Gothic metal

Gothic metal is a genre of Metal that fuses the low-to-mid-tempo songwriting and down-tuned, plodding riffing of Doom Metal with a somber atmosphere shaped by ample usage of keyboards and synthesizers. It often incorporates the theatrics and melodrama of Gothic Rock and Darkwave, usually expressed through introspective and romantic lyricism inspired by macabre imagery, occult themes, and the poetic sensibilities of gothic fiction and fantasy. Vocal approaches vary widely, ranging from harsh growls to clean baritone singing and passionate operatic vocals, with some bands combining multiple styles. Gothic metal bands drew inspiration from the 1980s goth acts such as Dead Can Dance, The Cure, Siouxsie and The Banshees, with groups like The Sisters of Mercy, Fields of the Nephilim, and Christian Death exerting particular impact due to their darker aesthetics and comparatively heavier, more distorted sound. Additional influence came from the occult imagery and theatricality of Heavy Metal bands like Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Mercyful Fate, alongside the downtrodden riffing of Traditional Doom Metal acts such as Trouble and Candlemass. Celtic Frost’s third album, Into the Pandemonium, is frequently cited as a key precursor, foreshadowing later gothic metal tropes, including male-female vocal dynamics and application of symphonic instrumentation.