoney but that album sounds kinda more "avant garde" to me, so I just went for the safe bet. Prey is my second favourite album by Tiamat. It's melancholic and powerful from beginning to end. 9. Theatres des Vampires - Bloody Lunatic Asylum Very dark and interesting. This and Suicide Vampire are probably the best of old TdV. 8. Cradle of Filth - Hammer of the Witches CoF at their best. It's been years since I really enjoyed something made by them, and this album is truly remarkable. 7. Darkwell - Suspiria A haunting masterpiece by this fantastic Austrian band. It will leave an impression! 6. My Dying Bride - A Map of All Our Failures I wasn't sure which MDB album to include, so I choose this beautiful piece of work. It gets very gloomy, and its execution is flawless. 5. Theatre of Tragedy - Velvet Darkness They Fear A solid entry in the Gothic Metal scene. Out of all Theatre of Tragedy albums this is probably the one I listened to the most. Just delightful. 4. Moonspell - Wolfheart Amazing, unforgettable. Irreligious was considered to be here too, but in the end I favoured Wolfheart for its aggressive darkness. 3. Rotting Christ - A Dead Poem This is among my favourite albums ever. It shows how versatile and creative Rotting Christ are. After this they went for an (amazing) blend of Black/Folk/Symphonic Metal, but their late '90s works left a deep impression in me. 2. Paradise Lost - Draconian Times A timeless classic. I enjoyed this one a lot more than Icon and Shades of God. 1. Tristania - Widow's Weeds One of the best albums of all time, hands down. The line-up at this time was perfect, too.
    1 point
  3. Ikard

    Skills vs. Personality

    When i first got into heavy music, i was really into punk rock music. As a result personality and showmanship were really important to me both as a musician and a listener. That mentality has transitioned into all the genres i listen to whether it be folk, jazz, punk, metal, etc. You can be as skilled as you want if your music lacks attitude it wont grab me. I'll be mildly impressed at best.
    1 point
  4. You seem to have many "all time favourite" bands and a slight problem distinguishing genres. tbdm for example (a truly loathsome band) are deathcore, Vader are death metal, Carcass were pioneers of Goregrind. The two genres are not really comparable to be honest. I own all of two melodeath albums as opposed to I dunno fifty or sixty thrash albums.
    1 point
  5. I really can't stand it when people claim that good metal died in the 80s and early 90s. There is some superb metal being made nowadays and there's no point turning up one's nose at it. As a matter of fact, it typically demonstrates that said person simply hasn't been looking around enough. If I'm perfectly honest, I prefer the metal being made nowadays. The kind of excellent prog and tech-death I've heard was a lot rarer in those eras than it is now.
    1 point
  6. Re: METALLICA vs megadeth are you telling me Killing Is My Business...And Business Is Good, Peace Sells...But Who's Buying, So Far, So Good, So What? and Rust In Peace are somehow less metal then Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia and Cryptic Writings? dude early Megadeth is far heavier then early Metallica. But again I say people should just let this whole Megadeth vs Metallica thing go, it's a non-issue from where I sit since Mustaine has finally let the grudge go
    1 point
  7. Re: METALLICA vs megadeth Metallica for their early stuff (anything up to Master of Puppets) before they became mainstream and non-metal, then Megadeth for their later stuff when they became real metal. So really Megadeth picked up from where Metallica left
    1 point
  8. Re: METALLICA vs megadeth Slayer
    1 point
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