Goth Music: Goth Rock, Post punk, Batcave, New Wave and Dark Wave

So this is going to be a bit of a guide to Goth music. Hopefully I can give some information to those of you who read my blog. I also advise that if anyone feels I get information wrong feel free to comment and correct me. I will fix the mistake.

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The Gothic Subculture has a very large and forever evolving music scene. It not only uses genres such as the above but it also borrows from other types of music, causing it to become a melting pot of many different other subcultures and genres such as Punk( I actually have a brother who is part of this scene), Industrial, Metal, Classical, Indie; even Grunge and Country. ( Which I happen to love country, My Boyfriend's a down-home southern boy so you learn to love it.)

With new bands emerging every year, it isn't surprising.

We are a subculture of many facets and faces, it's no wonder that we like to have options when it comes to our music. Although the label of Goth music still applies.

Because Goths themselves are interested in and enjoy listening to all those dozens of genres, magazines, DJ's and clubs have picked up on this and tend to review and play a mix of different styles in addition to what we consider 'Goth Music'. Basically whilst listening to rock or metal does not make you a Goth by subculture terms, it doesn't make you less Goth either.

•  Gothic Rock

Often reffered to as Gothic Rock, This genre came after the Punk movement. It combines keyboard and guitar based music with moody and often introspective lyrics. they also use a Drum machine as opposed to actual, live drum making the beat very hypnotic and almost tribal at times.

Examples of bands in this genre are:

• The Sisters of Mercy 
• The Mission
• Fields of Nephilim
• Skeletal Family
• Rosetta Stone
• The March Violets

• Post-Punk

Post Punk, sometimes called Positive Punk. This was a music genre that developed from the punk genre in the late 1970s and led to an evolution of Gothic Rock. Although clearly influenced by what I call True Punk, Post-punk is more complex than True Punk music, incorporating the use of synthesizers along with some Dub influence as well.

In the early 2000's there was a Post-Punk revival. This lead to many new Post Punk bands. However, The revival has not been as popular with the Gothic Subculture.

Examples of Post-Punk bands are:

• Siouxsie and the Banshees
• The Cure
• Bauhaus
• Joy Division
• New Model Army
•  The Birthday Party

Examples of Post- Punk revival bands are:

• The Editors
•  Doll Factory
•  Placebo
• We Are Scientists

• Batcave

The Batcave was one of the first Goth clubs in London.  the word 'Batcave' now used to refer to Goth music with a  post-punk or death-rock inspired sound, like the bands who were regulars at the Batcave in the 80s. 'Batcaver' is a term that  refers to fans of this type of music.

Examples of Batcave are:

• Specimen
• Alien Sex Fiend
• Sexbeat
• The Venomettes
• Ausgang
• Voodoo Church
•  Naughty Zombies.

• New Wave

  Emerging in the 70s alongside punk and soon was considered a genre in its own right. It incorporates elements of Electronic, Disco and even 60s pop as well as traditional punk elements. Combining Choppy guitar with heavy emphasis on keyboards and "geeky" sounding vocals.

Examples of this genre are:

• New Order
• The B-52s
• Altered Images
• Depeche Mode
• Lene Lovich
• early Gary Numan
• Oingo Boingo
• Sigue Sigue Sputnik

• Dark Wave

Dark-wave took the basic principles from Post-Punk and New Wave and added the moody and gloomy lyrics of Gothic Rock. Dark-wave continued into the 90's as an underground movement amongst German bands, and several U.S. bands combined elements of other genres such as trip-hop(a genre consisting of down tempo electronic music) and Electronic dance music to create a more modern Dark-wave sound.

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Hope you get some interesting information from this entry. Also feel free to comment on any mistakes you feel I made and I will look into it.

Bats and Kisses,

Lady Zendra