Gothic Metal

Katatonia – Nightmares as Extensions of the Waking State Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on June 6, 2025 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal, Progressive Rock, 96 comments

“Sixteen years is all Jonas Renkse had to his name when he and Anders Nyström formed Katatonia back in 1991. A myriad of classic influences and the bravado of youth guided their fledgling minds down much rawer, doomier, and death-colored paths than Katatonia travels in 2025. But after thirty-plus years on the job—and a messy spat between old friends—nothing could possibly stay the same. The urge to find efficiencies in expression may overcome the urge to blaze an unknown path or revisit roots. What always remains in the Katatonia expression, though, is an unshakable and downtrodden atmosphere—time hasn’t rid the remaining Renkse of a bleak outlook on the world.” The bleak in review.

In the Woods… – Otra Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on April 3, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal, 34 comments

“As of 2022’s Diversum, In the Woods… has pretty much combined all their genre influences into one. In some cases, it works; in other cases, it’s a touch messy. That said, I think I liked Diversum more than Ferox because I thought the individual songs came together nicely to create the album—though there were obvious issues with some of the tracks. Some of it might be the new singer on staff. Or, it could be the songwriting as a whole. But Fjellestad is a solid addition to the crew, returning once again for this year’s Otra. The question is, will we see another side of In the Woods…, or will they finally reel in their influences to release something stunning?” Woods package!

Euphrosyne – Morus Review

By Iceberg on March 27, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Melodic Metal, Post-Metal, 11 comments

“Death is an omnipresent theme in metal, and art in general, but the subject matter is especially poignant when approached by survivors of its trauma. Post-black quartet Euphrosyne tackle the loss of a loved one, in this case songwriter Alex Despotidis’ mother, on their debut LP, Morus. Post-black seems an appropriate style for the Greeks, with a focus on atmosphere, melody, and stillness to balance black metal fury. While the lyrics are credited to frontwoman Efi Eva, all the music was composed by Despotidis, an unenviable but hopefully cathartic duty for someone who just lost a parent.” Healing through music.

Stuck in the Filter: January 2025’s Angry Misses

By Kenstrosity on March 13, 2025 in Reviews, Stuck in the Filter, Atmospheric Black Metal, Black Metal, Death Metal, Deathcore, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, Grind, Hardcore, Melodic Black Metal, Nu Metal, Progressive Metal, Slam, Sludge, 97 comments

January Filters are scrubbed. Now your ears will be brutally rubbed.

Cradle of Filth – The Screaming of the Valkyries Review

By Dr. A.N. Grier on March 10, 2025 in Reviews, Black Metal, Gothic Metal, Symphonic Metal, 105 comments

“While most people reminisce about classics like Dusk and Her Embrace and Cruelty and the Beast, the latter half of the band’s career includes stellar albums like Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder and Hammer of the Witches. So, for all the shit talking, CoF hasn’t slowed down since their naughty birth in 1991. With a new guitarist and female siren on the roster, The Screaming of the Valkyries is here to keep the sexy alive.” Bringing filthy back.

Lacuna Coil – Sleepless Empire Review

By Kenstrosity on February 12, 2025 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Groove Metal, Hard Rock, 79 comments

“Italian gothic metal/groove/hard rock outfit Lacuna Coil occupy a special place in my metallic upbringing. Comalies, the band’s third album—and their breakout release—was the very first CD I bought with my own money. It remains a staple in my rotation to this day, thanks to hypnotic blends of dour atmosphere and poppy hooks sharp enough to pierce the gray matter permanently. This disparate combination is what put Lacuna Coil on the map as a common gateway for new metal fans.” Sleepless in Italy.

Elyose – Évidence Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on January 10, 2025 in Reviews, Djent, Electronic Metal, Electronica, Gothic Metal, 46 comments

“Being true to yourself as a listener is an essential part of the reviewing process. So, at a very base level, I can say things like “I’m tired of hearing djent riffs” and “pop-infused metal doesn’t do anything for me.” And, at my core, I can know those things are true. Except, every now and again, well-crafted music comes along and bashes upon our truths like a coup de foudre to an unsuspecting heart. Such was the case when I encountered Elyose’s hook-laden, djentrified y2k platter of Déviante. And so too am I again smitten with the chug-ridden, cybergoth stylings of Évidence. The proof, as they say, is in the purple pudding.” Purple is the new sphere.

Blazing Eternity – A Certain End of Everything [Things You Might Have Missed 2024]

By Steel Druhm on December 13, 2024 in Things You Might Have Missed 2024, Doom Metal, Gothic Metal, 53 comments

“In a year where I excessively obsessed over low-IQ, unevolved death metal, a few special albums shook me from my brutish ape froth and made me appreciate beauty and melancholy. Counting Hours did it, and this little unsung gem from Denmark did it too. Blazing Eternity saw a pair of releases in the early aughts and then vanished into the ether. They reformed in 2024 and dropped an album very different from the alt-goth-rock heard on 2003s A World to Drown In. Instead, A Certain End of Everything follows in the exact footsteps of my much beloved Rapture, very early Katatonia, and Slumber, with bits of Insomnium and Enshine sprinkled over the frosted tear flakes.” A Blaze in the northern cry.

The Old Dead Tree – Second Thoughts Review

By Dolphin Whisperer on December 10, 2024 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal, 39 comments

“The hibernal cool-down of December brings with it the urge to succumb to an early setting sun and frozen morning air. And with this desire for thick socks, fuzzy blankets, and warm, spiced beverages no matter the hour comes a call from the gothic and downtrodden. In both those words The Old Dead Tree lives, having waved the dark and morose flag since 1997 inconsistently through a minefield of break-ups and hiatuses.” The Grieving Tree.

Tribulation – Sub Rosa in Æternum Review

By GardensTale on November 10, 2024 in Reviews, Gothic Metal, 49 comments

“Tribulation has battled its share of tribulations. After an interesting decade of gradually shifting from death metal to goth metal with growls with a new drummer every couple of years, the band lost one of their primary songwriters with the departure of flamboyant guitarist Jonathan Hultén. The last album to include him, Where the Gloom Becomes Sound, was not bad, but certainly more messy and unpolished than its predecessors, and it was the first to largely halt the band’s evolution. Sub Rosa in Æternum sees the reintroduction of Joseph Tholl on guitars, who originally helped found Hazard, the thrash metal band that would become Tribulation. How has the shake-up affected the music, though?” Trials, travails, Tribulations.