Gothic Metal

It is October and THE month for Gothic music, especially Gothic metal. This list is mainly the more "traditional" style not overbearing with other genres such as symphonic metal, doom metal (example being My Dying Bride) and alternative metal. These bands and albums stay close very to their influences such as Bauhaus, The Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure. These are all Gothic metal classics and all are from the nineties which was the decade for this genre before it got bland and mainstream alternative influenced from the past decade...

The Gathering: Mandylion

1995 Century Media

Paradise Lost: Draconian Times

1995 Music for Nations

Theatre of Tragedy: Aégis 

1998 Massacre 

Tiamat: Wild Honey

1994 Century Media 

Type O Negative: Bloody Kisses

1993 Roadrunner

Type O Negative: October Rust

1996 Roadrunner

THE Gothic metal album. October Rust sincerely follows the footsteps of the classic Gothic artists which influenced the band. 

Some necessary Nadja...

Nadja has been one of my favorite bands from the past couple years. The duo, Aidan Baker (guitars, vocals,  programming) and Leah Buckareff (bass vocals) have such a distinctive sound with this unique form of shoegaze, drone doom metal, drone, experimental rock and ambient music. I pretty much call their music "dream doom metal", or "doomgaze". Their music is heavily layered with extremely distorted riffs which are fuzzy-like with faint, haunting, and even pop-like vocals. The band's discography is very large, around forty releases (albums, EPs, splits, collaborations) and if I'm not mistaken nineteen of which are studio solo albums. This list is eleven of Nadja's solo studio albums which I think are essential for fans of the band and this kind of music. 

Bodycage

2005 NOTHingness

This their fourth album which was reissued on CD and digitally by Broken Spine in 2011.

http://brokenspineprods.bandcamp.com/album/bodycage

Truth Becomes Death

2005 Alien8

Nadja's sixth album and is one of Nadja's more revered albums, and one of their heaviest.

http://nadja.bandcamp.com/album/truth-becomes-death

Thaumogenesis

2007 Archive 

An amazing one song album, sixty minutes of ethereal ambient drone doom.
It is also reissued this year through Broken Spine

http://brokenspineprods.bandcamp.com/album/thaumogenesis

Touched

2007 Alien8

This album was originally released in 2003, though was totally redone in 2007. I have to say this is Nadja's masterpiece, one of the best metal and rock albums of the past decade.

http://nadja.bandcamp.com/album/touched

Radiance of Shadows

2007 Alien8

I have to say this is Nadja's heaviest album, especially the epic and devastating opening instrumental 'Now I Am Become Death the Destroyer of Worlds', I think it's the best "metal" song about the atomic bomb. 

http://nadja.bandcamp.com/album/radiance-of-shadows

Bliss Torn From Emptiness

2008 Profound Lore

Like Touched, this album was totally redone from the original 2005 release. This album is divided up into three parts and are rearranged.

http://brokenspineprods.bandcamp.com/album/bliss-torn-from-emptiness

Skin Turns to Glass

2008 The End

Like the original Touched and Bliss Torn, this was released back a few years before this edition and then was totally redone. I have to say the title track is Nadja's heaviest emotional song and how it progresses is perfect.

http://nadja.bandcamp.com/album/skin-turns-to-glass

Desire in Uneasiness

2008 Crucial Blast

Nadja's first album with a live drummer and I think this is Nadja's most mellow sounding album.

http://brokenspineprods.bandcamp.com/album/desire-in-uneasiness

The Bungled & the Botched

2008 ConSouling

This album is rather folk-like with Aidan playing the flute, piano and the acoustic guitar, though of course the album still is full of massive ethereal drone doom metal riffs.

http://brokenspineprods.bandcamp.com/album/the-bungled-the-botched

When I See the Sun Always Shine on TV

2009 The End

Most cover albums are really bland, especially from metal artists. Though this maybe the best cover album by a metal based band, Hell rock in general. Mainly do to with Nadja's unique sound and the rang of artists they cover, from My Bloody Valentine, Ah-Ha to fucking Slayer!

Dagdrøm

2012 Broken Spine

Nadja's latest album and which features Mac McNeill of The Jesus Lizard on drums. This is most likely Nadja's most rock based album. Rock as in unconventional/experimental space-kraut influenced rock with massive mesmerizing riffs. This album sincerely rocks.

http://nadja.bandcamp.com/album/dagdr-m

"Post" metallic music: Fading from black

This is "post-black metal", and I can't think of a good name... Anyway these black metal albums are heavily influenced by post-rock, post-punk, post-hardcore, and atmospheric sludge metal. You know instead of Slayer it's Sigor Ros, The Cure than Celtic Frost, My Bloody Valentine than Mayhem, Godspeed You! Black Emperor than Emperor...

Agalloch: Marrow of the Spirit

Agalloch's latest and most post-rock based album yet, some stunning blackened music.

Alcest: Ecailles de lune

A sincerely beautiful blend of shoegaze, dream pop, post-rock, and atmospheric black metal, which forms up to straight up ethereal black metal. This already is a definitive album. 

Altar of Plagues: White Tomb

Profound Lore 2009
Dynamic and epic sludge soaked atmospheric black metal with post-rock and ethereal black metal. 

Bosse-de-Nage: iii
Profound Lore 2012

The best Bosse album yet. They fuse the depressive elements of black metal perfectly with the minimalism of post-rock and some post-punk. A very recent album though I think already a classic to be of post influenced black metal.

Castevet: Mounds of Ash
Profound Lore 2010

Massive sludge soaked progressive black metal with heavy post-hardcore influences. Progressive meaning rather technical like in the veins of math rock that really compliments their post-hardcore influences which overall makes the music dynamic and powerful, also adding more depth in their atmosphere.

Celeste: Morte(s) Nee(s)
Denovali 2010
Devastating sludge soaked blacked post-hardcore from France. The French do know how to make some intense unconventional black metal.  

Cobalt: Gin

Profound Lore 2009
Sick American war themed sludge soaked black metal, on the atmospheric sludge side. One of the best black metal albums of the past decade and this band has the potential to release more great albums.

Deafheaven: Roads to Judah

Deathwish 2011
Pretty much perfect atmospheric black metal with post-rock and shoegaze from Deathwish? A label known for it's extreme metallic hardcore which released this absolutely gorgeous blackened bliss album. 

Lantlos: .neon

2010 Lupus Lounge
The same singer of Alcest is featured in this other stunning ethereal black metal band. Gorgeous and harsh black metal with genuine post-rock influences. 

Tombs: Path of Totality

Relaspe 2011
Already one of the most monolithic albums ever... Massive blackened sludge metal with post-punk and hardcore with some ethereal black metal. Also props for Decibel making this number one for their 2011 list, this band needs more recognition... 

Twilight: Monument to Time End

Southern Lord 2010
One of the best metal super groups. This album features N. Imperial on vocals (Krieg), Aaron Turner on guitars effects and vocals (Isis, Old Man Gloom), Stravos Giannopulos on guitar (The Atlas Moth), Sanford Parker on keyboards and effects (Buried at Sea, Minsk), Wrest on drums bass and vocals (Leviathan, Lurker of Chalice), Blake Judd on guitars and vocals (Nachtmystium). An extremely talented group of musicians on one incredible album.

"Post" metallic music: Metallic post-hardcore

I can't really think of a name for the other side of post-metal, the post-hardcore side. I guess a lot of people forget post based metal artists are just as influenced by post-hardcore bands as post-rock bands, hell Neurosis is older then pretty much all post-rock bands...

Breach: Kollapse 

Burning Heart 2001
Very underrated and rather unknown artist and album.

Buried Inside: Chronoclast

Relapse 2004

Burst: Lazarus Bird

Relapse 2008

Celeste: Nihiliste(s)

Denovali 2008
Sick French sludge soaked screamo post-hardcore with a bit of black metal.

Isis: Celestial

Escape Artist 200
Isis's first album and their most intense one. 

Knut: Challenger

Hydra Head 2002

Neurosis: Through Silver in Blood

Relapse 1996
Maybe the most monolithic album made by mankind... 

Old Man Gloom: Christmas

Tortuga/Hydra Head 2004

Time to Burn: Is.Land

Don't let the cover fool you, this is sincerely dark and demented.

Basement Apes 2007

Today Is the Day: Temple of the Morning Star

Pain in extreme audible form...

Relapse 1997

Yakuza: Samsara
Prosthetic 2006

"Post" metallic music: Atmospheric sludge metal

Part one of my "post" metal album list. This is the mainly post-rock influenced list, instead of the usual influences, it's more Swans instead of Slayer, Godspeed you! Black Emperor than Black Sabbath, Talk Talk than Testament...

Battle of Mice: A Day of Nights

Neurot 2006

Cult of Luna: Somewhere Along the Highway

Earache 2006

Godflesh: Hymns

Koch 2001
If it weren't for this band, and of course Neurosis, atmospheric sludge metal would most likely never come to be.

Horseback: The Invisible Mountain
Utech 2009, Relapse 2010
Phenomenal and sincerely unique psychedelic atmospheric stoner sludge metal with heavy post-rock and drone influences.

Intronaut: Prehistoricisms

Century Media 2008
Atmospheric sludge metal and progressive metal made together near perfectly.

Isis: Oceanic

Ipecac 2002
Sure Panopticon is regarded as Isis's best, though Oceanic has all of their influences in whole and is very deep, metallic and monolithic.

Mouth of the Architect: The Ties That Blind 

Translation Lost 2006

Neurosis: Times of Grace

Relapse 1999
Definitely Neurosis's best post-rock based album, and their first one as well since they were mainly post-hardcore.

The Ocean: Precambrian

Metal Blade 2007
An epic double album, the first being monolithic-like and intense, then the second being more calm.

Pelican: Australasia 

Hydra Head 2003
I think this is Pelican's best album. It's still massive and is post-rock based, plus I love the Americana influences. Also one the heaviest uplifting albums ever.

Rosetta: The Galilean Satellites

Translation Loss 2005
Another awesome and epic double album, really experimental as well.