Dark Culture (A Follow-Up to Goth: A Little Essay)

A Continuation

In Goth: A Little Essay, I focused on goth as a music-driven subculture. But goth has never existed in isolation. From the late 80s onward, people began speaking of a wider Dark Culture — a term, especially common in German-speaking countries as “Schwarze Szene,” that described a broader community united by dark music, aesthetics, and atmosphere. Within it, goth stood alongside post-punk, deathrock, darkwave, industrial, neofolk, electro, medieval-inspired sounds, and even darker shades of metal.

Darkness United

Dark Culture — sometimes called the “dark alternative scene”, known in Germany as “Schwarze Szene”, and in other countries as “Cultura Obscura” — is an umbrella term for a collection of subcultures united by a shared fascination with darker or alternative music, aesthetics, and ideas. While it is often linked to music, it extends into fashion, literature, and a broader approach to self-expression and identity.

Musically, Dark Culture spans a wide spectrum. It includes gothic rock, dark wave, post-industrial, neofolk, EBM, dark ambient, gothic metal, electro-industrial, dark electro, cold wave, experimental, and medieval-inspired sounds — all conveying a darker mood or atmosphere. Dark Culture is not bound by strict rules, but rather by a shared sensibility: introspective, dramatic, melancholic, and often theatrical.

Aesthetically, Dark Culture is closely associated with black, mysticism, ritualized self-expression, gothic or Victorian-inspired fashion, medieval elements, horror or dark romantic imagery, and symbolic references. Alongside these visual and literary markers, there is often a sense of counterculture, individuality, and embracing the unusual or unconventional.

The roots of Dark Culture trace back to dark wave and independent music scenes — indie, post-punk, and new wave — emerging in the late 1970s and early 1980s. Early enthusiasts of melancholic and atmospheric music gradually identified with these darker currents, drawn together more by mood and attitude than by genre labels.

The term “Dark Culture” itself became more widely recognized in the late 1980s and early 1990s. In German-speaking countries, publications and communities increasingly used Schwarze Szene to describe this broader cultural scene. In English-speaking countries, the term was less common, but over time it came to be used in magazines, forums, and online spaces to refer to a wider range of dark, alternative music and lifestyle communities.

It’s worth noting that the boundaries of Dark Culture are never fixed. What counts as part of it varies depending on geography, language, and media coverage. Sometimes, goth is used interchangeably with Dark Culture, which can create confusion. Moreover, the term is largely a descriptive umbrella — not all elements began at the same time, and the influences are as varied as the people who engage with them.

Various Kinds of Bats

Besides Gothic Rock and Deathrock, which form the heart of Dark Culture’s musical origins, here’s a look at some of the other genres that illustrate just how wide and diverse the scene has grown. Each carries its own character and mood, yet all share the dark, atmospheric spirit that connects the wider scene. Note that for each genre I mention, both older and more recent bands as examples, some of these artists could easily be placed in multiple categories. That fluidity is part of what makes music so diverse and fascinating — resisting strict boundaries, while continually evolving in new and unexpected ways.

Dark Wave: A melancholic and atmospheric offshoot of new wave and post-punk, dark wave emphasizes mood and texture over energy. It often blends haunting synths with introspective lyrics, creating an enveloping sense of melancholy. Artists such as Clan of Xymox and (early) Dead Can Dance exemplify this genre’s reflective, shadowy sound.

Cold Wave: Emerging from late 70s and early 80s post-punk and new wave, cold wave emphasizes minimalist arrangements, icy synths, and detached, melancholic vocals. Its austere sound and moody atmospheres convey introspection and alienation. Bands like KaS Product, D.A.F., and Lebanon Hanover are notable examples of this chilling yet captivating style.

Industrial: With its mechanical, experimental textures, industrial music often conjures dystopian landscapes and stark emotions. Harsh electronics, repetitive rhythms, and a confrontational edge characterize the genre. Acts like Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Skinny Puppy, and early Nine Inch Nails exemplify industrial’s intense, otherworldly atmosphere.

Neofolk: Acoustic-driven and often deeply atmospheric, neofolk draws from traditional folk melodies while exploring mythology, history, and introspection. Its intimate yet darkly textured approach resonates with listeners who appreciate subtlety alongside thematic depth. Current 93, In The Nursery, and Sol Invictus are key references in this sphere.

Dark Electro / EBM: Electronic body music and dark electro combine danceable beats with brooding, synthetic textures. The rhythm-driven energy often contrasts with darker, sometimes dystopian atmospheres, creating a compelling tension. Front 242, Covenant, and Nitzer Ebb helped shape this sound, which remains central to many modern dark dancefloors.

Dark Ambient: Eschewing traditional song structures, dark ambient focuses on soundscapes and textures, evoking introspection, tension, and shadowy atmospheres. This genre provides a sonic canvas for reflection and mood-setting, exemplified by artists such as Coil,  Lustmord and Raison d’être.

Gothic Metal: Gothic metal merges metal’s intensity with gothic rock’s atmosphere. It emphasizes melody, dramatic vocals (often operatic), and dark romantic themes, blending heaviness with elegance. Bands like Paradise Lost, Type O Negative, My Dying Bride and Lacuna Coil illustrate the genre’s capacity for both power and emotion.

Medieval / Neo-Medieval: Drawing inspiration from medieval music and instruments, this genre often evokes historical or mythic imagery. Its theatrical, sometimes ritualistic qualities bring listeners into a world of chivalry, mysticism, and fantasy. Groups like Corvus Corax or Ataraxia show how past and present can fuse into something uniquely dark and atmospheric.

Experimental: Experimental dark music explores unconventional structures, sounds, and production techniques. Often blending elements from multiple genres, it prioritizes creativity and atmosphere over traditional songwriting. Artists such as Coil and Current 93 push the boundaries of what dark music can sound like, creating immersive and challenging listening experiences.

Global Shadows

Dark Culture finds some of its most vibrant expressions in the festivals that bring its community together across the world. In Germany, Wave-Gotik-Treffen in Leipzig stands as the largest gathering of its kind, with hundreds of bands and a program that spans concerts, theater, exhibitions, and markets, transforming the city into a living celebration of the dark. M’era Luna in Hildesheim blends gothic, metal, and industrial sounds with fashion shows and creative workshops, while the more intimate Darkland Fire in Estonia highlights neofolk and industrial in a uniquely atmospheric setting. In the UK, Whitby Goth Weekend carries its own special resonance, unfolding in the coastal town forever linked with Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Further afield, Bats Day in the Fun Park in Anaheim offers a playful twist, uniting goths at Disneyland, while Prague Gothic Treffen showcases the Central European scene with multiple nights of club events and live performances.

Alongside these, smaller underground gatherings such as Castle Party in Poland, Stella Nomine in Germany, Coven Gothic Fest in Colombia, or even Japan’s Kurayami Matsuri (literally “Festival of Darkness”) keep the underground spirit alive, offering more intimate settings where new sounds are tested and community ties deepen. Large or small, theatrical or underground, each of these gatherings reflects the same spirit: a shared love of music, expression, and community, and a reminder that Dark Culture is not just “un-dead”, but thriving.

A Personal Note

Much like my early experiences with goth and new wave, the “Schwarze Szene” was part of my youth — though at the time I didn’t really know the term existed, or it was only slowly beginning to emerge. Nights out with friends often led to alternative events, club nights, and concerts, each with their own distinct styles and genres. Within my circle of friends, tastes were very diverse: from new wave and goth to punk, metal, and the darker shades of electronic music I had not yet discovered.

There was, for example, a smaller concert venue we often visited that hosted many gothic and new wave events — a place where I was lucky enough to see several of my favorite bands live. At the same time, that very same venue also gave space to metal, punk, and other strands of alternative music, which opened the door to new discoveries. A personal favorite festival to this day — though it sadly only ran just over five years, starting in 2006 — is the Gothic Festival in Belgium. It shows again how the term “gothic” was often used as an umbrella for what is called Dark Culture, and how “goth” is frequently applied to describe the wider range of dark genres. While its lineup always included many goth bands, you could just as easily experience acts from across the other dark styles, much like some of the larger festivals I’ve mentioned earlier. An unforgettable time!

All the labels aside, I still remember, in the late 90s, someone in a metal café saying they only listened to black metal, and around the same time, attending an alternative event where nearly everyone wore black — except for one person on the dance floor, completely immersed in the music, dressed in the brightest colors imaginable. Both of these memories have stuck with me. Over the years, I’ve also learned that musical taste evolves, and sounds I once overlooked are now among my favorites. The takeaway? Broaden your horizons, keep discovering, listen with openness, be yourself in darkness, and above all — enjoy. Enjoy all the music the dark alternative scene has to offer, because it is a truly wonderful scene.

More to Explore

While Goth: A Little Essay focused mainly on bands and artists from the late 70s and 80s, the ones I recommend here span a broader spectrum of the genres mentioned earlier, this time also including more recent acts — each with its own distinctive sound, and, again, not sorted by genre, to let the music be the essence.