Gothic metal: Encyclopedia II - Gothic metal - Gothic doom

Gothic metal - Gothic doom

Gothic doom is best described as a subgenre of both doom metal and gothic metal. Throughout its existence, gothic doom has combined aspects of both doom metal and gothic metal in varying quantities, and the often melding of two aspects together.

Early bands in the subgenre used varying quantities and aspects of doom metal with aspects of gothic metal, taking heavily influence from doom-death bands. The music often used one element from gothic metal, with an element of doom metal, ie: The lryical theme and instrumental usage of gothic metal, with doom metal atmospherics and vocal styles.

The sound became more defined as it evolved to combine traits of gothic metal and doom metal direcly with their counterparts. Later Gothic doom bands often write music that is typical of either genre, then meld the aspects of that genre directly with the aspects found in the other. Lyrics tend to meld the romantic and fantasy themes of gothic metal, with the morbid and depressive themes of doom metal, creating storys that focus heavily on romance induced misery. Bands have also tended to adapt the synthesising nature of gothic metal. Guitars synthesising aspects of death metal's chugging and techinal nature and gothic rock, with the slow, heavily downtuned aspects of doom metal, similar to what doom-death bands originally did. The instrument usage of gothic metal has also met adaption into doom metal styles, the instruments roles remaining the same within the band, yet played with the same slow, downcast nature of most doom metal.

Some gothic doom bands such as Type O Negative and The Wounded have more atoned to following the trend of the first batch of gothic doom. These bands tend to place heavy emphasis on each part of their music, making each individual aspect highly distinguished from another, rather then letting them all blend into one conjoined sound. These bands also take some influence directly from gothic rock, incorperating minor characteristics of the genre directly into their music.

Gothic doom bands are overall characterised by their often equal, but highly mixed use of elements of gothic metal, doom metal and occasional elements of gothic rock, wether they are synthesised, melded together, or emphasised. As such, bands are sometimes debated upon as to whether they are doom metal, gothic metal, or neither. Other instances of debate are over wether the original doom-death bands could be considered gothic-doom due to their similaritys, or are a seperate subform due to their place in the timeline of origins.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Gothic doom", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki