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The most depressing album


Abronsius

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The most depressing albums for me are the following:

My Dying Bride: The Darkest Hours - from start to finish, this is a slab of misery. There is literally nothing jovial about this album, and Aaron sounds his best. 

Drudkh: Blood in our Wells - it took a while to get into this album, but once I did I fell in love with the melancholic black metal riffing. "Solitude" is a fantastic song, it just drains the positive energy out of you!

Sentenced: The Funeral Album - there are uplifting parts to this album, but overall it is miserable. Her Last 5 Minutes will bring a tear to your eye for sure.

Katatonia: Viva Emptiness - this album is a grower and boy is it bleak. The guitar sound is so fitting to this album: melancholic and drifting. And the singing just lulls you to a depressed darkness.

Poisonblack: Of Rust and Bones - this is my go to album for being miserable. "Invisible" alone on this album hits the mark. Again, there are a few uplifting songs to temper the darkness, but songs like "Alone" and "Buried Alive" just bring straight back down.

This is my short list, what's on yours? It would be good to see what other people recommend as well!

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For physical, trance-like depression, I'd put on something like Evoken's "Embrace The Emptiness" or Thergothon's "Stream From The Heavens", although it's even odds whether I'd listen to some medieval chant like Lionheart's "Paris 1200" instead. When I'm in a simmering angry sort of bad mood, Bethlehem's "Dark Metal" is a favorite, and sometimes Katatonia's "Dance Of December Souls" is right on the money. Depending on how bad it gets I might also put on some Burning Witch, or alternately something like Leviathan's "Tenth Sublevel Of Suicide". For a more draining sense of futility, it's hard to beat Joy Division's "Closer". 

The thing is, I like all that stuff, and so it's not usually "depressing" in the sense of "making me feel bad". Some of it I find calming, some of it cathartic. And a lot depends on my mood going into it. In general I find listening to any of it a positive experience. I have to say "Viva Emptiness" in particular sounds pretty poppy and upbeat to my ears, lyrics notwithstanding.

On the other hand, there's a lot of American folk and classic rock that actually makes me feel bad. It's not even the music or the lyrics so much as the overall sound, I find it oppressive and annoying in the extreme.

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22 hours ago, Natassja said:

Hmm I'll have to have a good think about full albums, Billie Holiday - Gloomy Sunday is a song I find particularly miserable.

It's odd: I just don't find that song depressing or miserable.

15 hours ago, FatherAlabaster said:

For physical, trance-like depression, I'd put on something like Evoken's "Embrace The Emptiness" or Thergothon's "Stream From The Heavens", although it's even odds whether I'd listen to some medieval chant like Lionheart's "Paris 1200" instead. When I'm in a simmering angry sort of bad mood, Bethlehem's "Dark Metal" is a favorite, and sometimes Katatonia's "Dance Of December Souls" is right on the money. Depending on how bad it gets I might also put on some Burning Witch, or alternately something like Leviathan's "Tenth Sublevel Of Suicide". For a more draining sense of futility, it's hard to beat Joy Division's "Closer". 

The thing is, I like all that stuff, and so it's not usually "depressing" in the sense of "making me feel bad". Some of it I find calming, some of it cathartic. And a lot depends on my mood going into it. In general I find listening to any of it a positive experience. I have to say "Viva Emptiness" in particular sounds pretty poppy and upbeat to my ears, lyrics notwithstanding.

On the other hand, there's a lot of American folk and classic rock that actually makes me feel bad. It's not even the music or the lyrics so much as the overall sound, I find it oppressive and annoying in the extreme.

There's a few albums I'll check out, thanks. For non-metal misery, I tend to head for classical. Handel's Lascia Ch'io Pianga is a particular favourite, together with Albinoni's Adagio for strings and organ. In my youth, I was into Manic Street Preachers and they had a few depressing numbers. 

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2 hours ago, Abronsius said:

It's odd: I just don't find that song depressing or miserable.

There's a few albums I'll check out, thanks. For non-metal misery, I tend to head for classical. Handel's Lascia Ch'io Pianga is a particular favourite, together with Albinoni's Adagio for strings and organ. In my youth, I was into Manic Street Preachers and they had a few depressing numbers. 

A whole can of worms are opened with this topic, it isn't odd, it shows how individual tastes can be and what turns us on or off, or why we are 'supposed' to find something pleasant or not. For example Barry White and roses don't get me in the mood :D Yet that is what we find in supermarkets around Valentines day! 

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35 minutes ago, Natassja said:

A whole can of worms are opened with this topic, it isn't odd, it shows how individual tastes can be and what turns us on or off, or why we are 'supposed' to find something pleasant or not. For example Barry White and roses don't get me in the mood :D Yet that is what we find in supermarkets around Valentines day! 

Well put. Yes, this world is run by marketing and sensationalism. But that's another topic, I fear. 

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2 hours ago, Parker said:

One of the most depressing songs I've ever heard is Asleep by The Smiths. One time I listened to it over and over for a few hours, then had to go to a mental hospital. Then again, my mental state probably wasn't so good when I put the song on to begin with.

Yes probably not the best song to put on if you're feeling fragile! How Soon is Now is pretty depressing also.

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This is a fun thread. My top album choice would be "In the Falling Snow" by I Shalt Become, especially the title track. That is closely followed by "Close" by Sadness. As for songs, 'End of Disgusting Life' by Nekrokrist SS and 'Eye of Prima' by Sadness both carry a lot of personal sentiment for me; they were particularly indulged upon during some very depressing times.

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Well done abronsius for starting this thread as other day I was thinking of those album's that just make me miserable or are even just the depressing music style. Will definitely check out some of these album's but 1 album I tend not to listen to much  as it makes me too miserable is hiss spun by Chelsea Wolfe. There is just so little light in that album at all probably none when I listen to it and if I remember lightly Chelsea went to a very remote part of California to get into the right mood for the album. It's really good album but rarely listen to it.  Also dantalion by slow is very depressing as it's so unrelenting in its misery until the final track which is rather light and relaxing. Then again slow's album is funeral doom so it's kind of what you expect. However like father alabaster I sometimes really like listening to depressing music as I find the misery cathartic at all sorts of odd times.  ? Think that's what he was getting at. 

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10 hours ago, blaaacdoommmmfan said:

 

Well done abronsius for starting this thread as other day I was thinking of those album's that just make me miserable or are even just the depressing music style. Will definitely check out some of these album's but 1 album I tend not to listen to much  as it makes me too miserable is hiss spun by Chelsea Wolfe. There is just so little light in that album at all probably none when I listen to it and if I remember lightly Chelsea went to a very remote part of California to get into the right mood for the album. It's really good album but rarely listen to it.  Also dantalion by slow is very depressing as it's so unrelenting in its misery until the final track which is rather light and relaxing. Then again slow's album is funeral doom so it's kind of what you expect. However like father alabaster I sometimes really like listening to depressing music as I find the misery cathartic at all sorts of odd times.  ? Think that's what he was getting at. 

I can safely say I've never heard of Chelsea Wolfe. I'll check her music out though: cheers!

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