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Daddy Long Legs

I can’t give you too much detail about “2nd rebirth,” because despite no mention on the listing this has clearly been water damaged so I can’t open the booklet. Quite a poppy apocalyptic folk offering. The first time a band that should be on World Serpent have reminded me of “Show of Hands,” rather than “Backworld.”.  bit medieval but not with as much gravitas as “Dead Can Dance,” at their best they could probably secure a second career writing tunes for the middle age bits of horrible histories.

Daeonia

For most people their first introduction to Daeonia came with their cover of “Alice,” by the Sisters yet they produces at least two LPs of predominantly self-composed quality Goth rock. Unsurprisingly for a band signed to Candlelight there is always one foot firmly in the black metal camp but equally able to produce the gothic subtlety of bands such as One.

Quite listenable and Dutch I understand.

DAF
Another pioneer I had somehow missed until their inclusion on “Electricity,” comp released with Mojo. “Der Mussolini,” is a top notch electro-industrial bouncealong that reminds me a bit of bands like Laibach. As the only date given is that of the remaster I can’t say how future proof it is.

Daily Planet
So Erasure it is untrue (with a bit of Communards and Flying Pickets)

Dalby, Thomas

He blinded us with science. Inspired Meloday Makers best April Fools spoof “I dream of wires,” only for Fischerspooner to make the story come true albeit without the fatal car crash and wrote the soundtrack for the film Gothic. Which is why he is on here. More traditional score than darkwave mumblings one might have expected but its called Gothic!

Damaen, Deviate

When I put the Dev back on recently my wife said what is that noise and when I replied “It’s Goth,” she said “no it’s not,”

The sound of early tracks on Professor ipse dixit is reminiscent of bad sex noises whilst a smoke alarm runs out of batteries whilst it may improve later on I do not have the patience to find out

The Damage Done

Noisy rumbling Ministry type guitar industrial with sadly nothing in common with early Sisters.

To be fair occasional flashes of relative melody but nothing to overly recommend. Mediocre industrial with slightly 80s punk Goth vocals

Damned, the

Aah, the Damned, what can one say, on one hand they are clearly a punk band and probably shouldn’t be included here but Dave Vanian pretty much invented the Goth look and the punk scene melted away they pretty much melted into what their increasingly sombre looking audience wanted to the point that Phantasmagoria is about the best packaged Goth record ever outside the whole Sisters aesthetic. Musically too they had moved on from (albeit pretty fantastic) punk to proper atmospherics and dark vibes.

Most famous for appearing on the Young Ones and a completely pomped out cover of Eloise, the Damned tread the board for a pretty much 50/50 split of Goths and Punks to this day. For a period in the 90s at least everyone’s favourite Mrs Munster, Patricia Morrison married Mr Vanian and joined the Damned on bass.

Dance on Glass
The album “Daydreaming,” dates from the early noughties and is fairly electro poppy but guitar driven with fairly ethereal female vocals. Its quite an unusual combination but seems to work. This as far as I can work out is a side project of Dave Blomberg, NMA/Asylum and aforementioned female vocalist is the Mrs. Possibly the best husband and wife Goth project since the Fiends. Guitars at times remind me of REM

Dance Trance
Very traditional sounding 80s electro pop. Could be Alphaville or Ultravox or who knows even the Venus Hunters. Seems to be an Indy release but through EMI. I think the “It takes two 7”” has been floating around for a while but sadly I can’t remember where I stumbled across it (although Resurrection is a fair bet).

Daniel Grade, the

 The 12” EP of “Pest” whilst perhaps a little late at 1991 looks very much like many Goth and Industrial first stabs of vinyl of the time. Even the presumably newly founded imprint “Train of Thought,” this being “Train of Thought 001” after all has that Industrial look to its logo. Whilst there are some suggestions across the web these did start off in an Industrial vein I think it is fair to say that by this point they had settled into a more guitar Indie/shoe gaze kind of vibe as was very much the order of the day by this point.

Danse Society

Early 80s Goth band that started off with beautiful atmospheric ambience before reinventing themselves as a far less satisfying funk outfit. Began by releasing a string of fantastic singles on their own Society records, “We’re so happy,” a 12” to rival Bela Lugosi, they went on to release a couple of albums. “International,” was rather elusive first time around and there is mixed opinion as to whether it ever got a formal release although I do possess a copy courtesy of a Children’s Society Shop but “Heaven is Waiting” was their stab at the big time released through the major Arista. Followed Dead or Alive down the Stock Aitken and Waterman route for success without becoming the Smash Hits poster of aforementioned trailblazers. One of my favourite Goth bands ever.
DS as well as sharing my initials were one of my favourite Goth bands when I first discovered the scene and many a bemused indy hipster had them inflicted upon them in exchange for the fact that I was one of the few of my friends who lived within walking distance of town who was aloud to smoke in their room.
When I discovered they had reformed and were finally putting out their third/fourth album, I can never work out whether International was properly released because I have a copy but it never gets mentioned anywhere, I was as you can imagine rather excited. I even made a special trip to Resurrection when in London to acquire a copy (only to discover they have shut down and frankly Camden’s a bit shit these days.) Anyway having  finally secured a copy it was barely six months before yet another new album came along. Both albums “Change of Skin,” and follow up “Scarey Tales,” have a bit of Siouxsie feel to them compared to previous efforts courtesy of new singer Maeththelyiah and some tracks are perhaps even more Creaturesesque than Banshees.
Scarey Tales is unashamedly a concept album packaged in a story book and featuring a cover of Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.”
Mrs Gothapedia and I had the pleasure of seeing them live recently and they were excellent.

Danzig

Very Cult feel to this lot with albeit a thinner 80s sound. Can’t help thinking they seem like they were just off the pace rather like Spear of Destiny. Some Nick Cave- isms creep in too.

D’Arcadia
kind of almost apocalyptic folk meets “Elvis” by Belle and Sebastian with just a touch of Joolz. One of those where it is hard to judge on one track but given the photo shows them holding a cello you have to try and presume that is their sound rather than a sample they decided to use as a novelty on one track. It’s a violincello apparently which would explain why it looks smaller than the one I remember my Grandpa having Seem to be a pretty spot on electro-classical hybrid. The sleevenotes suggest they were in transition here so perhaps one to watch.

Very competent neo-classical inspired maudlin indie Goth. Almost flamenco style guitars at times

“Trust me Deeper,” which they do admit is written by someone else is “nothing else matters,” by Metallica as far as I can tell (but with harpsichords!”

capable of recreating the 80s female shoutyness of people like Nina Hagen and Lydia Lunch.

Dargaard

Sweeping piano’s creating an almost neo-classical feel or at least a film score.

Dark Diamonds

“Das Gift,” starts all squelchy 303 bass lines before the guitars kick in and it becomes quite catchy but repetitive Germanic. Something wants me to say Star Industry as well I’m just not quite sure why

Dark Illumination

Feels like a softer update on the typical early 90s Play it Again Sam stuff  

Darkness and Jive

Hailed from Newcastle and caught the ear of John Peel no less. Typically angular early 80s post punk. Assuming tracks on “John Peel Session” are chronological they seemed to transition from relatively straightforward horror punk to more sophisticated Goff

Darkroom
 Quite 80s sounding. Very Curey. Hints of Chameleons.

Dark Runner
Quite atmospheric in a dark wave kind of way but a very heavy iteration of that  

Dark  Sanctuary
Brooding atmospheric neo-operatic with two violinists and a Dead Can Dance cover thrown in. What’s not to like. One of a smattering of quality French Goth acts.

Dark Seed
pretty metally but they obviously all shop in a Goth outfitters albeit a fairly uninspired one. They do a quite nice soft alternative metal though and could easily be contemporaries of Stiltskin (if you remember the Levi’s 501 hit wonders.) Guitars can be a bit noodly Iron Maiden at times.

 Dark Shadows
Dark Shadows appear to hail from Australia and they produce a brand of post punk with a decidedly new wave flavour with Blondie cutting through as much as perhaps the more obvious Skeletal Family and Ghost Dance influences. “Eisbar,” on “11:11” even has something of a Ladytron vibe about it.

Darkside Cowboys

Not a million miles from the Merry Thoughts with their pomp turned down slightly but also able to evoke Sex Gang Children/Alex Harvey Band. Just as you think you’ve got them nailed they suddenly spring into the Braveheart soundtrack.

Happy not to be repetitive and they benefit from that- also do a good impression of more acoustic Sisters moments

Dark Sun

Greek atmospheric electronic band who release material on the rather ace sounding “Creepy Awesome Purple Projects” (and you thought Nightbreed and Mallory Towers were good names!)

Dark Territory

At least the 6th band who are Dark something by my reckoning they even have a track “Dark Flower,” on “Libera Me.” I think these might be a Dutch duo and they do a very nice line in hypnotic rhythmic soft industrial meets neo-classical. I think there are some Catholic themes going on here.

Dark Tranquillity

Rocky Goth metal like a less poppy One. Could easily pass for a mid-90s Nightbreed band. Equally though capable of being quite varied in their arrangements at times and are capable of conjuring up Unforgiven era Metallica meets U2 guitars when they put their mind to it. Very listenable.

Darkwell
Suspiria is an album of crashing guitars and haunting vocals

Das Buch & Das Bild

Very poppy in a synth lead way albeit with some pretty abrasive guitars in the background. Spot on with what they do.

Das Ich

Das Ich have a much more early 80s batcave feel to them than I would expect. This is based on an assessment of some of their earlier work "Das Ich" Germanic electro-pop with growly vocals at times remind me of Dresden Dolls.

Date at Midnight

Quite 80s Goth sounding with a bit of Lloyd Cole thrown in.  Hints of early U2.

Dawn after Dark

Rubbishy 80s style Goth rock. A kind of third rate Balaam and the Angel.

Crap Goth whoring itself towards John Hughes et al without being the bands that he naturally drew himself to. You can imagine the lead singer standing in front of his mirror trying to be that bloke out of the Psychedelic Furs

Ever to jump the zeitgeist can ruin a perfectly good Goth EP (Crystal High/See-Rap) by trying to do some scratching and wrapping (did no-one notice the Sisters never did it and there’s a good reason for that, and Eldritch even toured with Public Enemy.) although does at lest leave them looking like a misguided Zodiac clone 

Looking at their other output as is often the case with 3rd rate EPs (the Groove, ) b side track one “no shame” is a far superior effort to (presumably) crowd pleaser “the groove”

In fact so is B2 “is there time?”

Dawn Fades

Immediate reaction is shoegaze but once things reach full speed hard not to say Chameleons like in the sense that they sound like the chameleons rather than they change colour depending on their background although I suppose they might I’ve never actually seen them just heard them

First EP is quire Chameleonsy and seem to have named themselves after Joy Divisions, New Dawn Fades but not apparent from them musically and song titles like “Fucking Face,” suggest significantly less subtlety than a band named after the prostitute wing of a concentration camp.

Later material suggests a similar feel to later NMA, particularly but not exclusively in relation to the vocals. Also elements of 3SKSs take on the Cure. Four piece that hail(ed) from Italy.

Dax, Danielle

Got her kit off in the company of wolves, sang on two of the most expensive Goth records ever (with the lemon kittens) and released a few LPs of her own that are perfectly listenable

Daylight Dies
Gothic Metal by numbers as one might expect form a band on Candlelight. Very competent effort mind. “Dismantling Devotion,” only runs to 8 tracks but you get your money’s worth as the tracks go on forever (unless I’ve accidently hit repeat.) All tracks seem to start with nice maudlin strings before guess what…

Days Of The Trumpet Call, The

Nice atmospherics

Dazzling Killmen
Noisy, dark, a bit shouty but is it art (or indeed Goth?) I have heard bands that sound like this lumped into the G tag but can’t lay my finger on any at this exact moment but the art work well and truly fits in. I guess to find a comparison the vocals are a bit Psalm 69 era Ministry but the music is nowhere near as intense. Actually a very dark Pixies spring to mind. According to Wikipedia they are Math Rock but I don’t have a fucking clue what that means.

Dead Born Babies

Quite Batcavey. Early March Violets invoking

Dead Boy Robotics
DBR are an infectious duo who release through “Brothers Grimm” which is sufficient to justify inclusion here. The sleeve to “Tale of the Winter Kids,” gives little away and they may actually consider themselves a dance act but they show a degree of intelligence and maturity that suggests they could punch above their weight on any electro/industrial stage they choose.

Dead by 28

It would be easy to describe these as Horror Punk but to this listeners ear they can be slightly more nuanced than that. Whilst they do seem to default to that Cramps/Misfits they have can demonstrate that kind of Vaudeville vibe of bands like Sex Gang Children and Dresden Dolls

 

Dead Can Dance

Neo-classical medieval avant garde that stands out from the also rans due to Lisa Gerrard’s beautiful vocals. Their career turned into something of a  round the world trip of traditional world music.

DCD seem to reinvent their sound every few years. Anastasis is another Scott Four influenced release. Bit mystic eastern, still beautiful vocals but lyrics kind of school boy poetry

Deadfilmstar

Quite mellow dark pop like a chilled out electro Lucretia

Dead or Alive

The main vehicle for Pete Burns who went on to be super annoying celebrity big brother arsehole. DOA started out as an interesting dark atmospheric guitar band featuring one Wayne Hussey who went on to join the Sisters before forming the Mission. After a couple of largely ignored 12”s they reinvented themselves as gay disco, sold their souls to SAW and as a result You Spin Me Round looked like being the only Goth record ever to go to number one (until Evanescence got in the way with “Bring me to life.”

Post “Spin me round,” they continued to release increasingly unlistenable parodies of their former selves but the inevitable remixes of Spin, every five years or so are generally worth a listen.

On the back of his new found (lack of) celebrity as a result of big brother Pete knocked out an autobiography that confirmed his two interests were himself and money. I guess its lucky for him he does love himself as he comes across as pretty much unlikeable to everyone else (and a fantasist to boot.) I initially presumed the completely unreadable nature of the tome coupled with his obsession with money had lead him to conclude there’d be more for him if he skipped the more traditional ghost writer approach but worryingly someone called Ian Cranna appeared to assist which means Mr Cranna is either a complete martyr for taking absolute gibberish and making it simply piss poor or he’s the worst ghost writer in the world.

Dead Relative, the

One word- Joy Division, bollocks that’s two. Not to be confused with the Dead Weather which is that arse out of the White Stripes.

Dead Sea Surfers

I have to confess I was a bit hesitant about these as frankly the name is a bit shit and their sleeve was decidedly Word Art but don’t judge a book...

Their (possibly his) eponymous (I presume) LP is actually really rather good and reminds me very much of All Living Fear with a touch of Merry Thoughts thrown in.

“I died for you,” is one of the more Type-O tracks which is a theme running through whilst “tiphereth,” has an eastern vibe running through it. “Already Home,” was a blast of Creaming Jesus/Zodiac Mindwarp sleeze before the CD slips back to the ALF/Type-O formula.

Unfortunately “Want to be free,” sounds like Ugly Kid Joe. I think it is fair to say the album peaks early and tails off into sub-Mindwarp pub rock.

Dead Souls Rising

This French(?) duo produce rather strange almost dark ambient sounds that you feel (given his prolific output) Andi Sex Gang would eventually get round to recording.

In fact Alastrelle sounds not unlike Andi if he had his bollocks trapped in a door (or perhaps more feasibly an accordion case.)

A slightly more electro late 90s SGC (with their bollocks trapped in a door)

Dead Turns Alive
Kind of imagine the bloke out of Backworld rapping over little fluffy clouds and you’ve got the first three minutes of “Hard to Swallow.” The second half keeps the relaxed vibe but is rather more proper singing perhaps akin to someone like Wolfsheim

Dead Voices on Air

Lo-fi minimalist dark ambient dungeon music

Deaf Machine
“Final destination,” is a nice atmospheric instrumental track and even breaks out into drums that sound a bit like drums rather than chains and footsteps, albeit it would seem with a heavy dose of echo thrown in.

Death by Crimpers

Great name mediocre sub-hole clit rock from Oxford but might as well be from LA. I suspect this lot proved fairly amusing light relief on the bill between a selection of po faced Sisters wannabees wherever they played.

Death Cult

I’m not sure whether this incarnation released more than this single EP but they clearly thorough their heart and soul into it. Released on the reliable Situation 2, High intensity guitar Goth that shows the seed of what is to come.

Death Folk

Folk music done well (see Oysterband, Steeleye Span etc.) is more emotional, evocative and passionate than anything including Goth. Done badly though it makes one yearn to listen to radio one. The fact that Death Folk look a (very little) bit like vampires doesn't hide the fact they play not very good folk.
I don't know what else new alliance records have released but i hope they didn't give up the day job.

Death in June

From avante noise to Backworldesque romantic poetry/apocalyptic folk, scary samples and at times tinges of the more sinister and of SGC DiJ are capable of touching all corners of the macabre.

Hell occasionally they even drift into real songs with proper structures and electric guitars – heresy

Deathline Int’l

Could be an abbreviation of International, intentional or something else who knows? Musically a bit of a mixed bag of electo-industrial kind of styles all of which are perfectly pleasant and enjoyable although I feel their cover of “Paradise City,” was probably a little misjudged. Whilst musically some of the arrangements work quite well it seems somewhat constrined by the melody and lyrics. I don’t think anyone would have noticed let alone blamed them if they had started off inspired by the chord changes and taken it in their own direction.

Deathride 69

Not entirely dissimilar to Black March with whom they share a presence on the American Gothic LP.

Deathstars

Pretty glam boys who play overproduced Evanescence style power Goth without the female lead. Suggestions their sound is not dissimilar to Lordi although I can neither confirm or deny such speculation.

“Via the end,” seems to threaten to go full on “Nothing Else Matters,” on your ass before calming down a little. Quite over produced One in places.

De Beauvoir, Kristin

Does a fairly uninspired alt 80s version of “Rock the Casbah,” and a more interesting “Police and Thieves,” which I think is a reggae standard for the “Goth Witch Project,” DTK boxed con. Never sure why they insist on padding their compilations with these apparently invented cover artists when they seem to have licensed some absolute gems of Goth history. She (a session singer I presume) has a perfectly good voice mind.

Deborah Crossing

Slightly ENDG dark space rock from the land of the satanic mills

Decadence

“Just for Tonight,” very much reminds me of Backworld played over a new age tape albeit with a female voice reading the poetry rather than male

Decoded Feedback

Italian duo who apparently have moral, political lyrics. They have a funky drum machine certainly.

European bleepy electro with a hint of dub

Decree

Very Ministry

Deisix

That whole bleepy electro distorted vocals thing. Glimpses of Depeche Mode but sadly glimpses is as far as it gets. Certainly doesn’t hold its own against others on the Actcom sampler comp.

Delain

High quality Gothic Metal from ex-Within Temptation keyboard player who ropes in a variety of well known friends.

Delay

Nice bit of sinister 80s influenced electro with a touch of Castlevania and a nice melody. Poppy not po-faced, “when the moon became red,” is an excellent track from start to finish. Kind of like a dark Ultravox and another contributor to the excellent Vis-à-vis compilation. Well worth checking out.

DeLien

“Lost Belief,” keeps sounding like it’s going to burst into Spaceman by Babylon Zoo before turning into growly downbeat industrial that seems to go on forever


Demented Are Go
Crap punk Goth

Demonika and the Darklings

Atmospheric quite 80s sounding with a hint of Siouxsie. Probably what you would call darkwave.

Demonix

Demonix is Gitane Demone and Marc Ichx and I think they sort of almagamated their names. Musically it is kind of dark lounge crooning

Demon Project

“Kara Ora,” seems to work best on the couple of tracks that have guest vocals by Viktoria Chekovaya, the other tracks seems a little bit too metal to me. The whole imagery of the CD is quite dark post Geiger sci-fi industrial although that doesn’t particularly push through to the music. I suspect these might be Eastern European.  

Dendura

Female lead US Gothic Rock that reminds me of something i can’t quite place. Possibly from a  Dressed to Kill comp but the better end.

Density of State

“Risk Analysis,” is some very minimal bleepy stuff that sounds like a low rumbling logging machine finding its way into the Deep Forest for the first minute and a half before picking up a bit and getting a bit more structured and industrial. It sounds like there’s someone hitting a steel girder with something and just after the two and a half minute mark it gets proper full on dancey industrial (low tempo) in quite a late 80s Play it Again Sam kind of way

Der Liederkranz

Mr C sings Industrial

Derriere le Miroir

One of my favourite Goth bands ever.

Catchy poppy guitar Goth which can effortlessly swing from trad Goth to pure indie pop a la Sarah records. If it is still available “Selected 92-95” is an excellent introduction released on Nightshade productions.

Into a Circle meet the Field Mice- brilliant and although I can’t quite put my finger on why, they also remind me of the Pet Shop Boys.

Descendants of Cain

Very Nightbreedy sounding Goth. Suspiria meets Midnight Configuration. The Atziluth LP is quite an atmospheric guitar sound.

Desire

Very Missiony despite the name suggesting a GlJ slant.

Destructors 666*

Share a split EP with Fletch Cadillac. Fairly trad punk fare. Even a Velvet Underground cover cannot raise their credibility.

Deter Muh

Avante Noise is the polite description I understand, but DM at least have a handle on trance like crescendos that put them a step apart from the usual synth botherers.

To be fair to them they can build atmosphere and if they soundtracked an action horror I think I would be pretty terrified.

Deviant (UK)

It looks like somewhere along the way Deviant had to acquire a UK rather like the Mission in some territories and indeed I believe the Chameleons. The LP “Very Bad things” continues where their EPs left off with quality electro with a fuller arrangement to their clear influence Sheep on Drugs

Devil Sold His Soul

Genre hopping hard rock with enough of the dark and brooding stuff to warrant inclusion here

Devil Wears Prada, the

Looks like Goth, sounds like Goth (periodically) but is it Goth? Packaging is all gravestones and ruins, song titles are ace “Gauntlet of Solitude,” “Redemption,” but the music wobbles just a little bit too much for me. There’s some ace Evanescence type choruses and some atmospheric intro’s  but the main body of the music whilst trying to be Nuclear Blast Gothic Metal just goes a little too far on one too many occasions.
To be fair I’m perhaps being a little harsh and they are a little more deserving than some who have made it onto these hallowed pages.

Devilish Presley

Rather unsurprisingly these seem to have followed on in the tradition of the three chord pub Goth bands of the 80s with their over-priced 3 track twelve inches that are only remembered in collectors fairs around the country. “Black Leather Jesus,” is unsurprisingly Mindwarp by numbers and would quite easily pass as a lost b-side if Zodiac was marketable enough for it to be worth doing.

De/Vision

A kind of updated Ultravox

Diary of Dreams
I have not heard huge amounts by DoD but here a random smattering across compilations in particular and always like what I hear

Dick Venom and the Terrortones

The sleeve of this looked like it could go one of two ways. Fantastically ace or utter toss. Track one of this EP “Sticky pants trance,” was clearly the latter although to be fair “Rocking Vampireman” is a much better stab at Rose of Avalanche meet Zodiac Mindwarp. Third track “Lilly and the Killers” falls somewhere between the two. Probably would have done better as horror punk but they seem to fall somewhere between that and clichéd naff Goth.

Die!

The Goth Therapy? In the punctuation stakes at least and musically there were some similarities although this lot don’t match Mr  Cairns and co in the catchy hook stakes with a more droany Germanic approach to vocals.

Die, Alie & Galvagni, Martina

With my only experience of these a track entitled “A drone song for Alienor,” at least you can’t accuse them of lacking self awareness! Actually that’s a bit unfair, it’s quite pretty in a neo classical kind minimalist kind of way and I’ve heard much dronier. A little bit Hildagard Von Bingen


Die Form
almost Kate Bushesque vocals creeping in. 

“silent order,” is all very bleepy with quite operatic female vocals

Die Krupps

DK are another of the veteran bands that I probably can’t give credit to due to my minimal exposure but appear to be traditional industrial when that meant sounding like a building site and not a speak and spell.

Die Laughing

If Incubus Succubus want to be Ghost Dance then Nottingham’s Die Laughing want to be IS wanting to be GD. A handful of releases in the second half of the 90s clearly set out their stall.

Beloved of Pagan Dawn subscribers everywhere

Die My Darling
Quite intense looking lot this and they have entropy on guitar the significance of which I can’t quite grasp. Musically though they seem more than comfortable slipping into that clichéd early/mid 90s alt rock Goth thing that lots of bands that were more famous than they deserved to be did. It’s a shame because more than most I’m aware that you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover but the CD feels like it ought to be ace in a Babylonian Tiles kind of way rather mediocre in a sub-RATM way. Sadly if they ever play at Rock City Nottingham they will be feted.

Die so Fluid
Discovered this lot via a demo found in Leicester’s Oxfam shop. There’s a very Gothy looking girly on the front who may or not be the lead singer although musically they seem to me trad Goth metal a la Lacuna Coil mixed with late 90s power pop indie and I can’t help thinking of Republica which is a shame because I spend most of my time trying to forget them. Even capable of a very sinister Eurythmics. Even a bit of Eartha Kit thrown in at times which will please the Rosetta Stone fans. This lot would have been the perfect Gothapedia band, random find with little information to place them if they had been pre myspace. As it is you should be able to find them on there www.myspace.com/diesofluid and the mystery will be solved (they profile themselves as Metal/Punk/Rock)

Die Sonne Satan

“Cheopys,”sounds like the run off groove of an old 12” that has looped back on itself


Die Warzau

Releasing records on Fiction in the late 80s doing 80s electro industrial with some pretty rubbish scratching but Land of the Free seems a pretty genuine anti-apartheid anthem placing them head and shoulders ahead of many of their contemporaries and (scratching and poor rapping aside) their music could have held its own for some time (rather like the JAMMS 1987 equally dated by rubbish scratching. Doesn’t have the hard edge of more recent output though.

What could have been ahead of its time leave itself dated by resorting to cliché

Digital Factor

German Industrial. Quite sweeping

Digital Poodle

Big deep rumbling industrial (with a rather ace name) but with some nice bleepy touches over the top

Digital Rape

“Face the Earth,” starts off as though it is going to burst into really brutal industrial before levelling off at something much more understated. All crunched vocals and bleeps

Ding An Sich

My first thought is Garden of Delight. The brooding ones thought rather than the hookier upbeat tracks.

Reminds me of the more recent Dance Society releases since they have switched to female vocals.

Dir En Gray

Dir En Gray appear to be what passes for Japanese Gothic Metal although “Macabre” is quite a smorgasbord of styles it is hard to pin down who if anyone they resemble stylistically and by all accounts across their 10 or so albums thus far there sound develops quite significantly. They appear a kind of Dead or Alive glam for the 21st century on the sleevenotes although apparently this look was toned down over time too. There are touches of Siouxsie and a bit of new metal funk too.

Disabled Forces

A little bit ENDG but that’s not quite hitting it on the head neither is ALF but both are close.

Disastrous Din
Not sure I have anything to add. Very self aware

Dislocation

The sounds of an electronic jungle with a jazz woodwind aficionado playing in the distance.

Dissecting Table

Appears Japanese on Dark Vinyl, quite minimalist dark ambient    

Diva Destruction

A bit of a Siouxsie thing going on with a slightly updated twist

Diva Suicide

“Scars,” is a fast in your face 7 track mini album that clocks in a little shy of 27 minutes. It’s bold, brash and frenetic and really rather good. Imagine a punkier Ghost Dance

Dive
the name presumably cleverly derived from truncating main man Dirk Ivens 2 names. Fairly minimalist growly whispering electronic industrial.
kind of atmospheric but in a corridor from Alien rather than dungeon kind of way. “Dark Room” is quite sinister thumping electro industrial

Diverje
Hi octane clicking

 

DJ Enfusion

“Black Dog,” is Industrialist Techno of the minimalist variety but certainly listenable.

Reasonable slight creepy electronics

D.K.

not sure what DK stands for but originally I thought they were going to be either very clever and arty or very fucking annoying when track one of their “atest2” EP seemed to go on for ever in silence. When I picked up the case to throw it across the room in disgust/desperation I noticed track one was in fact a cd rom video and once I had flicked the disc onto track two – the previously mentioned atest2 I was greeted with a competent electro very much in the Depeche Mode vein.

You also get the impression that this lot spent many a happy hour in their youth with a glass to the wall of their sisters bedroom (no not what you are thinking- pervert) whilst she was listening to Aha.

An electro-Goth Duran Duran

Dobson, D. D.
Inspired my daughter to ask if the speakers were broken. I struggled to confirm or deny the fact. Apparently random variations on white noise. Genuinely does sound like shorting speakers at times.

Doctor and the Medics

For most remembered as one hit pop wonders for their chart topping cover of Spirit in the Sky but the Medics deserve their place in Goth history as key personnel in proto Goth club “Alice in Wonderland,”

Looking more like a gay Doctor Who villain than Dracula the Dr introduced a slab of Psychedelia  to the Goth scene with a sound that often matched.

Released at least two albums in the mid 80s “Laughing at the Pieces,” and “I Keep Thinking It’s Tuesday” and continued slogging it out on the nostalgia circuit until at least the new millennium and occasionally turning up on 60s bills!

Doctors of Madness

Now I know a lot of Goth’s were inspired by Roxy Music but I’m not sure how many actually tried to be them (except possibly Bauhaus) but the Drs seem to be thrashing out a Roxy, Bowie furrow for the most part on “late Midnight Movies all night brainstorms,” with the notable exception of the almost prog like extended final track “Mainlines,” which contains some violins which could certainly have inspired Ed.

I’m struggling to see the edge that sees them charged as proto-Goth pioneers in Dark Reign although I wasn’t there, indeed I’m not even sure I was even born at the time.

Dog Detachment

A little bit Churchy both in style and substance. Elements of the bass heavy mid-80s UK scene. Clear hints of the Chameleons “White Flag,” and “Monochrome Man,” standout tracks.

All called Armstrong (including guest female backing vocals) which is either a huge coincidence or something more sinister

Worryingly wobble rather close to Smokie at times although apparently Eldritch once bought their Strat so even they’re a bit Goth

Dog Explosion

One of the stranger routes to the pages of Gothapedia this one. I had set off on an art trail with family and dog only to find in one of the pop-up galleries one of the artists surreptitiously pushing his CD in one corner.  

Fairly basic bedroom electronic sub-industrial with a cockney/Fiendy approach to vocals. Reminds me a bit of the cringeworthily bad vocals on early Athamay records or possibly a comedy villain out of the Mighty Boosh. In the better moments you could persuade yourself he was a more electronic Editors but if you began to think that you would probably turn it off and put on the Editors instead.

Dog Pile

Dogpile might have been the name of a music shop where I bought one of my synthesisers or I might have dreamt this. Musically they are quite noisy shouty Industrial that have some distinct overlap with Ministry.

Dolium

Sheffield horror punks with Halloween inspired song titles. All a bit samey for my liking but they seem to have caught the ear of some of the steel cities most famous sons. A bit shouty, a lot clatters, guitars to the fore and not a huge amount else going on. I suppose riding the crest of the new wave I am sure they are very authentic live.

Doll Factory

Messy frantic drums and squelchy synths (in a NIN kind of way) seem to pretty much summarise doll factory

Dominanz

Industrial, Gothic, Black Metal type stuff. “As I Shine,” appears to be billed as something of a solo effort apart from the other people involved according to the sleeve notes.

Dommin
There’s quite a strong Type-O feel about this lot. So named apparently after frontman Kristofer Dommin and I suspect that isn’t a made up one a la Mr and Mrs Fiend. Big epic alternative college rock but very competent. The booklet to “Love is Gone,” features a photo of someone (presumably Mr Dommin himself) sat atop a motorbike in front of barbed wire and it is quite clear from the bikes marking that it’s a “1980,” model but I think that’s wishful thinking as this is distinctly early to mid-90s (although actually released on Roadrunner in 2009. Track 2 is slightly funkier and less brooding than the opener but still a strong Type-O feel. Album doesn’t keep the same momentum all the way through and does drift into Stiltskin territory at times.
“Dark Holiday,” is a piss poor cockney knees up which Voltaire might just about have got away with but I’m not convinced these do!

Dope Stars Inc

Kind of high octane Zeromancer type electro meets Billy Idol crossed with Dépêche Mode

Dormannu

80s funky pop Goth a la late Danse Society. One of those very bass heavy bands that seem to fit that “grooving in green,” type template with bits of Bauhaus. Elements could almost have influenced modern bands like Glasvegas and the Editors 

Dorsetshire

Full on noisy guitar and squelchy synths from a band who appear to style themselves aesthetically on some kind of cross between Kiss and Alien Sex Fiend

Double Echo

Quite 80s sounding British guitar Goth in the Chameleons/In2a Circle vein.

Double Eyelid

With a lead singer that looks a little like an unkempt Daniel Craig, Double Eyelid are a guitar heavy Goth band with Industrial overtones. “Seven years,” hails from 2014. Possibly Californian.

Doubting Thomas

Sounds from an electronic dungeon, some more abstract than others

The infidel is perfectly competent industrial of the Wax Trax variety. Early 90s from two thirds of Skinny Puppy. Intended as a more soundtrack style project

Download

“The eyes of Stanley pain,” looks like the sleeve has been produced by Dave McKean (I just checked it was) and the music is generally box of frogs industrial breakbeats with the sort of sci-fi sound effects that sound like they may have been lifted from the cutting room floor of Hitchhikers (the 1970s BBC radio version.) Released on Offbeat and sounding exactly as you might expect as a result

Kind of rose from the ashes of the legendry Skinny Puppy. Breakbeats and synths plenty. Sinister sci-fi sounds

Draconian Incubus

Reminiscent of “Love of Hopeless Causes,” era NMA meets post Screaming Marionettes

Dreadful Shadows
Chains comes across as a poppier G.O.D.

Dreambreed

Very rock n rolly. I would half expect their "Sometime" release to turn out to be the traditional late 80s three track 12” with 2 versions of the title track rather than the 6 track cd-single it is.

Dream Disciples

1994s “In Amber” album reminds me predominantly of a mix between GLJ and early 90s Mission but with the GLJ influences not overtly explicit. There are also one or two glimpses of AAE which I guess is to be expected as Julianne is the link between the two previously mentioned acts. For reasons I don’t recall I had it in my head that they were from across the pond but it appears they are actually from Scotland

At their best they’re a poppier Sheep on Drugs meet U2 at their most electro. When they are being a safe pair of hands on album tracks it’s a bit more Mission power ballady. Clearly have their sites set on stadium rock.

As someone who’s done his fair share of letting the arppegiator do the hard work its fair to say I see kindred spirits in this lot- they do it well though.

Dreamerion

Quality atmospheric neo-classical

Dreamgrinder

Cropped up on one or two of the metallurgy tape compilations as well as releasing at least one twelve inch in their own right.
Deeps and Shallows, track listing: Deeps and Shallows, Deep 2, Scarlet, Carousel released by Product Inc, recorded Redditch, September 1990.
Up until now I was only aware of the single EP but have now acquired a copy of the “Agents of the mind,” album. I preferred the EP with this being very sub-Mindwarp sleaze rock. I’m sure I’d enjoy them live but there will always be something else I’d rather listen to on CD.

Dreams Divide
Quite eighties sounding electro Goth. Very poppy duo who have a very listenable album entitled “Puppet Love,” released on Glory and Honour Records and available from gigs and elsewhere I’m sure. Appeared at the 2013 Dark Waters Festival. Deploy the classic girl sings a bit boy sings a bit technique with the latter having quite an Ultravox style delivery and there’s a slight Lacuna Coilness abut the former.

Dreamside, the

One of those bands stumbled across for Gothapedia that seemed to have enough about them to seek out more. “open your eyes,” has touches of Inkubus and Colony 5 type bands with a really catchy hook. Seem to have a link to Cruxshadows. Bit Evanescence in places

Dreams of Sanity

Kind of hard rocking Goth in the Lacuna Coil vein only less new metal but with very Inkubus vocals.

Dreamtime

Hail from Finland apparently which seems to be a pretty good country for Goth. Sound a bit Merry Thoughts

Dremora

The American Dremora have a big operatic sound but with a real feel of Inkubus Sukubus at their more epic. Fairly Germanic Gothic metal once it settles in.  

Dresden Dolls

Big Vaudeville sound. Makes you think of lap dancing in the Weimar republic (or at least a bit of Sex Gang Children.) Cover Psychedelic Furs and collaborate with Voltaire.

Front person Amanda Palmer has had fame in multiple guises but seems to always be drawn back to the Dolls.

Drill

Quite noisy up-tempo stuff that threatens to burst into guitar industrial with samples thrown in for good measure.

Drogheda

Very extreme and guitar driven. Industrial without the industry.  

Dronning Maudland

The Garden of Delight at their most straight Rockiness

Drowning, the

Really heavy Gothic metal on Casket Music

Drowning Season, the

“Heaven Falls Hard,” is quite Churchy with a bit of a sprinkling of New Romantic and a Cult outro

Drunkness

Perfectly listenable but formulaic electro Goth but with nice boy girl harmonies.

Dust

Minimalist sounding female vocal reminiscent of early AAE

D.U.S.T.

The general look of “From the sublime to the obscene,” made me think Babylonian Tiles. Musically it is very much Wonderstuff meets Jesus Jones. There was a final missing ingredient I couldn’t quite place and I shudder as I think I may have just identified it, Oasis! One might even wonder where on the Goth scale this ought to sit if it wasn’t for the involvement of Resurrection and of course the fact that they have joined the list of acts who feel obliged to show there is not a huge amount you can add to Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit.”

Dust of Basement, the
A bit of  trip Goth feel and slightly Derriere style vocals. Very commercial

Dynamic Masters
Fairly soft electronic with quite a fragile almost Sarah pop vocal. Although “Russian Roulette” is sung in English I suspect they are German and are simply appealing to a wider market. The b-sides on the maxi version of the aforementioned track appear to be in their mother tongue and have more of an ENDG feel to them.. There are further Sarah comparisons when the female vocals on “Der Schwur,” remind me of my favourite Secret Shine track which I sometimes consider the best pop song ever.
I suspect this lot might actually be Anglo-German as joining Jens Pluger and Marco Heissenberg is the much more British sounding Dave Bailey and I conclude that the female vocals probably are provided by Heike Bailey who I suspect is Dave’s German wife.


Dyonisis

Slightly ethereal. Slightly AAE at their less poppy.


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