Title: Gothic metal - Wikipedia
Headings: Gothic metal
Gothic metal
Contents
Etymology
Characteristics
Sonic traits
Vocals
Lyrics
History
Precursors
Heavy metal
Gothic rock
Origins
The Peaceville Three
Other pioneers
Development
Beauty and the beast
Symphonic gothic metal
Commercial success
Paradise Lost
Cradle of Filth
Moonspell and Within Temptation
Lacuna Coil
Evanescence
HIM
Finnish scene
See also
Notes
References
External links

Content: For the three English bands that helped to pioneer the genre, their gloomy lyrics reflect their background in doom metal while their darker or melodramatic lyrics draw influence from gothic rock. The music of My Dying Bride has been noted as "dripping with treachery and pain" from a "lyrical fascination with deceit and transgressions of every variety". Lyrics that focus on suicide and the meaninglessness of life can be found in Anathema while Paradise Lost too has "never lost their depressive edge". The Italian gothic black metal band Theatres des Vampires manifests a deep interest in the vampire myth, a common staple of gothic horror fiction. Gothic fiction, a literary genre that blends horror and romance, has been a source of inspiration for the lyrics of many gothic metal bands like Cadaveria, Cradle of Filth, Moonspell, Theatres des Vampires and Xandria. Critic Eduardo Rivadavia of Allmusic identifies drama and mournful beauty as requisite elements of the genre. For My Dying Bride, the subjects of "death and misery and lost love and romance" have been approached repeatedly from different angles. The common gothic theme of lost love is a subject that has been tackled by such gothic metal bands as Theatre of Tragedy, The Wounded and Leaves' Eyes. Lyrics based on personal experiences are another common feature of many gothic metal bands such as Anathema, Elis, Evanescence, Tiamat, Midnattsol and The Old Dead Tree. Graveworm moved away from fantasy stories in favor of personal lyrics after finding them more suitable for their style of music.