Despairingly dark Western music. World-famous classics and popular songs.
Even though it’s not exactly a good habit, when we’re feeling down we tend to listen to dark songs, don’t we…?
This time, I’ve picked out some “desperately dark” Western tracks that I’d recommend to anyone in that mood.
Even within “desperately dark,” I’ve chosen from a range of genres—from quiet, subdued pieces to metal tracks that are dark yet crank the voltage to MAX.
I’ve covered most of the major genres, so music nerds shouldn’t miss this!
There are some pretty obscure songs in here too, so if you’re digging for great tracks, make sure to check them out!
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Desperately dark Western music: World-famous and popular songs (21–30)
The EndThe Doors
It’s a roughly 12-minute track that closes The Doors’ self-titled debut album, released in January 1967 by the American rock band The Doors.
It feels as if vocalist Jim Morrison’s inner world has been transmuted directly into sound, portraying an impulse toward ruin within a psychedelic soundscape.
The world it evokes touches taboos lurking in the human subconscious and feels so dangerous that it seems to slowly erode the listener’s sense of ethics.
The piece was used at the beginning of the 1979 film Apocalypse Now, resonating strikingly with the madness of war.
From its calm opening, the song gradually builds toward frenzy, confronting us with the depths of the darkness hidden within the human psyche.
Your Broken ShoreMy Dying Bride
My Dying Bride, pioneers of British Gothic doom.
Released in January 2020, this track appears on the masterpiece The Ghost of Orion.
It portrays searing despair and deep melancholy, as if standing motionless on the shore of shattered hopes.
Aaron Stainthorpe’s restrained roars and clean vocals weave a tragic soundscape that perfectly matches the band’s worldview.
Perhaps owing to the personal trials that surrounded its creation, you can sense a prayer-like anguish—and the peculiar beauty born from it—in every corner of the sound.
On nights sunk in inescapable sorrow, why not surrender yourself to this imposing sonic presence?
Crying Of The SunMETALWINGS
It’s known as a signature song by Metalwings, a symphonic metal band from Bulgaria.
Echoing Nightwish with its dark symphonic sound and powerful male-female twin vocals, the track features poetic lyrics that depict memories of the deep night and secret signs.
It was included on the EP “Fallen Angel in the Hell,” released in May 2016.
The music video, filmed in Belogradchik, famed for its beautiful scenery, has surpassed 12 million views on YouTube.
Despite its despairing atmosphere, the song conveys a glimmer of hope—perfect for times when you’re in a darker mood.
hell is a teenage girlNessa Barrett
If you want to fully immerse yourself in a dark world, I recommend “hell is a teenage girl.” It’s a mid-tempo ballad released by next-generation artist Nessa Barrett.
The title literally means “Hell is a teenage girl.” The song portrays a girl suffering under harsh circumstances and discrimination.
It’s a dark and sorrowful track, but her vocals convey a strong sense of resilience.
The music video, featuring her riding a white horse across the wilderness, is also a must-see.
Make Me BadKorn
It’s a popular song by an American progressive metal band.
Many of their tracks express the vocalist’s madness-tinged emotions rooted in childhood experiences, filled with raw brutality and darkness, and this song brings those elements to the forefront.
DownfallExodus
Exodus, a band that represents the American thrash metal scene.
Their songs are characterized by blazing fast guitar riffs and aggressive rhythms.
Released in May 2010, this track is included on the album “Exhibit B: The Human Condition.” The work carries a socially critical message, themed around the collapse of civilization and human ignorance.
The heavy guitar sound and the powerful shouted vocals are striking, leaving a strong impression on listeners.
Especially when you’re feeling down, why not listen to this song and vent the negativity inside you?
QwertyMushroomhead
A hopelessly dark track by Mushroomhead from Cleveland, Ohio.
While rooted in heavy metal, it features a distinctive sound that incorporates elements of industrial and hip-hop.
Included on the album The Righteous & The Butterfly, released in May 2014, it reached No.
20 on the Billboard 200 chart.
The song carries a message of standing up to those who start wars in the name of patriotism, channeling anger at social injustice and a spirit of resistance.
With crushing guitar riffs and manic vocals, it’s a standout recommendation for anyone determined to stick to their convictions or confront the contradictions of society.