50 essential bands
To all the baby bats: if you are feeling lost with our long list of bands, don't worry, we've made one especially for you! In this list, you will find all the bands that you should listen to to introduce you to goth music, all genres included (goth rock, post-punk, dark wave, industrial...).
Obviously, with the exception of some classic bands, choosing which bands deserve to be on this page is a complicated and very personal decision: this is why we asked you to help us choose on our instagram page with a poll. If you think that a band deserves to be on this list and that it is not, it is not necessarily because we do not agree, just because a choice had to be made!
If you're wondering how the bands were ranked, we've decided to rank them based on the number of times you named them in the poll.
PS: to all older goths you can always use this page to check if you know your basics!
1- Bauhaus
Where to start if not with Bauhaus? The band, formed in 1978 under the name "Bauhaus 1919" is today regarded as the creator of the goth movement (although the debate exists with Joy Division and Siouxsie and the Banshees). The band is influenced by many artists (David Bowie, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Velvet Underground, Elvis Presley...) and genres (funk, punk, dub, psychedelic rock, glam rock...) but exceeds them to reach a darker atmosphere, with sometimes minimalist sounds, rather mysterious lyrics, and always that sound that haunts and hypnotizes you.
Among their tracks to know: Bela Lugosi’s Dead, Dark Entries, She’s In Parties
4- Sisters of Mercy
The Sisters of Mercy is a gothic rock band whose singer is the famous non-goth Andrew Eldritch. The band only released 3 albums but continue to produce songs without releasing them officially (because of an argument with their label in the 90s): you will therefore have to go see them live if you want to hear them.
Among their tracks to know: Marian, Lucretia My Reflection, Walk Away
5- Siouxsie and the Banshees
Another pioneering band! Siouxsie and the Banshees was formed in 1976. The band started out in punk, but quickly turned to post-punk and experimental sounds. They have influenced many artists: Joy Division, Bauhaus, The Cure, U2, Radiohead… In short, an essential group!
Among their tracks to know: Dear Prudence, Spellbound, Happy House
7 - Depeche Mode
Depeche Mode is not what you might call a goth band, but the band has been so successful that they are listened to by many goths as well. The band formed in 1979. Most of the songs are composed by Martin Gore, and although some are more "dark", they remain mostly in the field of synth pop.
Among their tracks to know: Just Can't Get Enough, People Are People, Black Celebration
9- Cocteau Twins
Cocteau Twins is an ethereal wave band created in 1979. They are influenced by Siouxsie and the Banshees, Joy Division, The Birthday Party, but adds to post-punk influences the special voice of Elizabeth Fraser, who was so often praised (even if we do not often understand what she says). The atmosphere is melancholy, often abstract, quite mysterious.
Among their tracks to know: Heaven Or Las Vegas, Pandora, Lorelei
11 - Xmal Deutschland
Xmal Deutschland is an all-female band created in 1980. Their song Incubus Succubus has become a staple of gothic music.
Among their tracks to know: Incubus Succubus II, Mondlicht, Geheimnis
13- The Damned
The Damned is a goth rock band, which like many other bands started out in punk. Singer Dave Vanian is known for his vampire look, and has become an icon today.
Among their tracks to know: Eloise, The Shadow Of Love, New Rose
15- Echo & the Bunnymen
Echo and the Bunnymen is a post-punk band founded in 1978.
Among their tracks to know: The Killing Moon, Lips Like Sugar, Nocturnal Me
17- London After Midnight
London After Midnight is a goth rock band formed in 1990. The band, composed entirely of Sean Brennan, is considered to be one of the bands that breathed new life into the gothic movement in the 90s.
Among their tracks to know: Sacrifice, Kiss, The Black Cat
19- Skeletal Family
Skeletal Family is a goth rock band formed in 1982. The name of the band comes from the Bowie's song "Chant of the Ever Circling 'Skeletal Family'".
Among their tracks to know: Promised Land, She Cries Alone, So Sure
21- She Past Away
She Past Away is a band which, despite its novelty, has managed to make itself essential on the gothic scene. From their first LP, Berlidi Gece released in 2012, the band stood out: taking inspiration from darkwave of the 80s, they added a bass with the typical basslines of post-punk and Turkish lyrics.
Among their tracks to know: Kasvetli Kutlama, Durdu Dunya, Rituel
23- The Smiths
Although controversial because of Morrisey, The Smiths remains one of the major rock bands of the 80s. The band didn't adopt completely post-punk tones, which is why many people define it as an indie rock band. All of their albums were critically acclaimed, but the band quickly split up (in 1987 after 5 years of activity) due to internal disagreements.
Among their tracks to know: This Charming Man, There Is A Light That Never Goes Out, How Soon Is Now?
25- Nine Inch Nails
Nine Inch Nails is an industrial group formed in 1988.
Among their tracks to know: Closer, Head Like A Hole, Hurt
27- Molchat Doma
Molchat Doma is a Belarusian post-punk and synthpop band. Formed in 2017, the band achieved worldwide success in 2020 after their song Sudno was used in numerous Tik Toks.
Among their tracks to know: Sudno, Kletka, Otveta Net
29- Rosetta Stone
Rosetta Stone is a gothic rock band formed in 1988, whose musical style represents well the gothic rock of the 80s.
Among their tracks to know: The Witch, Darkside, Adrenaline
31- The Birthday Party
The Birthday Party is a band formed in 1978. They mix blues, punk, rockabilly, and have very dark lyrics (which is why they have often been called a goth rock band). The band quickly separated: Nick Cave and Rowland S. Howard continued their careers on their side.
Among their tracks to know: Mr Clarinet, Nick The Stripper, Release The Bats
33- The Danse Society
The Danse Society is a gothic rock band formed in 1980.
Among their tracks to know: Heaven Is Waiting, Somewhere, Angel
35- Switchblade Symphony
Switchblade Symphony was formed in 1989 by Susan Wallace and Tina Root who mix elements of classical music and gothic rock in their musical universe.
Among their tracks to know: Invisible, Clown, Wicked
37- Pink Turns Blue
Pink Turns Blue are a post-punk band formed in 1985. The atmosphere they've created is usually recognizable from the first notes. The band is still touring today but with new members.
Among their tracks to know: Your Master is calling, Walking on both side, I coldly stare out
39- Mephisto Waltz
Mephisto Walz is a gothic rock band formed in 1985.
Among their tracks to know: Painted Black, Mephisto Waltz, I Wanna Be Your Dog
41- Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry is a gothic rock band formed in 1982. The lyrics of the group speak a lot of angst and terror.
Among their tracks to know: Talk About The Weather, Hollow Eyes, Heaven
43- Inkubus Sukkubus
Inkubus Sukkubus is a British gothic rock and ethereal wave band formed in 1989.
Among their tracks to know: Vampyre Erotica, Wytches, Heart Of Lilith
45- The Frozen Autumn
The Frozen Autumn is an Italian darkwave band formed in 1993.
Among their tracks to know: Is Everything Real?, Wait For Nothing, This Time
47- Selofan
Selofan is a Greek darkwave and minimal wave group formed in 2012.
Among their tracks to know: Give Me A Reason, Auf Deiner Haut, Ist Die Liebe Tot?
49- Ministry
Ministry is an industrial metal band, and is sometimes even considered the first. Their first album, however, has more synthpop influences.
Among their tracks to know: Effigy (I'm Not An), I Wanted To Tell Her, Revenge
2- The Cure
Everyone's heard of The Cure: the iconic band has dabbled in all genres. After a first album with very audible punk roots, the group gradually evolved and tried post-punk, until reaching goth rock with the cult albums Pornography and Disintegration. If these two albums are the two that are talked about the most in the goth community, their new wave and pop rock albums (especially after the mid 90s) are also worth a listen, at least to understand the evolution of the band.
Among their tracks to know: Friday I’m In Love, Pictures Of You, One Hundred Years
3- Joy Division
Like The Cure, Joy Division is one of the bands that have become legendary beyond gothic culture. And this is not without reason! Joy Division is a precursor band, one of the godfathers of goth rock. Their tracks are influenced by The Velvet Underground, The Doors, David Bowie, but with a cold sound and their own way of using their instruments: the drummer did not give the rhythm but followed it, the bassist carried the melody, and the guitar wasn't playing heavy riffs like you'd expect. Ian Curtis, in charge of the lyrics, tackled dark themes such as death, depersonalization, depression… The band split after the latter's death.
Among their tracks to know: Disorder, Love Will Tear Us Apart, Transmission
6- Christian Death
Christian Death is a deathrock band formed in 1979, probably the best known. However the band is a little more "controversial" than the others: their first album Only Theater Of Pain is a classic, Catastrophe Ballet and Ashes too, but after the departure of Rozz Williams in 1985, the band began to suffer from a bad reputation (even if some fans end up admitting that the album Atrocities and the track We Fall Like Love in particular were not so unpleasant).
Among their tracks to know: Romeo’s Distress, Spiritual Cramp, Church Of No Return
8 - Alien Sex Fiend
Alien Sex Fiend is a goth rock and deathrock band formed in 1982, and current members are married couple Nik Fiend and Mrs Fiend. The band enjoyed some success from their first album. The band has created a particular sound: without taking the dark gothic atmosphere too seriously, they push it to its maximum, as if in self-mockery, and add theatrical elements to it.
Among their tracks to know: I Walk The Line, Now I’m Feeling Zombified, Ignore The Machine
14- Lebanon Hanover
Lebanon Hanover is a group mixing post-punk, darkwave, minimal wave, always with elegance. Their first album released in 2011 (Split with La Fete Triste), they have since established themselves as an essential group on the goth scene, and even beyond.
Among their tracks to know: Gallowdance, Kiss Me Until My Lips Fall Off, Alien
16- Type O Negative
Type O Negative is a gothic metal band formed in 1989.
Among their tracks to know: Love You To Death, Black No. 1, I Don’t Wanna Be Me
18- Specimen
Specimen: THE batcave band. Created in 1981, the group mixes all kinds of genres: glam rock, post-punk, goth rock, deathrock… They are also known to be the pioneers of the tradgoth and deathrock style. An essential band!
Among their tracks to know: Hex, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Sharp Teeth Pretty Teeth
20- Sex Gang Children
Sex Gang Children is a cult goth rock band. They released their first album in 1982.
Among their tracks to know: Sebastiane, Deiche, The Crack Up
22- Death Cult (The Cult)
Death Cult was formed in 1983, and changed its name to The Cult in 1984. The band was formed by Ian Astbury, after The Southern Death Cult broke up. After exploring post-punk and goth rock, The Cult quickly turned to hard rock.
Among their tracks to know: God's Zoo, Horse Nation, Rain
24- Skinny Puppy
Skinny Puppy is an industrial Canadian band, formed in 1982, which has today become an essential reference in the genre.
Among their tracks to know: Assimilate, Worlock, Smothered Hope
26- Fields of the Nephilim
Fields of the Nephilim is a British gothic rock band formed in 1984. The group is considered a founder of the genre, sometimes cited with The Sisters of Mercy and Bauhaus.
Among their tracks to know: Moonchild, For Her Light, Preacher Man
28- Dead Can Dance
Dead Can Dance was formed in 1981. Their musical universe varies a lot depending on their albums, but revolves a lot around mystic subjects (cold wave, neo-classical darkwave, world music...)
Among their tracks to know: Summoning of the Muse, Flowers of the Sea, Children of the Sun
30- The Mission
The Mission is an English goth rock band, formed by two former members of The Sisters of Mercy in 1986. The band planned to be called The Sisterhood, but couldn't keep the name.
Among their tracks to know: Wasteland, Deliverance, Tyranny of Secrets
32- She Wants Revenge
She Wants Revenge is a post-punk and goth rock band formed in 2004. The band has managed to make a name for itself outside of the goth scene.
Among their tracks to know: Rachael, Out Of Control, Tear You Apart
34- The Chameleons
The Chameleons are an English post-punk band, formed in 1981. The band split up in 1987, before resuming touring in 2000 for 3 years. The band released an album under the name ChameleonsVox in 2013 in 2015.
Among their tracks to know: Swamp Things, Second Skin, Don’t Fall
36- Nosferatu
Nosferatu is a gothic rock band formed in 1988 which is very successful. Its name comes from the well-known movie "Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens".
Among their tracks to know: Rise, The Haunting, The Witching Hour
38- Jesus and Mary Chain
The Jesus and Mary Chain are a rock band formed in 1984, who have explored different genres like postpunk and shoegaze. Their albums have influenced shoegaze groups (My Bloody Valentine, The Stone Roses) as well as other rock bands like Pixies, The Raveonettes, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club.
Among their tracks to know: Just Like Honey, April Skies, Head On
42- Virgin Prunes
Virgin Prunes is a post-punk band formed in 1977 and disbanded in 1986.
Among their tracks to know: Love Lasts Forever, Pagan Lovesong, Decline and Fall
44- Horror Vacui
Horror Vacui is an Italian deathrock and goth rock band formed in 2010.
Among their tracks to know: Corvus Corax, In Darkness You Will Feel Alright, 5000
46- Boy Harsher
Boy Harsher is an American duo founded in 2013 by Jae Matthews and Augustus Muller.
Boy Harsher's sound is one of a kind, almost unclassifiable. Their songs, very different from each other, mix elements of synthwave, darkwave, EBM, while remaining in a hypnotic, sometimes disturbing atmosphere.
48- Death In June
Death in June is a British experimental band formed in 1981.
Among their tracks to know: The Calling (Mk II), Fall Apart, Little Black Angel
50- Cinema Strange
Cinema Strange is a death rock band founded in 1994.
Among their tracks to know: Moundshroud, Aboriginal Anemia, Catacombs Kittens