u/Ennattinord2008

"Dreamland", from LEAH's EP Otherworld, released independently on October 31, 2013. This song features vocals by Eric Peterson, guitarist and vocalist for Berkeley/Oakland based thrash metal band Testament (that's where I'm from!).

LEAH's early music is so atmospheric and ethereal, she did a great job marrying her new age folk influences with subdued twinkly symphonics and rock and metal riffing. Those first couple of releases were peak early-2010s symphonic metal (there was a lull in the subgenre starting in 2010/2011, so an independent artist releasing beautiful music in the "female fronted metal" space was very exciting at the time).

"Life's Vortex", the closing track on After Forever's third studio album Invisible Circles, released March 25, 2004 on Transmission Records.

Though still somewhat gothic-y in approach, After Forever's first full-length studio record without founder Mark Jansen (who went on to start Epica) is primarily a progressive metal album. This song, among a few others (like "Digital Deceit" and "Through Square Eyes") still sound like they could've been on Decipher (2001) or Exordium (2003) which were still mostly rooted in symphonic gothic metal conventions.

As an aside, I just realized how much some of the riffs and string arrangements remind me of mid-90s Therion... there's a lot of Theli (1996) on here.

"Mother of Light (A New Age Dawns II)" from Epica's sophomore record Consign to Oblivion, released by Transmission Records on April 21, 2005.

This album sounds so good, and pretty much set the standard for recording and mixing orchestra for metal in the 2000s -- Epica wouldn't sound this good again for years!

"The Kiss", taken from The Sins of Thy Beloved's debut album Lake of Sorrow, released November 9, 1998 on Napalm Records.

Dark and menacing, lush and romantic, The Sins of Thy Beloved crafted a masterclass of Norwegian gothic metal with their debut album. It took me a long time for me to come around on this band. They always felt a little too intimidating because of how longwinded and doomy they were, but once this album clicked with me, I lived in it for months.

"The Kiss" is not my favorite track from this record, but I think it fits my current mood.

"Emmurés", taken from Anachromie, the third and final album by French alternative/symphonic/nu metal band Kells, released by Season of Mist on January 20, 2012.

I always loved this band's more restrained approach to symphonics, everything in their sound always felt incredibly balanced. There's lots of groove riffing, the string arrangements carry the main theme after the intro and during the choruses, and the choir arrangement in the bridge as an elegant final classical touch.

If I remember correctly, the hype sticker said something to the effect of "for fans of Nightwish, Evanescence, Lacuna Coil, and Within Temptation", which I'd say is mostly accurate. I'm still mad that their fourth album never came to fruition, based on the few songs they debuted live during this time, it would've been killer.

"Seventh Seal" is the English language version of "Siódma pieczęć" by Polish gothic metal band Artrosis. Originally released on their debut album Ukryty wymiar in October 1997 by Morbid Noizz Productions, six songs from the album were re-recorded in English in March 1998 to be later released on a truncated cassette version of the album titled Hidden Dimension. Those English versions, intro track, and remaining three-Polish language songs would finally be compiled together when Hall of Sermon (the record label founded by Tilo Wolff of Lacrimosa fame) licensed the record for European distribution and re-released the album on January 25, 1999. I usually choose to listen to the original Polish version of the album, but I do think the English version is mixed a little better.

To me, this album is like the sound of gothic metal (more gothic metal per gothic metal, so to speak), which makes this band's ambivalent feelings on the label kind of interesting. It's lush and atmospheric with layers of piano and synth-strings balancing out against pretty aggressive riffing (Artrosis' first guitarist was a lot more traditionally "heavy metal"). This album (among other 90s/early-2000s classics like Widow's Weeds, Lake of Sorrow, and Prison of Desire) sounds like the anachronistic imagery of 13th century cathedrals.

"Delirio" is the eighth track from A War of Our Own, the fourth album by Dutch (and Mexican) gothic/progressive/symphonic metal band Stream of Passion. The album was released independently on April 18, 2014, and later released in the US by End of the Light on June 24, 2014.

I love the Latin influences across this band's later career, and as someome of Mexican decent, I really appreciate the Spanish lyrics and Marcela Bovio's success in Europe (underrated singer, her praise is not high enough...never enough!).

This album dropped at a time when I had a lot going on emotionally, and I found the themes really relatable. Though I didn't love it when I first heard it, it quickly became one of my favorite albums of all time.

"In Visible Light" off Lacuna Coil's fourth studio album Karmacode, released by Century Media Records on March 31, 2006.

An interesting release, Karmacode was the Italian band's first major departure from classic gothic metal. While a lot of the sonic the hallmarks of the genre remained, Lacuna Coil would take a modern and groove oriented approach, incorporating a lot of Korn-style nu metal riffing to their pre-existing strings, keys, and atmospheric programming.

In some ways "In Visible Light" is most similar to the band's ealier albums like Unleashed Memories (2001) and Comalies (2002) with its big lethargic chorus, and clean guitar hook.

Happy New Music Release Day!

The new Soulgrind album, Ad Pulchram Mortem is out today on Inverse Records. This is their tenth studio record, and first released in 16 years!

I don't think I've ever heard of this Finnish band, if I have, it was probably in passing reference to their older death/doom material. This album is beauty and the beast style gothic metal with some extreme metal tendencies -- think black and doom metal influences. On the Metal-Archives, their top five "similar artists" include bands like Trail of Tears, Battlelore, and Orphanage. If that sounds enticing at all, I recommend giving them a listen. I liked this album a lot, and will probably get myself a copy of it when I can.

The link shared to this post is Inverse Records' official album stream, but the album is also available through your preferred streaming service. Here are some other ways to support the band:

Inverse Records Shop: https://inverse-records.myshopify.com/products/soulgrind-ad-pulchram-mortem-cd-digipak-pre-order

Bandcamp: https://soulgrind.bandcamp.com/album/ad-pulchram-mortem

Watch the music video for the album's lead single here: https://youtu.be/aoBIyV44VOY?is=BD3MRWFeiLc84pHL

Have you heard the new album? What did you think of it?

Any other new releases you want to highlight today, drop them in the comments or make a whole new post on the subreddit! Happy listening!

From their debut album Eternal Endless Infinity, released by TTS Media on October 21, 2002.

This is a more romanic cut, and very dated with the programmed beeping and booping, but this is the kind of symphonic power metal that comes to mind when I think of Visions of Atlantis. Always thought the new VOA logo didn't quite work with the Lassen painting they licensed for the cover.

Unrelated, but I have an uncle who spent the 80s being a surfer in Hawai'i before he moved back to California, and I'm pretty sure he had a giant Christian Reese Lassen painting of an underwater scene hung up in his living room. I wonder where that went.

Gatekeeper by Within Temptation off their debut album Enter, released April 6, 1997 by DSFA Records.

A classic of Dutch gothic and symphonic doom metal.

Another 90s doom band reuniting to celebrate a notable 30 year anniversary, here's The Third and the Mortal's full set in Trondheim earlier this year playing songs from Sorrow EP and Tears Laid in Earth. Unfortunately I couldn't find any pro-shot footage, but this video still looks and sounds pretty good.

The Gathering's tour celebrating 30 years of Mandylion (2025) continues! Here's live footage of their performance at Hellfest.

Missed this when it came out at the end of last month. The lead single from the German band's fourteenth studio album Lay Me Down O Silent Fear (out September 25, 2026 on Steamhammer). What do we all think? I personally love how much HIM is in this.

This Saturday is a quintessential San Francisco summer day: gloomy morning, it'll probably clear up around noon, but it won't get hot. It's a very nostalgic season, its associated with fewer responsibilities (for the lucky among us) and days that never end.

The periods of my life when I was listening to and bought the most music was during summers, especially when I was in late-high school. Very few responsibilities, and virtually no expenses meant that what little money I got could be spent on used CDs on eBay (this was the early 2010s, niche CDs averaged less than 10 USD with shipping).

In that summer nostalgia, what are symphonic metal albums you associate with the season and why? I tend to have very seasonal listening habits, so this can be interesting to hear other peoples' answers. Here are some of mine:

1. Visions of Atlantis - Eternal Endless Infinity (2002), pure early-Nightwish worship, this is still my favorite VOA album. It's fluffy, romantic, operatic symphonic power metal. Went on a lot of walks listening to this record, to me, it's pure summer.

2. Stream of Passion - A War of Our Own (2014), this album was released in the US in June, and I fully imprinted on this record (2014 was a tumultuous time in my personal life). Piano laden kinda-proggy, kinda-gothic symphonic metal. I love the approach to the string arrangements, it's not overly orchestrated.

3. Epica - Consign to Oblivion (2005), I used to think this album was so overrated, fell in love with it in summer of 2018. This sophomore record is when we see Epica drop all of their previous gothic influences, and this album is light and catchy.

4. Kells - Anachromie (2012), probably the least symphonic record on this list, Kells were an alt/symphonic/nu metal band from France that I got REALLY into in high school. Their driest sounding record, the use of strings, piano, occasional harp sounds like pure summer.

5. LEAH - Otherworld (2013), atmospheric and folky symphonic metal, the look and sound of it is just so verdant and clear. I really loved Leah McHenry's earlier stuff, the newest records were still good but not quite to my taste.

6. Delain - Lucidity (2006), the orchestration on this album is so lush and warm. In the context of the time this album was released, there's a few songs with gothic leanings, but this album tends to skew very bright, so to me it just sounds like summer.

7. Noctura - Surrender the Sun (2011), listened to this a ton in summer of 2013. It's is twinkly atmospheric symphonic gothic metal/rock -- it is pure Evanescence-worship. If you want something that sounds like an in between of Fallen (2003) and The Open Door (2006), Surrender the Sun is for you!

8. Battlelore - The Last Alliance (2008), very warm and earthy fantasy themed symphonic metal (with some gothic and folk influences), it perfectly encapsulates the image of a dirt trail and rolling hills speckled with green trees. The image of summer hikes.

9. Xandria - India (2005), it's still my least favorite Xandria album, bit it has some bangers on it. Its folk influences make me think of summer. And for whatever reason, I associate this album with Nova (2007) by Atargatis, which is another early-summer record for me.

10. Leaves' Eyes - Njord (2009), I asserted this might be a spring album a couple months ago, I realized that no, I don't think it is. One of their least-dark, or even heavy records, and their first with actual live orchestra, Njord feels very bright for summer, despite its wintery imagery.

So please, what albums are married to the season in your mind, and why?

We are in the first week of August, which puts us firmly in the middle of summer (late summer is right around the corner!). The season is marked by warmer weather, longer days, and for those lucky among us, fewer responsibilities (or at least a break from school or work). Where I’m from, mornings are quite gloomy until the sun breaks through the clouds and fog around noon, but the days never really get “hot”.

It’s a very nostalgic season, at least it seems that way for full-grown adults. I admit the periods of my life when I was listening to and buying the most music was during summers, especially when I was in late-high school. Very few responsibilities, and virtually no expenses meant that what little allowance I got could be spent on used CDs on eBay (this was the early 2010s, niche CDs averaged less than 10 USD with shipping).

So in that summer nostalgia, what are the gothic metal albums that you associate with the season, and why? I know the ones that I associate most are probably what others would consider autumn/fall listens, but here are some of mine:

1. Within Temptation - Enter (1997), though quite dark and dramatic, there’s a warmth to this album that makes me come back to it in the hotter months.

2. Lacuna Coil - Karmacode (2006), probably my first summer music purchase, had to beg for my dad to get this for me off eBay (I had just turned 11, I believe). The mix of the gothic and orientalist atmosphere with nu metal riffs makes for a fun and breezy listening experience. I think this album is over maligned, it’s just a little different.

3. Artrosis - Ukryty wymiar (1997) (or its English version Hidden Dimension (1998)), fell in love with this band and album in the last weeks of August 2013. It’s been permanently burned into my brain as a summer listen.

4. The Sins of Thy Beloved - Lake of Sorrow (1998), slow and romantic, Lake of Sorrow is perfect for languishing on summer days, and the piano and violin are so bright, it reminds me of sunlight.

5. After Forever - Prison of Desire (2000) and Invisible Circles (2004), two very different takes on the genre from the same band. Prison of Desire is as classically gothic as gothic gets with an austere and otherworldly atmosphere. Invisible Circles is farther along in the band's transition into progressive and symphonic metal, but still has a lot of those gothic tones from their earlier career. It's a strange album because of its concept, subject matter, and rock opera-like approach (without a big cast of guest musicians), but it has some bangers.

6. Taia - Seeds of Rain (2007), this one is a very modern take on gothic metal, it mixes that atmospheric heaviness with epic J-rock sensibilities. It's light and uplifting, energetic and very catchy.

7. How Like a Winter - Beyond My Grey Wake... (2003), this album has a lot of My Dying Bride-isms about it, but I find it a lot warmer than the Peaceville Three's death-doom material of the 90s. This album is romantic and a little sexy, and epic.

8. Myriads - In Spheres without Time (1999), a somewhat forgotten gem in the Napalm Records catalogue, Myriads were a long-winded and twinkly band that made music that is endlessly consumable. Spheres isn't my favorite of their two albums, but there's something about its rougher production and dreamlike atmosphere that makes it a better fit for this list — I'm, telling you, take a long walk on a sunny afternoon around town with this album in your headphones. It just makes sense.

9. Forever Slave - Tales for Bad Girls (2008), I found this album for sale at a local record shop, and haggled with the cashier to include it in my haul (I was only down 26 cents!). I admit this isn't a classically "good" album, and of the two albums this band put out, their debut Alice's Inferno (2005) is much better. This is like the apotheosis of mid-2000s gothic metal Evanescence-worship, but I actually don't mind that sound (trust me, a lot of bands were doing that, and I do have a whole spiel about it, but I will spare you for time). Anyway, it's easily consumable and commercially viable for a fun summer day.

10. Cradle of Filth - Midian (2000), I know this one is probably considered very Halloween-y, and I agree, but I just associate it so much with the summer months. I love the choirs and the hyper-melodic riffing, and they fit with the season.

So, what records do you come back to this time of year, and why?

I'm home with a bad back, and spent today listening to a lot of the 2026 releases that I've already purchased (I'm not doing a good job of listening to the music I've recently bought this year), and the new For My Pain... album Buried Blue is finally starting to click with me. It's not the most well-produced/mixed thing ever, but it's a pretty solid comeback album. "Gone Tomorrow" is one of my favorite tracks from my listen-through.

What it says on the tin. Visiting Portland for the first time (technically second), and hoping to hit up some record stores that have healthy CD sections. Ideally looking for metal, but also into goth, alt-pop, and folk.

Any Portlandians willing to give me suggestions?

Talk about a band that's changed a lot, Germany's Xandria spent the 2000s being a gothic metal act with varying amounts of symphonic influence (2005's India is probably their most proper symphonic metal album in this era). Their "Early Days" material is still my favorite by this band.

Isis/Osiris comes from their debut album Kill the Sun (2003). After the 90s we started getting a new wave of bands that were modernizing the gothic metal subgenre, this song is very post-Y2K.

Well that's kind of an oversimplification... their album Bloodangel's Cry (2007) was like a mix of symphonic gothic metal and power metal, and their follow up album My Fatal Kiss (2009) still had some gothic undertones, but it was a much sleeker and modern album that leaned more symphonic Good band, can't wait to see what they do next now that they've revived the project (it's been 15 years!).