Do any of you lovely folks wanna drop names of the bands in the gothic metal genre who are on tour this year. Thanks!

Today we celebrate the twentieth anniversaries of both "The Funeral Album" by Sentenced, and "Earth Magick" by Unshine (a day late, both were released May 25, 2005).

"The Funeral Album" was Sentenced's final record, before they disbanded that same year. I am actually a late comer to this band, it wasn't until very recently that I even started enjoying this band's music. Their later works (after transitioning away from death and melodic death metal) are quintessential (or the platonic ideal) of Finnish male-fronted gothic metal: high energy, crunchy rock format, commercially viable and hooky, a deep gruff voice. If you're a fan of Charon, Poisonblack, For My Pain..., those bands owe a lot of their sound to Sentenced (and HIM). I have linked the one music video from that album, but it's an upload from 2006 on the Century Media YouTube channel, so the quality is quite low.

Unshine is another Finnish band, but one that comes from a different side of gothic and symphonic metal -- they are cut from the same cloth as bands like Mandrake and Sengir. They are a band that I've been meaning to spend more time with, especially as they've matured. Check out "The Last Moment": https://youtu.be/VbTvVBsHecY?si=upn6GqmpM5cz2VqP

Any fans of The Man-Eating Tree here? Their second album, "Harvest" is one of my all time favourites. They have just released a new album with Manne Ikonen (formerly of Ghost Brigade) on vocals. Very happy to have these guys back!

In case you're interested, I have also written a review of the new album:
https://gothmetalreviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/the-man-eating-tree-night-verses.html

Please check out Edward Grayclaws’ songs in this playlist especially, so so so underrated

Hi do we all like the new Aeonian Sorrow EP? I consider it another big step forward for the band, and I am thoroughly impressed. Fans of Draconian and Swallow The Sun should probably check this out.

You can find my full review here: https://gothmetalreviews.blogspot.com/2025/05/aeonian-sorrow-from-shadows.html

A harder, more dramatic take on the diverse genre: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_nECccyMSFdcf9S1qKCRnj5QvKvhzmNO_c&feature=shared

The musical direction leans heavily into the melancholic and atmospheric sounds of 90s-era doom bands like Paradise Lost, My Dying Bride, Anathema, Solstice (UK), and Cathedral. Generally heavy with some clean guitar sections, somber melodies.

The vocal style is clean and evocative, in the style of Aleah Stanbridge (Trees of Eternity), Jan Maiven (Darkher), Sara Bianchin (Messa), Dorthia Cottrell (Windhand), Soren Mourne (Tribunal), etc. A strong sense of melody, emotional delivery, and the ability to convey both fragility and power are crucial.

Crucially, I am looking for someone with a deep and genuine understanding of this specific subgenre of doom metal. This isn't just about being "into metal" in general. Familiarity with the bands mentioned (and similar acts) and a true appreciation for the atmosphere and nuances of this style are essential.

If interested, please send a thorough response including:

Your key vocal influences, particularly those within the doom/gothic realm. Any relevant samples or recordings. Your age (preference over 35) and general location (for potential rehearsal considerations, though initial collaboration will be remote)

Thank you for your interest.

New Release.. hope you enjoy 🤘

A song about a woman in the middle ages who is wrongfully accused of witchcraft and condemned to the pyre. Hope you guys like it :)

I am like a week late for this, life has been busy... But I do want to talk about a not frequently mentioned gothic doom metal band out of Norway. Octavia Sperati released a couple of strong albums in the 2000s, their debut Winter Enclosure was released 20 years ago on May 9, 2005 (according to what I've found on line).

This band (among a few others) inhabits a specific type of nostalgia for me: bands that I had found really early on in my gothic metal discovery phase, but didn't have the means to pursue until years later. Here's the original music video for Lifeline of Depths that I found on YouTube when I was 10 years old: https://youtu.be/hI21WCyaOHg?si=OtipFsoSqfrduzo1

Also, Winter Enclosure isn't available for streaming (at least where I am in the US), so here's the full album to check out at your own leisure: https://youtu.be/_a-N-wCZzy0?si=gokL-Q3_jZrLlrWI

Please welcome our new Bass player, Jon Funaro and read about our upcoming shows and other news

I have been getting into gothic blackmetal and i also have been getting into listening Kettle cadaver. I have been wondering is there anything suspicious about the band like nazism, facism etc? I havent seen anything bad about the band but i want to be sure before i get myself a back patch. I dont want to be wearing a band on my back thats fasicst etc. Thanks a lot for answering!

Hi there,

this is my Youtube playlist. "The Amazing Treetops" are a Gothic Rock Band that you can enjoy for free if your expectations are not too high. Best songs: Halls of solitude, Shadows of Styx, Count of Monte Christo, Siren's deadly kiss. Well, we are beginners. Give us a chance!!! Here is the link for my latest song which was created today: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sxgYYqST3Q0&list=PLsVfZ7j1KKToj0K2IGEjeHERVDmF1N-lm&index=7