Requiem

Imagine if bands actually did this every time they changed their sound. All my favourite bands: Katatonia, Paradise Lost, Mayhem, Septicflesh, Anathema, Moonspell, Amorphis, Sentenced and Rotting Christ, to name but a few, would have changed their names - and in some cases changed them back once they went back to being closer to their old styles. What a palaver that would be. Maybe a rule should be that if you lose more than 50% of your original members you should change the name. Cradle of Filth would have a new name every couple of albums... Maybe it's just better if bands keep their name most of the time.

I see it more that it took them a couple of albums before they found what the true essence of Katatonia actually was. If you think about it on the full time-line, they started in, what, 1993 and by 1998 they were total alt rock with 'Discouraged Ones'. 19 years later they are still more or less in this clean vocal verse/chorus style. Obviously there have been deviations and developments, and no one would really say that 'Night is the New Day' and 'Discouraged Ones' are particularly alike, but you know what I mean. If anything, they should change the name on re-releases of 'Dance' and 'Brave' to something else. How's that for a revolutionary idea. Hail the true essence of Katatonia: 1998-2017.

Ok, so what happened? Did Popoff date your mother for a while or something? I'm sensing a lot of deep hurt and animosity here hahahaha. You like nearly every other major metal journalist except Popoff! You ask where he was before the internet - isn't he the creator of the 'Brave Words and Bloody Knuckles' magazine from way back in the day? Not that I think this gives him any more or any less credibility when it comes to writing about music, but he has definitely worked in print media and has a role in creating one of the world's best known magazines. Now look what you've done, I'm cheerleading for Martin Popoff, who I don't particularly like that much anyway. At any rate, I'd rather read a Popoff review than something written by a 23 year old 'reviewer' for Terrorizer or Metal Hammer. I wish we were talking about this in the Metal Books forum. Maybe I'll start something over there (like Popoff started something with yo mamma).

I think I original typed 'North From Here' but changed it at the last minute. I knew it was one of the old ones...

I must admit I cracked a smile at this. Father Alabaster still laments the day Sentenced got all rocky angsty. You guys would have fun listening to 'Shadows of the Past' and 'Dance of December Souls' together over old fashioned ales somewhere. Actually so would I... In hindsight, I withdraw my 'bargain basement' jibe, as I spent most of the morning walking around humming 'Dance of December Souls' riffs...

They're definitely overtly awful in a way that draws my attention to them. They're hilariously bad. It transcends the no-frills, honest tub thumping approach that gives an organic and immediate sound; there are mis-hits and clangers all over the place. Of course there are definitely some cool moments on the album, and I like the overall atmosphere and riffs, but Jonas ruins it for me. Sorry, but it's true. And there is no way on earth it's Katatonia's best album. It's a cool album and an interesting historical document, but compared with 'Brave Murder Day' or 'Last Fair Deal Gone Down' it's bargain basement bin material. To his credit Jonas does a much better job on 'Brave Murder Day' and 'Discouraged Ones', but I think that he ultimately made a very good choice by trading in the drum stool for a mic stand. Anyway, now playing: Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath. Now that's drumming! I saw these guys in a little local pub in London just down the road from my house back in 2008. Amazing.

Cool topic. I think in general I agree with you, although I thought that 'All Shall Fall' - Abbath's last album with them - was quite a weak album. I bought it of course, as a dutiful lemming, and played it quite a lot but I just didn't find anything to really get excited about. Actually I guess it's time to give it another run, perhaps in my car or something, to see if I can find any redeeming features. So on that note, I think it's probably ok that he left. But I really haven't got into Abbath or I either. I'm not big on that black n roll sound that seems to be all the rage these days. 'Sons of Northern Darkness' was Immortal's last classic. Would have been a great way to end their legacy. I'm barely aware of the current machinations of this troupe of grim and frostbitten malcontents.

Here's my collection of music and miscellany from Norwegian legends Mayhem. Includes a copy of a collection of letters sent from Euronymous to the legendary Acon, the promoter in Turkey who put on the show in 1990 that was closed down by the police, as well as passports from Dead and Euronymous. Also includes a copy of 'Grand Declaration of War' signed in person by Maniac, Hellhammer, Blasphemer and Necro Butcher when they came to Australia on that tour. EDIT: SPECIFIC INFORMATION REGARDING THE CONTENTS OF THIS COLLECTION CAN BE FOUND ON LATER PAGES OF THIS THREAD WITH A RE-POST OF THIS PICTURE.

When i was a wee Requiem, still in blackened short pants and wet behind the ears (with blood), my friend and I went over to a metal guy's house and he had this massive flag of Dismember's 'Massive Killing Capacity' on his wall. I can't remember if I had the album at that time or not, but it's since become a favourite. Great cover.

Maybe how I remember it is slightly different to the reality. I remember the moment we put the song on we all jumped in the water and we threw bags of cash into the pool. It was a total party. We locked the teachers in the changing rooms then we drove our Ferraris to the club and did some blow off the medals we'd won in all the races. Pretty sure that's how it played out...

Septicflesh - 'Titan Septicflesh - 'Communion Sirenia - 'Dim Days of Dolor'

Septicflesh - 'Revolution dna' and the mighty 'Sumerian Demons' arrived today and that's it - Septicflesh collection complete. Hail the Greek gods.

Ozzy Osbourne - Crazy Train

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!

Skull Lager.

If you ever need to know how great metal is, get it played somewhere you wouldn't normally hear it. I'm at the metal pub and Marduk's Frontswein is playing and it's the greatest thing I've ever heard. I'm still programmed to expect 90s mild pop hits in pubs. It reminds me of the time my friend and I played Type O Negative's 'My Girlfriend's Girlfriend' over the PA at a school swimming sports in 1997. It was the greatest thing of all time and man we had the ladies interested. Shit, we always had the ladies interested, amirite!!!??

I love Katatonia, but I can't help but admit that 'Dance...' has the single worst drum performance I've ever heard by a signed band. Poor 17 year old Jonas really struggles on this album. To distraction. I can't even listen to it anymore. Now Listening to Marduk on the famous pub speakers. Black metal band has started in the band room. Going in soon.

Damn Parker, I just saw your comment and agree 100%. Lovecraft and Howard are incredible.

Yeah, it isn't quite the same without good old what's his name. It's still a good show though and it knows which side of its bread is buttered. Escape to the Country is the precursor to those American 'Holiday House on the Lake' type shows. Except it's good. Its basically an excuse to look at English country homes. I must be one of the few under 50s in the world who likes it along with my wife. It's been going for god knows how long too, like Midsomer.

hahaha. I think that's the best policy. I think there are probably enough ghost town threads in the Gothic Metal forum now. Like a spider in the garden outside Castle Requiem, I now sit and play the waiting game for a hapless goth to become enmeshed in the nets of genre discussion. I could be waiting a long time...

I really like this branch of black metal. I've got a tonne of albums by Shining, Forgotten Tomb and Xasthur. I went through a huge Xasthur phase about 15 years ago when 'Nocturnal Poisoning' first came out and for a few years after that.

Despite the first few albums, I have a hard time even considering Behemoth as black metal. Even the awesome 'Satanica' back in 1999 wasn't really black metal. I guess they are blackened death metal, but I'm not sure if I'm even keeping their albums in the black metal section of my CD collection. For the record I own: 'Satanica', 'Demigod', 'The Apostacy', 'At the Arean of Aion - Live', and 'Evangelion'. I guess I got them at their death metal end. I have the first albums on a hard drive somewhere but I'm not counting that as ownership. Some tracks like 'Ov Fire and the Void' are amazing though. I need to drag a few of these CDs out and put them in my car for the weekly commute to relive them a little bit. I usually get a bit bored with them after three or four songs though.

If anyone was wondering, the reason I keep starting threads in the Gothic Metal forum is because I feel that if casual readers find enough quality threads and variety in that forum, it might prompt them to join the forums and post! Basically if nothing changes in these forums, then nothing changes, and I believe in being the change you want to see in the world, one Gothic Metal forum at a time. If whoever owns this place gets around to merging and closing superfluous forums (including the Gothic Metal forum of course) then that will probably be a good thing, but until then I'm doing my bit to keep the pulse of this place beating. If just one goth girl sees my threads and joins, then they will have been a success.

Are there any fans of gothic rock out there? With HIM having recently announced their final tour before retirement I felt it would be timely to discuss this genre. Two of my favourite bands of all time are The 69 Eyes and HIM, although they're usually considered too questionable for regular metal discussion. 'Love Metal' as a genre doesn't really truck with most of the denim and leather set. Albums like 'Devils' and 'Blessed Be' by The 69 Eyes are absolutely classics of dark rock, while the first two HIM albums 'Greatest Lovesongs Vol 666' and 'Razorblade Romance' are for me 10/10 albums. Also stuff like the first couple of Lacuna Coil albums and bands like To/Die/For, who are a bit more metal, are some of my favourite releases. Any takers?

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.