Gothic rock

From ArticleWorld

Gothic Rock is a genre of rock music that evolved out of post-punk during the late 1970s, and have developed into a variety of sub genres that are still around today.

Misconception

Originally considered just a label for a small handful of punk rock/post-punk bands, goth only began to be defined as a separate movement in 1980 and 1981. While most punk bands focused on aggressive, outward rock. The early gothic bands were more introspective, concerned with aesthetics, and personal aspects and perceptions.

Origins

With elements that can be traced to much older literary movements such as gothic horror, Romanticism, existential philosophy, and the philosophical construct of nihilism. Much of the literature that was derived from ranges from the early 1600’s through to the modern setting. Much of is based on emotional expressionism, and is typically darker in nature, although not always horror based.

Notable gothic rock bands include Bauhaus, Nosferatu, Christian Death, Siouxsie & the Banshees, The Cure, The Sisters of Mercy, and Fields of the Nephilim.

The Future

The genre of Gothic Rock is deemed to have gone through a series of generational steps, but that is only partially true. Much of the music that is determined as Gothic Rock is more dark yet dependant on guitar rifts and drums. The genre is still closely tied to the post punk genre. The genres that are offshoots of this one are where the music has evolved to.

These genres that have ties to the Gothic Rock genre are: Ambient, Darkwave, Ethreal, Industrial, Gothic Folk, Electro Goth, Glam Goth, and others.