The Aesthetics of Darkness: An Introduction to Gothic Rock — Notable Bands

Lucretia My ReflectionThe Sisters of Mercy

The Sisters of Mercy – Lucretia My Reflection

Formed in 1980, The Sisters of Mercy are one of the oldest still-active standard-bearers of gothic rock as of the 2020s.

That said, they’ve only released three records; they actually disbanded after their debut album, First and Last and Always (1985)—also known in Japan under the title “Mercy no Aikotoba.” After restarting, the group has essentially continued as a solo project for founding vocalist Andrew Eldritch.

Their sound—anchored by the mechanized rhythms of their officially credited drum machine, layered with Eldritch’s sultry, raspy baritone and guitars that channel a dark lyricism—epitomizes what “gothic rock” means, and many even hail them as “the emperors of goth.” In their early days, original member Gary Marx—who would later found Ghost Dance—was in the lineup, and later additions Wayne Hussey and Craig Adams would go on to form The Mission, another quintessential goth rock band.

Considering all this, one could say The Sisters of Mercy’s very existence is “the history of gothic rock” itself.

Their aforementioned debut, created by the “five members” including the drum machine, is a must-hear classic for anyone exploring the genre.

Be sure to check out their second album, Floodland (1987), too—a broader, more commercially successful work that expanded their musical palette.

FrontierDead Can Dance

Dead Can Dance – Frontier

Dead Can Dance is a male-female duo from Australia, known—alongside the Cocteau Twins—as one of the flagship groups of the 4AD label.

From their formation in 1981 until their breakup in 1998, they released seven albums, and since their 2005 reunion they’ve continued to work at their own pace, putting out new material as well.

Describing Dead Can Dance’s musical style is extremely difficult: their sound world, drawing on everything from world music to sacred music, is entirely unlike conventional rock, as if it had arrived from some other realm.

Even so, they enjoy strong popularity within the gothic rock scene—enough to inspire tribute albums by artists in that sphere—largely thanks to the approach showcased in their early work.

Their self-titled 1984 debut, also known in Japan as “East of Eden,” has a strong ritualistic element suggested even by its cover art, said to be based on a ceremonial mask from New Guinea.

Blending folk traditions and tribal beats with songs in the direct lineage of post-punk reminiscent of early Cocteau Twins, it’s highly regarded as a gothic rock classic.

The eerie, otherworldly atmosphere that seems to transport listeners to a different dimension is something you won’t easily find elsewhere.

If you want to grasp the group’s essential appeal, I recommend checking out their sixth album, Into the Labyrinth (1993), which was a worldwide hit.

Romeo´s DistressChristian Death

Christian Death – Romeo´s Distress

Most of the famous gothic rock bands are from the UK, but Christian Death, the band featured here, hails from the United States.

In fact, despite being the most famous and important group in America’s underground, goth-leaning subculture, their complicated biography makes them a daunting entry point for beginners.

Christian Death was formed in 1979 by vocalist Rozz Williams and released their debut album, Only Theatre of Pain, in 1982, a record hailed as a landmark of gothic rock.

While the playing can be rough in a technical sense, the morbid darkness and occult atmosphere packed into the simple, solid band ensemble are terrifyingly potent.

The album’s influence on the American music scene is immense, and it’s highly regarded as a pioneering work of the style known as deathrock.

The complication came when guitarist Valor Kand, who joined later, took over as frontman after Rozz departed—only for Rozz to relaunch Christian Death with his wife, Eva O.

In other words, there ended up being two Christian Deaths.

Sadly, Rozz took his own life in 1998, bringing the original Christian Death to an end, while the Valor-led Christian Death continues to perform well into the 2020s.

As a result, their discography is vast, and the unusual situation of two bands sharing the same name makes it hard to know where to begin.

Personally, I recommend starting with the earliest releases featuring Rozz as the frontman!

Say It AgainThe Danse Society

The Danse Society – Say It Again

If you’re fond of the term “positive punk,” the so-called Posipunk Big Three—Sex Gang Children, Southern Death Cult, and The Danse Society, the subject of this piece—probably spring to mind immediately.

Formed in 1980 around frontman Steve Rawlings, whose striking looks also drew attention in Japan, they scored an impressive No.

3 on the UK Indie Chart with their 1982 debut mini-album Seduction.

Compared to other posipunk and gothic rock bands, their sound clearly leaned toward more danceable rhythms; while it carried the darkness and decadence typical of gothic rock, it also possessed a groove you could move to—arguably a defining trait of theirs.

After signing to a major, their 1984 release Heaven Is Waiting became a smash, peaking at No.

39 on the UK chart.

However, perhaps unable to reconcile external expectations with their own identity, the band began to lose direction.

Following the release of their next album, Looking Through, all members except Rawlings left, and the group ultimately disbanded.

In a surprising turn, they reunited in 2011 and have been active since, now featuring a female vocalist.

MoonchildFields of the Nephilim

Fields of the Nephilim – Moonchild HD

Gothic rock is a genre heavily inspired by horror films and literature, and the band that brought those elements to the forefront and gained popularity for it is Fields of the Nephilim.

Formed in 1984 around vocalist Carl McCoy—who has deep knowledge of occult and religious mysticism—they drew attention from the mid-to-late 1980s as followers of The Sisters of Mercy.

After releasing three albums, they disbanded once, then later reunited and released two more albums in the 2000s.

Among their discography, their second album, The Nephilim, released in 1988, is especially lauded as a gothic rock classic.

It features McCoy’s distinctive low, raspy vocals; a sound that, while dark, also retains strong melodicism; song titles that quote Aleister Crowley’s works and horror movie titles; and recording sessions held in a former courthouse in Somerset, England where executions were once carried out.

The album distills the band’s tastes and values to the utmost, and anyone interested in gothic rock is sure to love it.

As you can tell from the music videos of the time, their look wasn’t the typical all-black gothic rock fashion; in particular, McCoy’s trademark was a Western hat.

As mentioned at the start, their strong horror-movie flavor is a defining trait—one that may divide opinions.

DecadanceUK Decay

UK Decay – Decadance

While they may be less well-known than prominent bands like The Cure, Bauhaus, and Siouxsie and the Banshees, UK Decay—formed in London in 1978—are regarded among gothic rock fans as one of the genre’s pioneering acts.

There’s even an anecdote that in the early 1980s, the band’s frontman, Steve “Abbo” Abbott—who now works as a producer and manager in the music industry—jokingly referred to their sound as “goth” in a magazine interview, which some consider the first instance of “gothic rock” being defined within the post-punk movement.

Emerging from the punk scene with an overtly political stance, their music nevertheless possesses a distinct character that transcends labels like gothic rock and positive punk: a voice both raw and decadent, guitar riffs that are cold and razor-sharp in true post-punk fashion yet charged with hardcore intensity, and a rhythm section whose supple explosiveness gives the band a unique appeal unlike their contemporaries.

Although their initial period of activity lasted roughly five years—and they reunited in 2005 to release new material—those seeking to experience their gothic rock allure should start with their 1981 debut album, For Madmen Only.

Long unavailable on CD and considered something of a lost classic, it was reissued on CD in 2009 with a large number of bonus tracks.

A DayClan of Xymox

Clan Of Xymox – A Day (HD music video 1985)

Though not very well-known in Japan, Clan of Xymox—formed in 1981—have never disbanded and remain an active, hard-working band as of 2022.

If you’re familiar with the early 4AD catalog, you may have come across their name.

Their early works were released on 4AD, and their 1985 debut album, Clan of Xymox, has been compared to bands like The Cure and Joy Division.

Characterized by cool, lyrical keyboard tones within the straightforward gothic rock sound typical of the mid-’80s, their music has led them to be called pioneers of “darkwave.” It’s also worth noting the involvement of John Fryer—known as a member of This Mortal Coil—as an engineer.

In terms of their career, their third album, Twist of Shadows (1989), and Phoenix were released on a major label and achieved commercial success, including in the United States.

Sonically, these works lean heavily into synth-pop, so if you want to enjoy their more gothic rock-oriented sound, check out their 4AD-era releases.

As a side note, frontman Ronny Moorings composed Atsushi Sakurai of BUCK-TICK’s solo track Yokan (Premonition).