Fontaines D.C. : "Dopamine Chamber"

 The 5th album by this Irish band finds them returning to the studio with Depeche Mode producer James Ellis Ford who worked ithe band on their previous album. The album wakes up with the atmospheric synths of "Six Shot Morning", it lingers here until the groove creeps in. The lyrics are muttered in a reverbed out stream of consciousness. Then the lead single "Marianne" moves things in a hookier direction with melody at the forefront. Vocalist Grain Chatten wrote the album's lyrics on a trip to Italy, which must have been a very introspective journey for him. Cascading strings draping the background are not a novelty in Brit-pop; they prove effective here. 

"Mimesis" drifts into a moodier and marginally darker sonic space. There is a great deal of pondering going on in this album that takes it in a Cure like direction, though not as dark. Melancholic speculation colors "Happy For You". The vocal melody drifts over the lingering instrumentation beneath it.  Rock guitar crashes in to bring things to a climax and give more dynamic heft. "Demolition" is more overtly Britpop, doing what Oasis attempted better than they did.I did not expect them to be spearheading a Britpop revival but that is what it feels like. 

Going into this review, "Tongue" is my favorite song on this album, as the vocals dance around the droning music beneath them in an infectious way that feels perfect. This songwriting approach is contrasted by the more ambient drift of "One Man". It gains some momentum as it flows into a stoned shuffle. Rosalia joins them on "Where is Gone," the first time they have had a guest on an album. This duet serves as a haunting ballad that works well with their voices. She is basically Italy's Lana Del Rey.

There is a subtle, almost trip-hop groove to "You Miss Me" that helps the vocal and keeps things moving rather than allowing the the already ballad-heavy album to be weighed down.  "Japan" is another ballad that leans into the wistful strum of acoustic guitar; it was the song I was least excited about when it came to the first three songs I heard leading up to this album's release. "Intimate" finds the drone of a more sullen vocal setting the tone amid the ambiance as the groove finds its feet. I will give this album a 10; it's their most thoughtful work, and yet it has a bigger impact on the music scene in its wake. 

Gothtober -The Top 40 Greatest Goth Bands- 10 - 1

Here we at the top 10 of our top 40 greatest goth bands of all time. If you are just joining us, let's clear up a few things first off: it says bands, so that eliminates solo acts and one-man shows, and some of my favorites, so no Gary Numan, Chelsea Wolfe, or Marilyn Manson. Sure, some of them have freuent collaborators, but these are at the very least, duos who continued to make an impact on goth as we know it today. Some opened new doors for the genre; others are keeping the flame burning in the midnight hour into the genre's tomorrow. There are a range of sub-genres that are included under the black umbrella of goth, death rock, and dark wave being the most obvious, but I am including a few post-punk, neo-folk, metal and industrial acts if they really have Halloween flowing through their veins.

10- Skinny Poppy

Industrial, so dark and drug-ridden that it belongs here.

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9- Killing Joke

The least Halloween of the top 10, but musically powerful and with a more apocalyptic darkness that bleeds into industrial

 

8-Siouxsie and the Banshees

And now all female goth singers in 2026 are trying to sound like her.

    

7-Bauhaus 

The real question is why they are not higher on the list; the real anser is sometimes they get too experimental for their own good and lose the plot. 

6-Cocteau Twins

If you think these guys just make music for fairies on acid, then you need to listen to "The Garlands"

   

5- Fields of the Nephilim 

They kept the atmosphere of goth rock, while adding bigger balls and casting a darker sonic shadow

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4-Type O Negative

If you wrote these guys off as just being a metal band... then it's your loss 

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3-Dead Can Dance

Their brand of neo-folk is elevated by being the genre's most immense vocal talents. 

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2-Christian Death

They brought a different kind of darkness to the table, held a raw drugged out sexuality that could have only come from Los Angeles . 

1- The Cure 

"Pornography" gave them the edge to seal their spot at the top, but they have remained true to who they became without standing in one place. 

Gothtober -The Top 40 Greatest Goth Bands -20 to 11

Here we go, continuing to count down our top 40 greatest goth bands of all time. If you are just joining us, let's clear up a few things first off: it says bands, so that eliminates solo acts and one-man shows, and some of my favorites, so no Gary Numan, Chelsea Wolfe, or Marilyn Manson. Sure, some of them have freuent collaborators, but these are at the very least duos who continued to make an impact on goth as we know it today. Some opened new doors for the genre; others are keeping the flame burning in the midnight hour into the genre's tomorrow. There are a range of sub-genres that are included under the black umbrella of goth, death rock, and dark wave being the most obvious, but I am including a few post-punk, neo-folk, metal and industrial acts if they really have Halloween flowing through their veins.

20-Clan of  Xymox

They have perfected their sound over the years until it is now the very definition of what goth should be. 

19-Psyclon Nine

From hammering dancefloor-banging industrial  to bleak darkwave, these guys are serious shit

 

 

18-Cold Cave

He started off as more of a solo project, but it's turned into an actual organic band that works live. Over the past few years, they have gone from post-punk to darkwave. 

 

 

17-Strvngers

An underrated band that coasted below the radar of most, but wrote hyper-edgy darkwave with a nu-metal attitude.

16-Rasputina 

Quirky chamber music for vampires... yes please. 

15- My Life With the Thrill Kill Kult 

Poen soundracks for the devil 

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14-Oingo Boingo

I'll admit the horns can come close to being too happy at times, but they have some of yhe most endearing Halloween bangers, as well as the voice of Jack Skellington on the mic,

13-The Jesus and Mary Chain

A testament that when post-punk gets depressed enough it can darken into goth.

   

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12-Grave Pleasures

The umbrella Mat's work also includes Beastmilk, further solidifying their place here.

   

11- Swans 

What knocked them out of the top 10 was the fact that they have a really strong goth era of albums, but it's bookended by industrial noise and experimental post-rock. If this were the 40 loudest bands, they would be number 1. 

pst514

Gothtober-The Top 40 Greatest Goth Bands 30 to 21

 

Here we go, continuing to count down our top 40 greatest goth bands of all time. If you are just joining us, let's clear up a few things first off: it says bands, so that eliminates solo acts and one-man shows, and some of my favorites, so no Gary Numan, Chelsea Wolfe, or Marilyn Manson. Sure, some of them have freuent collaborators, but these are at the very least duos who continued to make an impact on goth as we know it today. Some opened new doors for the genre; others are keeping the flame burning in the midnight hour into the genre's tomorrow. There are a range of sub-genres that are included under the black umbrella of goth, death rock, and dark wave being the most obvious, but I am including a few post-punk, neo-folk, metal and industrial acts if they really have Halloween flowing through their veins. 

30-Crippling Alcoholism

This band took what the Birthday Party did and wrote catchier, more depressive tunes

 

 29-Bestial Mouths 

They make dark wave that is so dark it's as heavy as industrial

 

28-Woods of the Ypres

The would be successor to Peter Steele, but being true to form, their frontman also died; the depression was not an act. 

27-Miranda Sex Garden

The real ones know...

 

 26-Virgin Prunes 

What happens when a death rock band wants to play new wave, it actually remains pretty creepy. 

25-Death in June

They are too into the apocalypse for Halloween, but it still works. They had a hug influence even on people who turned against them. 

 

  24-My Dying Bride

One of the best pairing of metal to goth; the atmosphere is legit. 

 

23-Electric Hellfire Club

Dark as fuck death disco... Pray to Satan

 

  22-Specimen 

Death rock that you can shake your pale booty to.

   

21-Samhain

This Misfits evolved into death rock, in fact, an arguably better band as well. 

pst513

Gothtober- Top 10 Christian Death Albums

 

This month I reviewed every Christian Death album except the two most recent, which I had alreaddy covered. So with that data, how could I not rank them according to importance and which ones have the msot bangers that stand the test of time? Put links to the review rather than write a blurb about to them for more info, click those links.

10-Atrocities 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-christian-death-atrocities.html

9-Evil Becomes Rule 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2022/04/christian-death-evil-becomes-rule.html

8-American Inquisition

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-with-christian_01819132961.html

7-Born Again Anti-Christian 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-with-christian_01393214844.html

6-Rage of Angels

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-with-christian_01224329825.html

5-Catastrophe Ballet 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-christian_0896016248.html

4-Ashes

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-christian-death-ashes.html

 

3-The Iron Mask

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-with-christian_01727776294.html

2-Sex and Drugs and Jesus Christ 

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-with-christian_053570414.html

1-Only Theater of Pain

https://abysmalhymns.blogspot.com/2026/10/gothtober-exhuming-tunes-christian.html

pst512

Gothtober-The Top 40 Greatest Goth Bands 40 to 31

 

All too often, people get caught up in the fashiopn and lose focus on what really matters: the music. I am putting the music center stage here and acknowledging who continues to rock stages and brings the sonic darkness to life for us to celebrate. First off, it says bands, so that eliminates solo acts and one-man shows, and some of my favorites, so no Gary Numan, Chelsea Wolfe, or Marilyn Manson. Sure, some of them have freuent collaborators, but these are at the very least duos who continued to make an impact on goth as we know it today. Some opened new doors for the genre; others are keeping the flame burning in the midnight hour into the genre's tomorrow. There are a range of sub-genres that are included under the black umbrella of goth, death rock, and dark wave being the most obvious, but I am including a few post-punk, neo-folk, metal and industrial acts if they really have Halloween flowing through their veins. 

40- 45 Grave 

Long-running death rock act is almost a one-hit wonder, but they are still a pillar of the death rock scene and are loads of fun.

  .

39- Zeromancer 

They helped carry 90s goth into the 2000s. 

38- Patriarchy  

This due makes sure dark music is staying sexy with their industrial-tinged dark pop bangers.

   

37-London After Midnight

Officiated the second marriage of goth rock to electronic music 

36-Sex Gang Children

The most unhinged dark punk band of the 80s

 

35- Wax Idols 

One of the few post-punk revival bands that was dark enough to become goth. 

 

34- Sisters of Mercy

You might expect them to rank higher andd while they do have a very defining sound, they are so terrible live I could not in good conscience rank them any higher as the other bands would blow them off stage with ease

   

33-Altar De Fey

The death-rock champs keep the undead genre alive; they sound more vital than ever. 

 

32- Astari Nite

The newcomers have already made an impact by proving themselves to be one of the best live bands rocking stages these days, even if they have taken on a little more of a new wave sound. 

   

 31-TSOL

Sure they started off as a punk band, and while that wa always under the surface, they gave themselves over to the darkness to transition over into death rock. 

pst511

DEAFHEAVEN : "AT WORK IN THE FIELDS OF THE BOMB"

 

This three-song EP just dropped. It leads off with the single "Hunter". This song carries a much bigger, more mainstream black metal sound. By bigger, it's slightly more fierce than Dimmu but bombastic like more recent Mayhem. George's more Cradle of Filth-like shriek leads the way and helps set them apart from sounding like everyone else, as they step away from the shoegazing to firmly plant themselves in the middle of black metal. 

Are the other two songs going to be this in-your-face? Well, I guess we'll find out. The drumming on the first song is pretty bombastic, so that sets the bar high. The second track, "Three Princes," is just under three minutes. It is just an atmospheric interlude, so these guys are not as prolific as you might think, or perhaps they should have split up the last song into two songs since it is almost 13 minutes long. 

It takes a minute for it to gather the sonic storm and shoot off into furious blasting. Granted, we know they can not keep this up for another twelve minutes, nor would we want them to. The snarl of the vocals sits further back into the guitars. The song has a hazier production qualities and is not as metal of a sound despite htey way they are hammering at you. They do more than their fair share of blasting on this one. Seven minutes in it simmers down into the atmosphere of a strummed guitar. When it kicks back in he hits a lower death metal growl. It builds into noisy ambient chaos. Overall, they are more serious about their metal side this time around; it works despite not being the first time we have heard this from them will give this an 8.5Out on Roadrunner Records.

pst510