Music from The Others Part I - Gothic Metal

Music from The Others Part I
Dark Gothic Gems Hidden in the Dark

   The Symphonic Metal bug had bitten me. But not before my interests were growing in a darker form of metal, one that is more atmospheric and gloomy. Gothic Metal is a bit of a misnomer in most cases, but I was quickly building a list of songs that completely fit into the perspective in which I viewed the label as.
   The next few postings will feature bands from a wider array of genres not just Symphonic Metal, but I will include Gothic Metal, Progressive Metal and more. Here I focus on 3 dark entries which I feel have a bite quite their own.


Ava Inferi - Danca Das Ondas (Gothic Metal, Portugal 2007)  
   Ava Inferi is a dark atmospheric metal band which combines Doom and Gothic Metal with a touch of Operatic vocals. The band is the creative project put together by Rune Eriksen (Mayhem, Norwegian Black Metal) and includes the Portuguese vocalist Carmen Simões (Aenima, Moonspell and others) who create a unique world of beauty and crushing darkness. The song I selected is actually their first video and it grabs you on first viewing. I would call her vocals slightly Operatic, although there is not much happiness here, there is beautiful harmonization and long soaring sections that scoop you up as the doom metal crushes down.


Virgin Black- Lamenting Kiss (2001, Australia)
     Virgin Black is the most known Gothic Metal band in Australia (first disc released 1998), but seemingly no where else. The majority of their music is extremely bleak and even the heaviest metal sections creep along slowly beyond stark. The challenging part is that their songs are so long, it feels like the gloom will never end. But I found one song I like from them and its near perfect. A minimalistic approach is very evident here, as the verses hang in space,  the lyrics are sang in a near whisper, almost devoid of tone. The piano haunts you like the theme to The Exorcist. The heavy beat comes in and its powerful - its very impressive overall. The video I chose is actually a project video by an amateur who chose the song, its interesting enough but id rather you just listen along to a great dark Gothic Doom Metal song, just dont turn off the lights....


Octavia Sperati- And The World Froze (2007, Norway)
  Octavia Sperati is a mostly female Doom Metal / Gothic Metal band from Norway. The singer has since left to lead the massively popular Alt-Rock/Metal band The Gathering. There are some melodies in this one which show why she was the most perfect choice to sing in place of the Angelic Anneke. I have already featured my very favorite song from them called Moonlit (see previous posting: The First Batch), and as other songs began to grow on me I had As the World Froze on my playlist for quite some time. It features the beautiful and haunting voice of Silje and a great melody mixed with heaviness which is in perfect contrast. Like the other 2 songs here, it grabs your attention, it feels different and then it delivers.

Next Posting: More Doom and Gloom