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The bands I mentioned as worth exploring in Goth: A Little Essay represent only a small fraction of the iceberg. Below is a broader overview of bands and artists who have shaped the goth subculture — from the pioneering sounds of the late 70s, through the 80s and 90s, into the early 2000s, and up to more recent acts that continue to keep the spirit alive. Some fall clearly into goth rock, others lean toward deathrock or post-punk, and many blur the lines between these styles. This list features a little over 500 bands — and yet, it doesn’t even come close to capturing them all. The scene has always been vast, diverse, and ever-expanding, with countless more artists contributing to its sound and soul.
Initium (0-C)
Bauhaus
The Cure
13th Chime
Alien Sex Fiend
Blood And Roses
Children On Stun
Artica
1919
Bone Orchard
Ausgang
The Breath Of Life
Balaam And The Angel
Au Pairs
The Chameleons
Burning Image
All Living Fear
Cries Of Tammuz
Brother Orchid
Cranes
The Bolshoi
Bell Book & Candle
Advent Sleep
Blade Fetish
The Comsat Angels
Calling Dead Red Roses
The Cure
13th Chime
Alien Sex Fiend
Blood And Roses
Children On Stun
Artica
1919
Bone Orchard
Ausgang
The Breath Of Life
Balaam And The Angel
Au Pairs
The Chameleons
Burning Image
All Living Fear
Cries Of Tammuz
Brother Orchid
Cranes
The Bolshoi
Bell Book & Candle
Advent Sleep
Blade Fetish
The Comsat Angels
Calling Dead Red Roses
Christian Death
Ahráyeph
Big Electric Cat
Adam And The Ants
45 Grave
The Birthday Party
Black Angel
Bomp Party
And Also The Trees
Corpus Delicti
Aeon Sable
Astrovamps
Cocteau Twins
All Gone Dead
Black Ice
39 Clocks
The Cemetary Girlz
Bats In The Belfry
13 Candles
Cinema Strange
Catherines Cathedral
Burning Skies Over Elysium
CIERŃ
Catastrophe Ballet
Actifed
Ahráyeph
Big Electric Cat
Adam And The Ants
45 Grave
The Birthday Party
Black Angel
Bomp Party
And Also The Trees
Corpus Delicti
Aeon Sable
Astrovamps
Cocteau Twins
All Gone Dead
Black Ice
39 Clocks
The Cemetary Girlz
Bats In The Belfry
13 Candles
Cinema Strange
Catherines Cathedral
Burning Skies Over Elysium
CIERŃ
Catastrophe Ballet
Actifed
Bloody Dead And Sexy
Claytown Troupe
The Bellwether Syndicate
Brotherhood Of Pagans
13th Sky
Chants Of Maldoror
Aria
34 Vampires
Black Atmosphere
Chaos Bleak
The Bone Tree
ACTORS
The Cassandra Complex
Burning Gates
Altered States
Culture Reverse
Blitz
Creaming Jesus
Baptism
All About Eve
Black Rain
The Creatures
Children Of No Return
Ataraxia
Cuddly Toys
Claytown Troupe
The Bellwether Syndicate
Brotherhood Of Pagans
13th Sky
Chants Of Maldoror
Aria
34 Vampires
Black Atmosphere
Chaos Bleak
The Bone Tree
ACTORS
The Cassandra Complex
Burning Gates
Altered States
Culture Reverse
Blitz
Creaming Jesus
Baptism
All About Eve
Black Rain
The Creatures
Children Of No Return
Ataraxia
Cuddly Toys
"The bats have left the bell tower. The victims have been bled. Red velvet lines the black box. Bela Lugosi's dead ..." – Bauhaus
Dominus (D-F)
Faith And The Muse
The Danse Society
Danielle Dax
Ex-Voto
The Damned
Fear of Darkness
The Fall
The Dream Disciples
The Empire Hideous
The Fair Sex
DeSade
Fahrenheit 451
The Drowning Season
Deathcamp Project
Forthcoming Fire
Decay
Eyes O/T Nightmare Jungle
Department S
The Eden House
Descendants Of Cain
The Funeral March
Diavol Strâin
Excession
Death Cult
Exit Stance
The Danse Society
Danielle Dax
Ex-Voto
The Damned
Fear of Darkness
The Fall
The Dream Disciples
The Empire Hideous
The Fair Sex
DeSade
Fahrenheit 451
The Drowning Season
Deathcamp Project
Forthcoming Fire
Decay
Eyes O/T Nightmare Jungle
Department S
The Eden House
Descendants Of Cain
The Funeral March
Diavol Strâin
Excession
Death Cult
Exit Stance
Executive Slacks
Die Laughing
Dronning Maud Land
Dead Can Dance
The Dark
Flesh For Lulu
Dreadful Shadows
Dead Souls Rising
The Faces Of Sarah
Eva O Halo Experience
Date At Midnight
Element
Draconian Incubus
Funhouse
Eat Your Make Up
The Deep Eynde
Exedra
Fear Of The Storm
Funeral Address
Days Of Sorrow
The Flatfield
Erato
The Flowerpot Men
Disjecta Membra
Fangs On Fur
Die Laughing
Dronning Maud Land
Dead Can Dance
The Dark
Flesh For Lulu
Dreadful Shadows
Dead Souls Rising
The Faces Of Sarah
Eva O Halo Experience
Date At Midnight
Element
Draconian Incubus
Funhouse
Eat Your Make Up
The Deep Eynde
Exedra
Fear Of The Storm
Funeral Address
Days Of Sorrow
The Flatfield
Erato
The Flowerpot Men
Disjecta Membra
Fangs On Fur
Fields Of The Nephilim
Diamanda Galas
Fra Lippo Lippi
Esses
Exit To Eden
Death Ride 69
Every New Dead Ghost
Devilish Presley
Dark Side Cowboys
Dreamtime
Furyo
Danse Macabre
Double Echo
The Foreign Resort
Dividing Lines
Delirium Mask
EXP
Dead Born Babies
De Volanges
Frank The Baptist
Dawn After Dark
Doppelgänger
Fear Incorporated
Darkways
Eleventh Hour
Diamanda Galas
Fra Lippo Lippi
Esses
Exit To Eden
Death Ride 69
Every New Dead Ghost
Devilish Presley
Dark Side Cowboys
Dreamtime
Furyo
Danse Macabre
Double Echo
The Foreign Resort
Dividing Lines
Delirium Mask
EXP
Dead Born Babies
De Volanges
Frank The Baptist
Dawn After Dark
Doppelgänger
Fear Incorporated
Darkways
Eleventh Hour
"From the cradle bars. Comes a beckoning voice. It sends you spinning. You have no choice ..." – Siouxsie And The Banshees
Ignis (G-I)
Into The Abyss
Ghosting
Inca Babies
Gang Of Four
Gene Loves Jezebel
Harlots Of Beyond
In Camera
Glorious Din
Human Disease
Hoodoo
Gärten Kirkhöf
The House Of Usher
Hexenhaus
Ghost Painted Sky
The Hiram Key
Girls Under Glass
Into A Circle
Gossamer
Happy Straps
The Glove
Hagar The Womb
Human Drama
Gild The Mourn
Haunt Me
Grauzone
Ghosting
Inca Babies
Gang Of Four
Gene Loves Jezebel
Harlots Of Beyond
In Camera
Glorious Din
Human Disease
Hoodoo
Gärten Kirkhöf
The House Of Usher
Hexenhaus
Ghost Painted Sky
The Hiram Key
Girls Under Glass
Into A Circle
Gossamer
Happy Straps
The Glove
Hagar The Womb
Human Drama
Gild The Mourn
Haunt Me
Grauzone
Inkubus Sukubus
Götterdämmerung
In My Rosary
Garden Of Pleasures
Imaginary Steps
The Hearse
Grey Gallows
The Hidden Heroes 66
Identity Crisis
Ghost Dance
In Death It Ends
The Garden Of Delight
The Happy Cadavres
Ghoul
Hysteria
The Garden
Ikon
Ghosts Of Dawn
Into The Mist
Golden Apes
Horror Vacui
Galaxy Chamber
Gothzilla
The Glass House Museum
Illegal Funeral
Götterdämmerung
In My Rosary
Garden Of Pleasures
Imaginary Steps
The Hearse
Grey Gallows
The Hidden Heroes 66
Identity Crisis
Ghost Dance
In Death It Ends
The Garden Of Delight
The Happy Cadavres
Ghoul
Hysteria
The Garden
Ikon
Ghosts Of Dawn
Into The Mist
Golden Apes
Horror Vacui
Galaxy Chamber
Gothzilla
The Glass House Museum
Illegal Funeral
The Ghost Of Lemora
Handful Of Snowdrops
The House Of Love
Grooving In Green
Heaven Falls Hard
Interior Deus
Gothic Sex
Head On Fire
The Golden Age Of Nothing
Gitane Demone
Ipso Facto
Guerre Froide
I'm So Hollow
Hysteric Helen
Gorgonas
In Excelsis
Godless Procession
Hiawatha
Guillotine Dream
Haflingerallergie
Detoxi
The Ink Bats
Ground Nero
Hamsas XIII
Gloria Mundi
Handful Of Snowdrops
The House Of Love
Grooving In Green
Heaven Falls Hard
Interior Deus
Gothic Sex
Head On Fire
The Golden Age Of Nothing
Gitane Demone
Ipso Facto
Guerre Froide
I'm So Hollow
Hysteric Helen
Gorgonas
In Excelsis
Godless Procession
Hiawatha
Guillotine Dream
Haflingerallergie
Detoxi
The Ink Bats
Ground Nero
Hamsas XIII
Gloria Mundi
"I've got the spirit, but lose the feeling. I've got the spirit, but lose the feeling. Feeling, feeling, feeling ..." – Joy Division
Lux (J-L)
London After Midnight
Killing Joke
Lords Of The New Church
Love The Ghost
Leitmotiv (UK)
Johnny Thunders
Love And Rockets
Lupercais
Lizard Smile
The Love Club
Les Modules Étranges
Lima 13
Look Back In Anger
Kill Shelter
Lucie Cries
Lestat
Kathedral
Joy/Disaster
Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons
The Last Oath
Libitina
Lifeless Past
Lotus Feed
Kindred Spirits
The Last Decade
Killing Joke
Lords Of The New Church
Love The Ghost
Leitmotiv (UK)
Johnny Thunders
Love And Rockets
Lupercais
Lizard Smile
The Love Club
Les Modules Étranges
Lima 13
Look Back In Anger
Kill Shelter
Lucie Cries
Lestat
Kathedral
Joy/Disaster
Kitchen & The Plastic Spoons
The Last Oath
Libitina
Lifeless Past
Lotus Feed
Kindred Spirits
The Last Decade
Love Like Blood
Kill Sister Kill
Joy Division
Lene Lovich Band
Josi Without Colours
Kleenex/LiliPUT
Laughing House
Lucyfix
Jet Black Factory
Leningrad Sandwich
Liikuvat Lapset
The Long March
Jardim Do Enforcado
Last Rites
Jesus And The Gurus
Land Of Passion
The Kentucky Vampires
The Last Days Of Jesus
Love's Labour's Lost
LisaWars
Komu Vnyz
The Last Dance
Kiss The Blade
Judith
Lunar Paths
Kill Sister Kill
Joy Division
Lene Lovich Band
Josi Without Colours
Kleenex/LiliPUT
Laughing House
Lucyfix
Jet Black Factory
Leningrad Sandwich
Liikuvat Lapset
The Long March
Jardim Do Enforcado
Last Rites
Jesus And The Gurus
Land Of Passion
The Kentucky Vampires
The Last Days Of Jesus
Love's Labour's Lost
LisaWars
Komu Vnyz
The Last Dance
Kiss The Blade
Judith
Lunar Paths
The Jesus And Mary Chain
Lebanon Hanover
Kommunity FK
Joolz
The Laughing Mothers
Holy Cow
The Lautrec
Jacquy Bitch
Last Dusk
Kabuki
The Last Dance
Katzenjammer Kabarett
Leisur Hive
Kiss The Blade
Long Night
Latent Image
Jerusalem Syndrome
Kadeadkas
The Last Cry
Lydia Lunch
The Long Losts
Kalt
Luna Reign
The Knutz
Lessons In Purgatory
Lebanon Hanover
Kommunity FK
Joolz
The Laughing Mothers
Holy Cow
The Lautrec
Jacquy Bitch
Last Dusk
Kabuki
The Last Dance
Katzenjammer Kabarett
Leisur Hive
Kiss The Blade
Long Night
Latent Image
Jerusalem Syndrome
Kadeadkas
The Last Cry
Lydia Lunch
The Long Losts
Kalt
Luna Reign
The Knutz
Lessons In Purgatory
"I hear her voice, calling my name. The sound is deep, in the dark. I hear her voice, and start to run. Into the trees ..." – The Cure
Umbra (M-O)
Nosferatu
The Mission
Morthem Vlade Art
Mephisto Walz
One Hundred Names
Myssouri
Midas Factory
Marquee Moon
No Critics
Miserylab
The Naked And The Dead
The Merry Thoughts
New Model Army
The Mist Of Avalon
Old Cat's Drama
Naturata Brutalismus
Momento Mori
The Membranes
Murder At The Registry
Mighty Sphincter
Neva
My Own Burial
The Mescaline Babies
Malefixio
October Burns Black
The Mission
Morthem Vlade Art
Mephisto Walz
One Hundred Names
Myssouri
Midas Factory
Marquee Moon
No Critics
Miserylab
The Naked And The Dead
The Merry Thoughts
New Model Army
The Mist Of Avalon
Old Cat's Drama
Naturata Brutalismus
Momento Mori
The Membranes
Murder At The Registry
Mighty Sphincter
Neva
My Own Burial
The Mescaline Babies
Malefixio
October Burns Black
The March Violets
Necromancy
Memento Mori
Of A Mesh
Nova Et Vetera
Marquis De Sade
Musta Paraati
The Morgans
Ostia
Mystic Priestess
Mercury's Antennae
The Machine In The Garden
Night Nail
Order Of Night
Modern English
Malaise
Nekromantik
Midnight Configuration
Molchat Doma
The New Creatures
Morbid Poetry
Nightmares In Wax
Medium Medium
New Skeletal Faces
Mayflower Madame
Necromancy
Memento Mori
Of A Mesh
Nova Et Vetera
Marquis De Sade
Musta Paraati
The Morgans
Ostia
Mystic Priestess
Mercury's Antennae
The Machine In The Garden
Night Nail
Order Of Night
Modern English
Malaise
Nekromantik
Midnight Configuration
Molchat Doma
The New Creatures
Morbid Poetry
Nightmares In Wax
Medium Medium
New Skeletal Faces
Mayflower Madame
The Marionettes
Nancy's Place
Manuskript
New Days Delay
The Necromancers Union
Mekrokiev
Nox Novacula
Merciful Nuns
Moody Swing Things
Magenta
NFD
Mourning Laughter
Opaque Shades
Noktva
Magazine
Nico
Madre Del Vizio
Miguel And The Living Dead
Miranda Sex Garden
No Tears
Meridian
Necromantik Sunshine
Octavian Winters
Motuvius Rex
Mark Of The Sphinx
Nancy's Place
Manuskript
New Days Delay
The Necromancers Union
Mekrokiev
Nox Novacula
Merciful Nuns
Moody Swing Things
Magenta
NFD
Mourning Laughter
Opaque Shades
Noktva
Magazine
Nico
Madre Del Vizio
Miguel And The Living Dead
Miranda Sex Garden
No Tears
Meridian
Necromantik Sunshine
Octavian Winters
Motuvius Rex
Mark Of The Sphinx
"I hear the roar of the big machine. Two worlds and in between. Hot metal and methedrine. I hear your empire down ..." – The Sisters Of Mercy
Tenebrae (P-S)
Red Lorry Yellow Lorry
Specimen
Pink Turns Blue
Screaming Dead
The Sisters Of Mercy
The Spiritual Bat
The Red Moon Macabre
Southern Death Cult
The Psychedelic Furs
This Mortal Coil
Simon Dreams In Violet
Red Zebra
Shriekback
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Sex Gang Children
Patti Palladin
Red Temple Spirits
Sunglasses After Dark
Suspiria
Subterfuge
Sad Lovers & Giants
Popoï Sdioh
The Shallow Graves
Swan Death
Soror Dolorosa
Specimen
Pink Turns Blue
Screaming Dead
The Sisters Of Mercy
The Spiritual Bat
The Red Moon Macabre
Southern Death Cult
The Psychedelic Furs
This Mortal Coil
Simon Dreams In Violet
Red Zebra
Shriekback
Siouxsie And The Banshees
Sex Gang Children
Patti Palladin
Red Temple Spirits
Sunglasses After Dark
Suspiria
Subterfuge
Sad Lovers & Giants
Popoï Sdioh
The Shallow Graves
Swan Death
Soror Dolorosa
Punishment Of Luxury
Rosetta Stone
Skeletal Family
Play Dead
Screams For Tina
Rubella Ballet
Sunshine Blind
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Scarlet & The Spooky Spiders
Screaming Dead
Paralysed Age
Rosa†Crvx
Seraphim Shock
Wire
Scarlet's Remains
Pictures Of Agony
Sonsombre
Strange Boutique
SwitchBlade Symphony
Preachers Of Sadness
Sofia Run
Silent Scream
Trance To The Sun
Stone 588
Sexagisma
Rosetta Stone
Skeletal Family
Play Dead
Screams For Tina
Rubella Ballet
Sunshine Blind
Rosegarden Funeral Party
Scarlet & The Spooky Spiders
Screaming Dead
Paralysed Age
Rosa†Crvx
Seraphim Shock
Wire
Scarlet's Remains
Pictures Of Agony
Sonsombre
Strange Boutique
SwitchBlade Symphony
Preachers Of Sadness
Sofia Run
Silent Scream
Trance To The Sun
Stone 588
Sexagisma
Salvation
Ritual
Rose Of Avalanche
The Shroud
Remain In Silence
Shadow Project
Solemn Novena
Reflection Black
SENEX IV
Sexbeat
The Phantom Limbs
Praise Of Folly
Plastique Noir
Scary Bitches
The Super Heroines
Secret Discovery
Star Industry
Sweet Ermengarde
Phantom Leaf
Scarehead
The Preachers Of Neverland
Sleeping Children
Radio Scarlet
Screaming Banshee Aircrew
Repetition
Ritual
Rose Of Avalanche
The Shroud
Remain In Silence
Shadow Project
Solemn Novena
Reflection Black
SENEX IV
Sexbeat
The Phantom Limbs
Praise Of Folly
Plastique Noir
Scary Bitches
The Super Heroines
Secret Discovery
Star Industry
Sweet Ermengarde
Phantom Leaf
Scarehead
The Preachers Of Neverland
Sleeping Children
Radio Scarlet
Screaming Banshee Aircrew
Repetition
"Moonchild. Lower me down, lower me down. Moonchild... lower me down down down down down down ..." – Fields Of The Nephilim
Vox (T-Z)
UsherHouse
Wreckage
Theatre Of Hate
UK Decay
Tones On Tail
Vendemmian
Voodoo Church
The Prophetess
Tuxedomoon
Zadera
Twin Tribes
These Immortal Souls
Winter Severity Index
VAZUM
Vision Of The Void
The Way Of All Flesh
Vandal Moon
Witching Hour
The Tors Of Dartmoor
They Fade In Silence
Tourmaline Bats
Violet Tears
U.S. Grave
Wasted Youth
Talk To Her
Wreckage
Theatre Of Hate
UK Decay
Tones On Tail
Vendemmian
Voodoo Church
The Prophetess
Tuxedomoon
Zadera
Twin Tribes
These Immortal Souls
Winter Severity Index
VAZUM
Vision Of The Void
The Way Of All Flesh
Vandal Moon
Witching Hour
The Tors Of Dartmoor
They Fade In Silence
Tourmaline Bats
Violet Tears
U.S. Grave
Wasted Youth
Talk To Her
Two Witches
The Wake (US)
Under Two Flags
Whispers In The Shadow
Then Comes Silence
The Undertones
Venus Fly Trap
The Web
Vision Video
Zero LeCrêche
Vacuum
Theatre Of Ice
Under Two Flags
XIII. Století
The Very Things
Zeraphine
The Ultimate Dreamers
The Veil
Unto Others
Tragic Black
WitchHands
Velvet Mist
The Wraith
Temple
The Vanishing Point
The Wake (US)
Under Two Flags
Whispers In The Shadow
Then Comes Silence
The Undertones
Venus Fly Trap
The Web
Vision Video
Zero LeCrêche
Vacuum
Theatre Of Ice
Under Two Flags
XIII. Století
The Very Things
Zeraphine
The Ultimate Dreamers
The Veil
Unto Others
Tragic Black
WitchHands
Velvet Mist
The Wraith
Temple
The Vanishing Point
Virgin Prunes
X-Mal Deutschland
T Bones & The Wild Dogs
Who Saw Her Die?
This Ascension
The Teardrop Explodes
Uninvited Guest
Vampire Division
The Texas Vamps
Virgin In Veil
Written In Ashes
Violet Stigmata
Zombina And The Skeletons
Voices Of Masada
Thatch Noir
The Venomettes
VV & The Void
The Wake (UK)
Two Moons
Zadera
The Tell-Tale Heartbreakers
Tears For The Dying
The Waning Moon
Your Life On Hold
This Vale Of Tears
X-Mal Deutschland
T Bones & The Wild Dogs
Who Saw Her Die?
This Ascension
The Teardrop Explodes
Uninvited Guest
Vampire Division
The Texas Vamps
Virgin In Veil
Written In Ashes
Violet Stigmata
Zombina And The Skeletons
Voices Of Masada
Thatch Noir
The Venomettes
VV & The Void
The Wake (UK)
Two Moons
Zadera
The Tell-Tale Heartbreakers
Tears For The Dying
The Waning Moon
Your Life On Hold
This Vale Of Tears
As a closing note and good to know: some of these bands are quite obscure, so you might not always find them to listen to on YouTube, Spotify, or Bandcamp. Also, it’s possible to come across bands with the same name but from a completely different genre or era. Now explore the depths of the underground and enjoy discovering them!
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𝖘𝖒𝖔𝖑𝖈𝖔𝖔𝖐𝖎ɛɛɛ
tysm for this list, this is great!!
Glad you like it — happy listening and exploring the scene!
by Hayley Clx
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