One of the things I find rarely discussed in many music forums is Goth-influenced music. I sit back and wonder, "Do people really listen to Goth music anymore? Do they even consider the electronic Goth-movement sounds Goth in the first place, or has Goth electronica and Goth rock just phased back into the mainstream labels?". Unfortunately, I think too many people have just conglomerated Goth driven music back into general headers because it expanded its boundaries too far into the mainstream. But when I look at groups like Beborn Beton, VNV Nation, Seabound, C-Tec, Assemblege 23, etc... there is a very distinct groove and heart to this music that sets it apart from your typical rock or electronic music.

Take, for instance, VNV Nation. 9/10's of the music you here out of VNV-N are completely electronic based - drum machines galore, and very few manually manipulated instruments. Initially, people immediately move to put this under the banner of electronica. But just listen to the music, and you have a very distinct rock/industrial groove that sets them apart from any mainstream electronica.

So I open the question to you folks - given that the "Goth movement" is an older movement, do you still consider it alive in curent groups? What bands do you consider "Goth", or influenced by goth trends, and why? And paramount to this, I know there are a lot of younger folks around (under 20, let's say) - do you even relate to the goth movement anymore, or is it just another extension of a different style of music for you?

I thought I'd open this one up on the premise that myself and a number of my friends are very much into the goth scene, but it definitely has changed quite a bit in the last 5-10 years. Those 25 and older may distinctly remember groups like Wumpscut, Bauhaus, Razed in Black, God Module, and Seraphim Shock being very rock-ish - very little electronica in the early times at all. But they've really given a lot of headway into the "new generation". So, does the "new generation" even strike a chord as goth any longer, or is the label too old to use anymore?

Open it up, I'd be interested to hear what kind of response this will generate...

Goth? does evane scence count?
its album Fallen is pretty good.
they are " this mortal coil", "The cocteau twins" and " all the Eve" in addition 2 death metal and hardcore influenced.

Well, I'm 27, so I remember goth as bein Skinny Puppy, NIN, and then maybe more Marilyn Manson.....I'm sure that goth has influenced some rock bands as well, but I can't really tell you how or why. When I see guys with makeup and hear them whine about life, while wearing part of an all black wardrobe, I think:goth. It's cool sometimes I guess, but since that movement is very anti-everything and just as elitist as the people they hate, I feel like I'm unable to understand.
There will always be angst, and alienation between the youth of today and tomorrow, so they'll always be some form of goth. What contibutions will it make to the history of music? We'll see....

And that is exactly the perception that I think begun the attempt to disuade people from relating themselves to a goth scene. Skinny Puppy was definitely a precursor band, and NIN sprung up right in the height of goth production. Manson was kind of on the downslope, being influenced by the whole goth movement, but dragging themselves back into the rock/metal forum once again. But why, I tend to ask, did a group like Manson take so much influence, and travel back into a mainstream flow? Obviously, their musical taste suited them in other fashions - but as well, a lot of people started picking up that very same attitude you just hit on, HC. Goth began to take on the image of "whiney, make-uped teens in black that have too much angst, and no one understands."

Now, funny thing... that isn't the goth scene at all. Ok, I'll grant you a lot of black clothing is involved, but that really is the major extent. If you check into music like Beborn Beton, Seabound, VNV Nation, and many others, they have no compunction about throwing off that mold that they're cast in - there is no make-up, no "anti" sentimentism, elistism, or even angst driven feelings. In fact, a lot of the goth based music of today and the last few years is based on strong feelings and emotions - usually love, relationships, and general happiness in some form.


They're not goth really - though from what I understand from Amy Lee (Leader Singer, I met her this last Tuesday in Milwaukee), they've had some goth influence. I would tend to say, however, that their lyrical style has been what the goth industry has been akin to in the last few years.

In the end, this is what happens when people jump on a bandwagon and say "Hey, this is what we are, therefore, the entire genre is going to be posterboarded by us." God forbid anyone should watch "The Crow", and suddenly think that to be goth, you have to be Eric Draven.

Gothic rock, I remember those goth old days. I started listening to The sisters of Mercy's First and Last and always rather late, in 89, but it was good, and still good. I wasn't really a part of the "goth scene" when I was in college, but I did listen to a lot of "goth bands".

bands like christian death, skinny puppy, the sisters of mercy, bauhaus, rosetta stone, fields of the nephilim, the mission UK( a bit cheesy), James Ray and the Gangwar, Swans(not exactly goth, but a lot of goth kids listen to them, Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, black tape for the blue girl, lovesliescrushes(more experimental ethereal than goth)... on and on...

gothic rock pretty much went really quiet(or dead) way back in the early 90's. I am sure it was not quite dead, just sorta undead and buried under the ground waiting for resurrection. no, it is not like that any more, and I moved on to other musical genres myself.

the whole goth thing back then required wearing black. some of them looked like robert smith, kinda comical actually. they were mostly into mysticism and other witchcraft stuff. and that shows in some of the bands' music as well, like fields of the nephilim. and most of the time, their songs have this myterious atmosphere and depressing lyrics. if you ask me now, I still don't know what goth is exactly. it could be some type of music, some kind of lifestyle...

Skinny Puppy, Nine Inch Nails, and VNV Nation are industrial. While they may have influenced or been influenced by gothic, they aren't part of the genre.

Lacuna Coil and Switchblade Symphony are the bands that come to mind for me.

We still have the "Goth" movement in the UK, i happened to see a load of them when i was in town earlier, though i don't think it was a musical influenced time really - i mean, alot of the people i see & know in all their freaky (don't mean that in a horrible way) goth gear actually listen to a range of music i think it's more of a statement really at least it was for me, kind of a time to rebel against your parents when your mum's telling you "you must wear that nice pink ruffled dress i bought you" while your explaining " i like my doc martins & skin tight black leather pants with vampire make up to match" this is an example by the way.

People still dress like this without the pressure of feeling they need to listen to a certain style of music, although i was hooked on The Cure at the time but without the skin tight leathers - heaven forbid! i doubt any of that made much sense,

Goth girls are sexy.

there is a website called www.suicidegirls.com or something, google it if that's not the correct address. that site is a pay site for naked punk/goth/indie girls. you may like it.

I think they're sexy, but not sexy enough to justify paying to look at pictures. Plus, some are TOO freaky.