Why Goth Music Should Be Your Go-To This Fall
By Charlotte Pinkerson
Gothic rock emerged in the late 70s in Britain as a darker offshoot of the punk scene, incorporating more instrumental creativity into the music while taking influence from the glam rock and psychedelic rock artists that predated it. The first band to be labeled by the media as “gothic” in music was The Doors, which makes sense considering they employ the same bleak pessimistic lyrics and ominous guitar tones as goth bands. Gothic rock exists (like gothic literature) as a romanticisation of the macabre, an embrace and analysis of dark concepts applied with a lens of glamor and appreciation.
Groups of classic old-school goth bands would include Bauhaus, The Cure, Siouxsie and the Banshees, and Joy Division to name a few of heavy hitters. However just because those of the past did it better does not mean those of the present are not trying. Bands such as Lebanon Hanover, Bragoblin, Savages, and Dystopian Society have kept goth alive in the 2010s and so forth.
Fall is certainly a beloved time by pop culture and the media. Understandably so considering it provides a blend of warm and cool weather, cozy fashion choices, pumpkin/cinnamon flavored treats, and the best of all Halloween-themed experiences. Music is the soundtrack to our lives and I believe the right song can make or break an experience. Now when it comes to such an aesthetic (yes aesthetic is an adjective now) season with such visually specific holidays they would be criminal to experience it without proper accompanying music. While I’m sure you already have a fall/Halloween playlist your content with, a few songs from the following albums may be of some benefit to you.
1: Tomb for Two by Lebanon Hanover
Lebanon Hanover’s sound treads out of goth and into darkwave at times on the album, with their usage of pitched-down keyboards and synths that help bring together the depressing nature that sets the tone for the beautifully sad androgynous vocals we are met with. Gallowdance, the most popular song off the album, is the darkest in tone as implied by the title. Other sounds similar to its nature are Midnight Creature or Sadness Is Rebellion, with slightly dancier songs being rare but still present such as Autofocus Has Ruined Quality. In the end, this album is for fall depression to put it plainly, it's the rainy days in all black with candles kind of vibe, so empty it sometimes falls into doomer territory.
2. Juju by Siouxsie and the Banshees
In line with the band’s overall inspiration the guitars on the album feel like old Hitchcock horror movies, while Siouxsie textured morbid vocals compliment the bleakness. Slower songs like Voodoo Dolly and Night Shift play on a slow building fear with tension and suspense, while songs like Monitor and Spellbound utilize the drums and production elements more to make you feel like you're spiraling into madness and chaos. Speaking on the nosek songs like Halloween add a predictable yet enjoyable cross of camp and creep. Overall this album is perfect for Halloween and feels appropriate for those wanting to keep the twisted horror movie spirit alive even after the horror movie ends.
3: The Eternal Deep by Mephisto Walz
Mephisto Walz uniquely incorporates elements of new wave-sounding vocals with heavy rock adjacent guitars in a way that doesn't overshadow the gothic elements but actually compliments them. Tracks like I Wanna Be Your Dog and Painted Black are obviously covers but that doesn’t take away from the overall impact they have on the albums ethos, especially with Bari’s distinct song writing reminiscent of his days in Christian Death. Tracks like The Eternal Deep and Nicole both help to fuel it as darker, edgier, and dancier than many other albums of the genre making it well suited for cemetery explorers and party-go-ers alike.
4: Unknown Pleasures by Joy Division
Unknown Pleasures is a staple of the dark and dreary helping to cement Joy Division as one of the pivotal bands of the scene. The most popular song being Disorder needs no further description beyond its name implying gloomy dissociation of many kinds. Tracks like Shadowplay and She’s Lost Control leaning into this feeling similarly. The album leans heavier into dark-pop and new-wave territory making it the most accessible to someone not interested in heavy goth. In summary, this album rather specifically is fit for your fall walk home from school, you know that one where it's cloudy, the leaves are falling, and you stop for a coffee feeling like the main character.
5: Disintegration by The Cure
While the entirety of The Cure’s discography is applicable to the list, this album invokes the fall spirit the most because it plays into that melancholic sad yet happy teen movie-in-love kind of feel. I'm dancing around saying it but basically John Hughes vibes. Iconic songs like Disintegration and Lovesong provided just enough nostalgia to be heavy hitting but not so much that you're downright depressed, and there's also a splash of young love to the background of Robert Smith’s singing; it's rather more impactful if you're sharing your fall with someone this time around. In short, this is the fall album for teenagers, beautifully crafted songs but with enough edge to keep it interesting, and versatile enough to listen to in bed or on the bleachers.
