Top 10 Best Goth Rock Bands

Gothic music is really about the whole gothic rock, post-punk genre, and I think everyone should listen to this type of music before they start getting into the gothic scene. Sure, Evanescence are INSPIRED by the goth culture, but their sound isn't the traditional sound you think of with bands like The Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees. I found this a really hard decision (as I'm a massive fan of lots of bands on this page) but I just love listening to The Cure. Sorry, I like a few Evanescence songs, but they're not traditional goth rock.

I can't believe the cure isn't number one! Not only because they were pioneers but because of their DIFFERENT music! Sorry but I sometimes can't tell or simply hear the difference between the the other bands while the cure has and always had their sound! + each album is so different of the others, some of their songs aren't Gothic at all (lovecats, how beautiful you are), their lyrics are so good, no, the cure has definitively something the others haven't... It's one of the greatest pop/gothic*rock bands of the late '70s, the '80s, the 90's... And they still are!

Let's face it, it's Gothic Rock. Though Metal is a part of Rock I think Gothic Metal should have a list of their own and a Gothic Metal band SHOULD NOT make it to this list since Metal is a reigning genre on it's own right with numerous amazing artists. That being said, I love Evanescence more but as they are a Metal band, a fact regardless of personal opinions, they shouldn't be on this list. The Cure wins here.

Due to a misunderstanding of what Gothic Rock is, this list is plauged with Evanescence (Alternative Metal, not Goth), HIM (Hard Rock/Metal, not Goth), Nightwish (Metal, not Goth) and Marilyn Manson (Industrial Metal, not Goth).

ACTUAL Gothic Rock is very atmospheric and (in The Cure's case) very emotional. The trilogy of Seventeen Seconds, Faith, and Pornography left a huge mark on the genre, making The Cure one of the best known Gothic Rock bands out there.

I totally love Evanescence their songs are deep and meaningful. They certainly have to be the best goth rock band! And off course Amy Lee compliments the band further with her amazing vocals that is just out of this world and kinda gives you the goosebumps.. And not to mention her adeptness in playing the piano, gosh she sings and plays the piano at the same time effortlessly! I respect her because she ain't like some other female artists who rely more on their sex appeal rather than talent to sell their songs. Not saying that all artists are like that but sadly nowadays many lack real talent like Amy Lee and their songs are just meaningless. So, now I listen more to Evanescence amd truly enjoy their songs as I love rock and they sure know how to rock it with those great guitar riffs, impressive drums and chillingly good vocals! Someday hope to attend their concert.

Evanescence has got to be the best rock band ever! If you don't like them then you just don't understand what it means to be broken like all of us who love them. Amy Lee has the greatest singing voice in the world. Evanescence makes the most awesome music I have ever heard. And they write beautiful lyrics. There is an edge to Evanescence unlike any other band that I have ever heard of. You have problems if you don't like My Immortal. Evanescence rocks!

The best thing I ever heard about... When I listen to them it seems like I am in some other world, the world made by ev's. They are awesome that's why they have such die-hard fans. No matter we have to wait for 4 long years but now when they have just returned, I feels like we are still alive. And Amy... What can I say about her *my fallen angle*. Her voice is divine, flawless. She's the best. Hope all music lovers like their new Magic- self titled album as I like it very much.

I Love Evanescence. I don't think I would label them as the "best goth band out there. " In all honesty, I think that title should go to some of the older bands or the ones who started the genre. But I'm guessing the ones who voted for Evanescence are those annoying little 12 year old K.I.D. S that we love so much. *Sarcasm* But I'm not saying Evanescence is a bad band, but they're defiantly not the best...

Here we go again battling it out with those hot topic kids.. Ugh this list is upsetting... Goth is Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxsie, Xmal, The Birthday Party, Christian Death (a.K.A. deathrock)...

I wouldn't be surprised if there is another list for Psychobilly with Horror Pops being 1st on the list instead of Demented Are Go, the Meteors, Frantic Flintstones, Batmobile..

Or Punk/Punk Rock list having Blink 182 1st instead of The Stooges, Sex Pistols, Vice Squad, The Ramones, X-Ray Spex..

Those that know what L.A.M.F. means Cheers to you!

One of the most influential and underrated bands ever. That shows true passion and talent, not caring bout being super famous and getting tons of media hype, but still making fantastic music. I think it's great how they even influenced non-gothic bands (e.G. my Chemical romance, listen to the intro of Bela Lugosi's dead and Vampires will never hurt you, it's very simaler) Being born in 2001, I didn't really get into 80s stuff, but this band sort of kick started my interest.

There are a lot of baby bats here. Those who mistakenly think alternative radio rock bands like Evanescence, HIM, Manson, NIN, and so on still have a lot to learn. Wearing black clothes and playing a piano does not make your music goth. These people are only using the term because the media idiotically uses the label to define such acts (and, unfortunately, horrible things like school shootings, etc.). Bauhaus is credited with creating the first true goth song, "Bela Lugosi's Dead". Baby bats should do their research and look into genres such as darkwave, post-punk, deathrock, coldwave, dream pop, industrial, new wave, minimal synth, and neofolk... to name a few. Also, for the record, there is no such thing as emo-goth.

Bauhaus is pure goth.

Such as shame that most kids today don't even know what real goth music is. They claim Evanescence is goth, sure, some songs sound dark, but they aren't goth. She's in Parties and Dark Entries are my most favourite songs. Although all of their songs are amazing.

I totally agree with the previous poster - most of the entries above the Sisters on this list would probably not even exist if it were not for the Sisters. This band pretty much INVENTED modern Goth Rock. Yes, Bauhaus laid the template, and the Cure and the Banshees moulded the idea, but it was the Sisters who became the model for all future Goth Rock bands in terms of their sound and look. Even with their limited releases they still epitomise what Goth Rock should be about - not the commercial, oh-so-pretty pretenders who appeal to the Goth-teens of today (judging by those positioned above the Sisters in this list). The Sisters of Mercy are, and will always be, the true Godfathers of Goth. For me only the mighty Fields of the Nephilim come close.

A little history lesson:

Four bands are generally credited as being the founding fathers of gothic rock: Bauhaus, Siouxie and the Banshees, Joy Division and The Cure. All of them have stated at various stages that they were never goth and also admitted that they were. And all of them are superb - ironically all with a slightly different sound.

These four laid the foundation for the second wave of goth bands - which included the likes of Killing Joke and the Sisters of Mercy. Of these, the Sisters of Mercy were arguably most successful and probably codified the sound of Trad Goth, inspiring the likes of Rosetta Stone, The Mission et al (although the Mission is a story in itself...).

If it weren't for the founding four or the sisters, there would be no bands in this list, and these five bands should be at the top of the list every time.

Especially as Evanscence aren't even a Gothic Rock Band...

Copying some aspects of an earlier post. Goth is deep, dark, and intelligent with rich textures that evoke a mood in the listener. Bauhaus was an earthquake in the music industry and inspired the likes of Joy Division, and The Sisters of Mercy. The Cure was Goth back when they did 17 Seconds, Faith, and, Pornography. There was the Southern Death Cult who became The Cult. The Cult were friends with The Mission UK. The Mission UK was made up of ex-members of Sisters of Mercy. Early on when they broke from Sisters they tried to hold onto name recognition with Sisterhood. The demo version of Dance on Glass is horrible, but the revised version on the Mission UK album is a pretty good song, and no longer sounded like Black Planet. Let's not forget Christian Death as a great and influential Goth group. I personally have difficulty seeing what similarity Evanescence, HIM and Nightwish have to any Gothic Rock groups except for image. Image is not enough for me. There needs to be substance.

A little lesson for you voters who don't have this goth thing quite down yet... Bauhaus was an earthquake in the music industry and inspired the likes of Joy Division and The Sisters of Mercy (often jokingly referred to as the "Sisters of Murphy" gave birth to the pathetic populist Evanescence, and their ilk. Goth was deep, dark and intelligent, and the genre was most likely manic just like Andrew Eldritch. Witness all the copycat bands like The Cure isn't even a real goth band, the disintegration album only had the same producer/ same sound. The Cult/Southern Death Cult are mostly the same guys, only nobody really liked the southern part. The Mission uk were made up of guys who wanted to be called The Sisterhood, formerly of the Sisters of Mercy, but couldn't be, and eventually spun us right round as Dead or Alive, after trying to sell the Sisters track Black Planet as Dance on Glass. My bootleg of Dance on Glass is terrible... Anyway, the point of all this is that the influence on ...more

HIM is my favorite band of all time Ville Valo is definitely my favorite vocalist, and Lioneye my favorite guitarist, I have all kinds of heartagrams painted on my walls and tattooed on me I remember first listening to volume 666 and Razorblade Romance. They influenced me enough to go to Finland for Ruis Rock to see them live, and they have been my favorite band for years and they will continue to be my favorite band. If you don't know who HIM is look up these five songs you are bound to like at least one of them: Dead Lovers Lane, Wings of a Butterfly, Funeral of Hearts, Tears on Tape, and In Venere Veritas

HIM are very gothic in their music!
You just need to listen to them to know what I mean!

Villes choice of poetic words (often in Latin) give their music that gothic touch. as well as the Beautiful and ambient synth solos or melodies which compliment the music and add an extra dark feel!

And if you don't think a Band who base a lot of their songs on Love & Death, with that Romeo & Juliet/Adam & Eve storyline touch to them, is Gothic... then I don't know what is?

HIM is most definitely the best goth band. Villes voice and his powerful lyrics matched with the music is an amazing combination. I've never heard another band like them. Each song seeps into your soul and makes you feel something. Each song latches on to your heart and makes you want to fall in love. In my opinion, HIM is the best band out of Europe since The Beatles.

I Don't get why people say this band isn't Gothic. They have the darkness, Ville's voice is very bass and sounds like what a Gothic singer should be. He has the loving romantic voice and has an amazing vocal range. My personal favorite Gothic Rock artists are HIM. Evanescence is a Dark Rock band that Went Mainstream, HIM should be #1

I'm not Goth, and I hate pretentious elitist people who seem to think only certain people can be into Goth. However I do think that if you're gonna call a band a Goth band, you need to know your stuff, and if you're calling evanescence or HIM goth, then you certainly do not what Goth music is. Goths can of course be into any music, but don't call non Goth music Goth. Joy Division, The Cure, Bauhaus, Sisters of Mercy, Siouxie and The banshees, Christian Death etc are Goth bands, do your research. Also, Unknown Pleasures for me is the ultimate Goth Album. Joy Division are one of the greatest bands of all time.

Joy Division were Decades ahead of their time and put so much Heart And Soul into their music. They should definitely be a Candidate for the top spot- the Atmosphere they create is like no other. The Fact (10) that they aren't in the top 5 is an absolute Atrocity Exhibition

Oh boy, this is tough, Joy Division certainly had influence on the creation of the Goth genre, but I think a case can be made that Joy Division was Seminal for the entire alternative rock genre. In a sense, Joy Division transcended Goth.

It's very depressing to see METAL bands dominating the top ten list. Real goth music was POST-PUNK. Joy Division deserves to be above these "oh so spooky hardcore" bands that are forgettable in the long run.

They're better than Evanescence, in my opinion. Plus, Evanescence is not a Goth band. Yes, they have songs that are Gothic, but they don't consider themselves Goth and they're more focused on Alternative Metal. Siouxsie & The Banshees has more Goth Rock songs on there than Evanescence.

"Ok, look first of all I did once spell her name wrong. Only time I'm aware of, and yes the proper spelling is of course Siouxsie (I left out an s by mistake once, sorry). Secondly, this being said I still stand by the rest of her fans myself included, in that she is truly awesome! "

I fear an even greater indignity has been bestowed upon this most important and influential goth band of all time, aside from the sadly predictable ranking below the decidedly NON goth band, Evanessance, is the unacceptable misspelling of SIOUXSIE. Shameful.

In fact the true queen of goth... Whoever saw the on stage knows what I'm talking about. They were the ones who made the step from punk to goth and prepared the ground for the cure, the sisters, the mission, faith &the muse and all who followed

"I have been a fan of Nightwish since around 2005. They are, of course awesome. However, I believe it was an absolute mistake for them to have kicked Tarja out of the band, I mean that just simply does not make any sense whatsoever! But, aside from this I can honestly say they one of the best symphonic metal bands out there today! "

If I have to put nightwish in words, the music, the lyrics are something that created a shadow over my existence... I wish nightwish will keep 'fantasizing in the dark' and bring all of us to their 'dark fantasy'...

I do love Nightwish. Both Tarja and Anette are good. Their music is very nice to listen to and I like how the songs tell stories that seem to come to life. Marco's singing is also super awesome.

The operatic sound of Tarja Turunen resonates with your nervous system.
Thrill at pagan feel, fire flaming in their live presentations, unrestrained by submission, grounded in the frenetic drive of the two-legged animal, us. Aus Gezeichnet!

Revelations, Fire Dances, and Night Time all have a very powerful Gothic feel. They're not really Goth any more though, they're much closer to Industrial Metal.

Not really Gothic Rock, maybe elements, but they are Post-Punk/Industrial Rock and Metal Band.

This band isn't even Goth Rock, they are Gothic Metal and there's a difference. Gothic Metal is just a name and has nothing to do with the Goth subculture (although some members may still like it).

Even though I'm not hating and just stating facts, I do like some songs from this band such as "Christian Woman" and "My Girlfriend's Girlfriend".

Best goth metal band I've ever heard. Peter Steele's vocals are UNMATCHED, as well as their slower, addicting melodic tone. God, it's beautiful to listen to. I agree with other people here in that The Cure and Evanescence are not goth, but more rock instead, with a goth image.

Type O Negative should be much higher, if not at the top.

TON played in the small Thomas Township Hall when Bloody Kisses was only a bootleg CD. It was clear that Peter Steele had unique voice control. I suggested they do a cover of " Cinnamon Girl", which they actually did later. I heard it in my head as a much slower version.

I don't understand how Evanescence and Marilyn Manson are in the top 10, but the legendary Drab Four are not. That's like Skrillex ranking higher than Beethoven and Mozart on a list of the Top 10 classical composers.

I personally believe that this band's music is both inspirational and electrifying. With both cunning vocals and beautiful melodies, this band should be in the top 5. Nay! The top 3!

Lacuna Coil deserves to be down towards the top 3. Cristina Scabbia all the way her voice is just so unique and beautiful. They are also from Italy!

Apparently those who wasted their vote on Evanescence have never heard Lacuna Coil. Too bad for them. L C should definitely be way up on the list.

Lacuna coil rocks, with their guitars and just the singing itself. Can listen to them the whole day and still not get tired of that

No... I love these guys but come on. They aren't goth. They are Industrial rock or some may know their category as "Nu Metal;" a subject that also includes James Maynard Kenon's bands, Type-o-Negative, and other similar industrial metal influenced bands. Don't forget to understand that goth music includes specific guitar patterns, and environmental sounds. He sings about Gothic material and concepts, but his music is not Gothic.

NIN aren't goth at all. Why are they even on here?

This is industrial metal, best in its kind!

NIN aren't goth. They're industrial rock. Which is also appreciated by goths.

Some of the most deeply, soul-touchingly beautiful music that it has ever been my privilege to enjoy. Simply from another realm.
Another here was right in believing them better than Evanescence. I like some Ev too now and again, but with repeated listening they grate rapidly; I find them also a bit too depressive, for all their other charm. TBM is ever new, enriching, inspiring, and uplifting. And always simply beautiful. Perfect accompaniment to a night under the stars.
Can't wait for their next album!

Being Canadian, music wise I have been rather disappointed, and wondering what our country has come down to (Justin Bieber, Nickelback) but when I discovered them my faith had been restored.

Not gothic rock, but something goths nowadays would like to call "Nu goth", or "Goth revival". They're more synth-rock/dream pop, but considering we have quite a few non goth bands on here, I think they should definitely stay in that case.

Awesome band. If you haven't heard them yet you are missing out! They are Goth Electronica. The lead singer Chiba's voice will haunt you deep into your soul! If you like them also try Bella Lune

They're amazing, it's simple as that. Their musical style is very unique and the singer, Sharon Den Adel is very beautiful and so is her voice. They rock. Their latest album, The Unforgiving is a bit commercial if You ask me, but still, they remain my second favorite band, right behind Evanescence.

Sharon's voice is angelic and dark all at the same time. She has raised the standard for music and has proved to others that you don't have to be JUST a goth band or JUST a metal band, but you could be whatever you wanted to be. I love Within Temptation and their music is golden.

Within Temptation are my most favourite band of all time. Their songs are deep and meaningful and beautiful and completely understand my feelings. I've been through a lot and there songs are the one thing that reach me and put me at peace with the world.

They're amazing goth rock band. I'm a music teacher. I'd taught their songs to my students. The Heart of Everything, Stand My Ground, See Who I Am, Hand of Sorrow, In The Middle of The Night and much more had made us playing them more and more.

This man is considered the king of theatrical rock and brought theatrics into music. He should be number one on this list because he started it all.

I love him so much, but his music isn't gothic rock, even though he influenced it!

Like the Sisters they weren't a goth band, the label came later, the Cult were a straight up rock band, and a damn good one at that. I saw them in 87 and 89, excellent band.

The best. No more to say.

They need to be higher on the list!