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Taedium Vitae

TV have a very 80s British sound but one that is hard to attribute to a particular band. There are touches of March Violets, ENDG and even the Cure but it works as a good cocktail

TAGC

Part of me has always thought industrial is an entity rather than a genre and following that logic “Broadcast Test,” by TAGC proves that there is no need for industrial beyond this particular record.

Once you have listened to side B you begin to wonder whether  the majority of bands even need to continue given they will never reach this high water mark.

Tantalus Qualen

Quite 80s sounding UK guitar Goth but more likely hailing from the mid-90s Eastern Block.

Tapping the Vein

sound like the generic female fronted Bronze band in  Buffy (which of course they might be). I’m not convinced anyone outside of American teen dramas would ever choose to listen to this when the Sisters back catalogue is still available. Break beats, brooding guitars, bit of grunge

Tarja

I’ve always been a fan of Christmas records and for some years have been after a proper bona fide Goth one. This I think is about as close to the real thing as you could expect. Tarja who I think is the singer out of Nightwish has released an album of Christmasish songs with fairly dark arrangements. “Deck the Halls,” will terrify a child into obedience far more than an elf on the shelf will. The stand out album of its genre (for now)

Tea Party, the

Where do these guys fit in? signed to the label formed to allow Jethro Tull to hit the charts and pumping out sub-Cult Goth rock  where does putting a tombstone on your album cover put you? Hit the scene a little too early to find their rightful place on a Buffy soundtrack but bridging that gap between the Crash Test Dummies and the other alt-rock/goth bands of the day.

I guess the crash test comments are a bit harsh as they are from Canada and there is a bit of a Crime and the City/Birthday Party thing going on. Seem to hint at times at that whole native American mysticism thing (pre-twilight of course) that the pre-mentioned Cult did on tracks like Spiritwalker.  Not quite bland not quite setting the world alight. One of their number apparently went on a joined Rush which is lots of brownie points in my world but probably not yours

Tear Garden

A bit dubby and all things being incredibly relative one of the more traditional pop offerings of the Skinny Puppy family tree. Touches of Sexgang and a hint of Space Rock.

Tearwave

Pretty female vocalled shoegaze, kind of reminiscent of Sunshot or Ultraviolet era AAE

Technoir

Technoir remind me of an electronic Incubus Succubus mainly I think because of the vocal delivery but I think there must be something about the song arrangements too. Obviously musically it is quite different as I don’t think there is an instrument here that would make a sound if not plugged in but even then the feel is kind of similar. German duo I believe.

Techny-Call X

Oddly named fairly standard heavy industrial with scratchy sounding synths and guttural vocals

Templebeat

Fuzzy guitars and repetitive vocals. Have a track called “World in Motion,” that does nothing to remind me of the New Order track but would probably benefit from John Barnes rapping over the top and how often are you actually going to say that? Capable of a bit of a trip Goth thing but clearly not their core business

Do something verging on a comedy cover of “she’s lost control” by Joy Division which goes a bit Josh Wink at the end.

Temps Perdu?

The only track I have heard from this German band is contained on “soundscape,” collection Borderline so it might be a little unrepresentative of their other output but on this evidence it is very minimal atmopsherics again reminiscent of Peter Gabriel’s Passion.

Temujin

Hail from Australia putting them in esteemed company. Pretty melodic and a bit more chilled than some. Do elements of ENDG creep in?

Tenhi

A darker mellower Finish Leonard Cohen meets Backworld. Occasional touches of Peter Gabriel’s Passion

Ten Horned Beast

Waily dungeon sounds

Terminal Power Company

Imagine British Industrial post the second summer of love and you have pretty much got “Run Silent, Run Deep.” Apparently they formed to write cyber punk film soundtracks. The music is more David Lynch than Trent Reznor. Elements of Sex Gang and the Fiendies rear their head

TGT

Produced by Bobba Fett apparently which will be his first foray into industrial as far as i am aware, his career being more focussed on bounty hunting up until that point. Mediocre late 80s industrial.

T.H.D.

Not to be confused with the manufacturers of high quality hair straighteners this lot originate from the computer game music school of industrial with a few nice samples thrown in.

Theatre of Hate

Original vehicle for Kirk Brandon who would later go on to form Spear of Destiny before for the mid 90s onwards switching between the two depending on which he thought would shift the most t-shirts on the live circuit.

ToH released the classic “Do you believe in the Westworld,” which turns up on every other early 80s Goth comp and for a second they were surfing the zeitgeist.

Kirk briefly got in a legal spat with Boy George when there were suggestions their idea of “friends” would certainly not get broadcast on E4 before 9pm.

Theatre of Tragedy
“Radio,” is really familiar although I don’t think I’ve heard the track before. A haunting female vocal that is almost Kate Bush contrast with a more generic male. Top quality tune very catchy and poppy with guitar and bleep backing

The Illusion Fades

Very competent early- mid 90s guitar Goth not dissimilar to a male fronted Die Laughing or Manuskript. Vocals are very Mission at times. Appear to be Greek. At times walk a fine line between Goth and Frankie Goes to Hollywood power ballads.

These Crimson Dreams

Kind of like a heavier Incubus with a slight medieval feel

These Demon Genes
Plug in a synth and a drum machine and turn them on. You might need to tape a key down. Add an uninspired repetitive vocal and we’re off.

13 (Thirteen) Candles

I suspect my previous machinations on 13  Candles may have been slightly harsh as my general opinion of them from the occasional appearance on the bill at a multi-band event and their contribution to numerous compilations had to be fair failed to inspire me. In fact I think I summed them up with three words (2 better than mostly harmless) “Minimalist Goth Metal,” but having stumbled across their debut “Come Out of the Dark,” I have to admit when they started they definitely had something. The Church, Sisters and Garden of Delight all spring to mind. I either haven’t given them credit or they did the typical unconscious slide into mediocre metal, perhaps its six of one half a dozen of the other but certainly try and check out their debut.

13th Chime

 Dark and dubby. Bauhaus meets Radical Dance Faction. Maybe even a touch of the Television Personalities in the vocals at times.

This ascension

beautiful medieval vibes meet distorted guitar to give the more traditional Miranda Sex Gardena good run for their money. Quality atmospherics, beautiful female vocals almost Moonchild like at times. This Ascension are one of the first ‘Gothapedia’ bands in that listening to them again for the purpose of the site made me realise I hadn’t given the attention they deserved and tracked down and purchased the excellent “Walk softly a dream lays here.”

This Burning Effigy

TBE produce a very big full sound reminiscent of Charlotte Sometimes era Cure mixed with hints of the Chameleons and twinges of Derriere le Miroir.

The Resolution album featured guest vocals from Queen Eve herself ahead of her dusting down AAE for a full born reformation

This Cold

I am unsure whether this is a renamed This Cold Night, or the similarities is simply coincidental. Quite mid 90s guitar indie sounding with vocals reminiscent of Moonchild

This Cold Night

Got the thumbs up from Mrs Goth this lot. Atmospheric 90s style Goth quite familiar sounding even if I can’t instantly come up with a comparison. Bit Curey

This Gentle Flow

My little boy (him on the home page) described these as scary. I would describe them as atmospheric with am almost Rosetta Stone feel at times.

Electro dungeon music like a more rhythmic Raison D’etre merging into mid-90s guitar goth. Touches of the neo-medieval and vocoders!

This Mortal Coil

I love This Mortal Coil. From what I can work out the bloke who owns 4AD makes the bands he signs play on his records under the TMC moniker and it ends up being ace because he only signs bands he likes. Presumably the ultimate self indulgence but they end up being really good records so how do you object? All very darkwave. Don’t let the brevity of their inclusion undermine how good they are.

This Slow Motion
A classic Eurovision rock act invoking the spirit of the 80s. Very synth guitar fusion with that lovely lilt you get when Europeans sing in English. Can’t help thinking they sound a bit like a Christian Rock band that would like to be Maiden or Marrillion but still have to play in Church. A touch of Nuclear Blast about it..
I’m not quite sure what the CD I own is called it just says “This Slow Motion,” on the front and “+5 new tracks,” in a really small font but I suspect it may have been recorded over a period of time as the music is quite variable throughout developing into something reminiscent of the quite soft late 80sample drive Play it Again Sam stuff.
Even a bit of Wallesque rock opera stuff going on.

This Vale of Tears
A rather brilliant cover of “Maniac,” from flashdance is all I’ve got of these but they certainly do this well

Thorn, Thomas

Member of Electric Hellfire Club provides some solo tracks to worthy causes if nothing else. “Mad Max,” his contribution  to Cat Charity comp “a cat-shaped hole in my heart,” is vocally experimental filling the void usually filled by the pretty one who can’t play an instrument with a sampled cat instead.

ThousShaltNot

Decidedly mid-90s indie sounding with a hint of Underworld.

 “Walk Away,” is very good just not the Sisters song. Actually the chorus is a bit of an anti-climax given how well the verses build.

Three Angry Poles
Very standard early 90s elctro industrial . Play it Again Sam’s standard fare.
B side to “Motorcycle Maniac,” “It’s all over,” is a little more British alt-guitar. Thinking Psych Furs but that could be that they were the last thing on the stereo before this and I’m still in that zone. Vocals very slightly Bowie.
“SA.M.” the last track on the 12” is a bit screechy in an almost Birthday Party style but far less scary.

3 Cold Men

I can’t help thinking these ought to hook up with the 3 Angry Poles to have a general whinge. Musically a more subdued Erasure Very familiar but unplaced vocals

Thyestean feast
Average acceptable Gothic metal. Reasonably nicely packaged with relatively clichéd song titles

3D Echo
Quite Gothic metal in its sound with big sweeping vocals. Could imagine it being Claytown Troupe. Quite listenable though

Throbbing Gristle

Pioneering, industrial noise controversialists.
All the names are synonymous now but I don’t really own anything by them apart from “Hamburger Lady,” on a compilation which is uninspired ambient industrial but given that they’d been going a fair while by then its no surprise they were low on ideas.

Tiamat

For reasons I never fully realised our little boy thought Tiamat were the best thing since the Grateful Dead. I don’t think they’re bad and its quite listenable but I haven’t quite identified what that extra bit that has so enticed him is. They are certainly an eclectic bunch throwing a range of vibes around so perhaps he’s make a better A and R man than me because as I am typing this and getting distracted by Sport Relief I’m beginning to think I’ll begin trusting his judgement rather than wasting money on the albums I think might be worth having. They seem to have just gone Pink Floyd, a dimension I would never have given them credit for. They do seem to tackle the full range of musical styles including some pretty good eastern ambient twinges. Bits of Him are also apparent.
Big and atmospheric hard Goth, Industrial lite
I have already said that our little boy briefly loved this lot (and this is from a kid who describes himself as a deadhead) This has meant investing in some full length releases.
“Judas Christ,” can seem like a Metallica album played by a softer Nuclear Blast outfit but equally could be a male fronted AAE and similarities with the Church are striking me.
“A deeper kind of slumber,” is almost GLJ guitars at times “Atlantis as a lover,” throws up quite Pink Floyd type images.

Tiger Army

Tiger Army are really pretty much a rockabilly band although they do have some good drive in horror titles, the packaging of their eponymous debut album is full of horror imagery and they have shared personnel and toured with AFI so I’m going to let them in (and the chap who sold it to me looked really sincere on his ebay profile photo – and I mean Linus pumpkin patch sincere).

Tokyo Hotel
The way my work colleagues are talking about humans at the moment you would think a new philosophy on robot ethics had been unleashed. From what I can work out Asimov is still pretty much there. Despite their livery suggesting something far more synthetic Tokyo Hotel appear to be trying to be a Jesus Jones cover band albeit with a futurist frame of mind. Goes a bit wanky pop if you leave it in too long.

Tom’s Midnight Garden

When I discovered a band so monikered I was pretty much compelled to buy their CD. It is one of Mrs Librarians childhood TV memories and when a quick google suggested they were contemporaries of Sex Gang Children and the like the deal was done. Musically they are sparklingly shambolic fusing a Gothic Television Personalities with the Mekons.

Tones on Tail

Outlet for Bauhaus’ Daniel Ash generating some interest in the US on the back of the former bands success but musically a disappointing parody of his previous act which I doubt would have seen the light of day if it wasn’t for his pedigree.

Torso Fiction

“Come to me,” starts with a bit of avante noise before the four to the floor kick in. Very familiar sounding and not that inspired. Bit of a female vocal throwing in an Athemay vibe towards the end.

Total Goth

Lo-fi sub-grunge that have put some stuff on bandcamp. I quite like it but not sure how they came up with the name as I would have gone for Not Very Goth personally.

Total Harmonic Distortion

American industrial duo from the mid-90s doing exactly what you would expect

Totennacht
In the good old days Selectadisc (RIP) used to have a goth section where periodically random stuff you had never heard of would appear usually at seductively cheap prices that were hard to say no to. To be fair more often not these were misses but it was worth it for the odd hit. “Der schwarze prinz” by Totennacht was one such hit. Distributed by Nuclear Blast but a much more thoughtful almost mellow affair than you might expect the lyrics sound German but as the album was recorded in Austria I may be mistaken. There’s lots of depth and multi-layered arrangement and tracks seem to be interspersed with a Gothic Richard Burton narrating in a War of the Worlds style. In fact I suspect that this might be a concept album (and there’s a few bits of speech that sound sampled) although I am lost as to what the concept it. There’s some nice riffing guitars which presumably were necessary to get the nuclear blast gig but there’s also some ace synths and almost proggy lead lines. You were able to write off for the lyrics in English but stupidly I never did.

Toyah

Is Toyah Goth? I wouldn’t particularly said so but she was on the NME list of crap Goth’s that has proved so influential so she’s made it in. The Blue Meaning, has quite a dark gothy cover and musically is quite scratchy alt-pop.to be fair dusting down the vinyl this is better than i expected and has overtones of Siouxsie.

Tragic Black

Early 80s new-world era Siouxsie from a group of mannequins who thanks a fashion line before an instrument manufacturer. Cover “Reptile,” by the Church and despite “The Cold Caress,” being an Eastern Europe only release it is almost entirely presented in English, sleeve n  all.  

TRAITRS

A kind of Indie Siouxsie (no pun intended). There were a few early 90s UK 3 track pub Goth acts a bit like this. Even Sunshot spring to mind.

Trance to the Sun

I’m sure gothic trance would be pretty doable and could sound pretty ace but despite their name TTTS don’t seem to be aiming for it. Moonchild vocals but worryingly drifting into Shampoo territory at times whilst very electro drum heavy

Transient
Ministry meets Zodiac Mindwarp

Traumwelt

Music is slightly early Sisters although the vocals are less distinct and the bass is probably pushed up a little higher than Eldritch would normally allow. Adequate 80s sound that could probably sit alongside the Chameleons etc.

Trees
Italian this lot apparently. Their eponymous I believe debut hails from 1997 a very good year indeed and the one where I and Mrs Librarian got married. Musically insipid 80s style guitar Goth. I don’t want to tar them with the same brush as they are nowhere near as bad but vocally at times I am reminded of that piss poor Athamay album.
I suppose if I was being positive judge in one of those interminable TV talent shows I might say I can hear elements of later atmospheric Church in their work but I’m not so I won’t.

Triage
The sleeve of “The Cessation of Spoil,” is pretty much none more black. Darkly atmospheric is about all you could say. Someone had too much time on their hands but in one way I am glad they did.

Triple XXX
“Virginal Stitches,” is mediocre formulaic industrial, I would say sub-Marilyn Manson but as he is a tosser devoid of talent Triple XXX simply fail on the lack of a publicist, musically they are as mediocre as the tosspot himself. The band seem to solely consist of the Almighty Lord Goo who clearly has spent too much time listening to Sheep on Drugs.

Tristania
Typical Nuclear Blast type gothic metal of the slow start, Diva vocals metal guitar variety. Perfectly acceptable though. Bloke sounds a bit Crash Test Dummies! As good as anyone else who does this stuff and there’s a bit of wailing monks in the background which always deserves extra credit.

Female fronted Gothic metal type stuff, like Lacrimossa et al but perfectly well done

Tri-State Killing Spree

Warning! There are (at least) two bands calling themselves tri-state killing spree. You want the ones who abbreviate themselves to TSKS and are represented here. Well I suppose you might want the other noisy hardcore punks but I thoroughly recommend you have a listen to anything that takes your fancy before ordering off the net (experience).

Anyway 3SKS, it’s impossible not to compare them to Disintegration era Cure but that is to undervalue them as they bring so much more (or at least different.) A spattering of early Peter Gabriel, a dash of U2 power ballad, even a hint of Marillion.

Sadly this lot seem to have split up but they leave a huge soft prog shaped gap in the scene.

Tritium Ritual

Beige electro.  Scary dark ambience.

Trummerwelten
kind of Garden of Delight feel and my immediate thought hearing the female singer was Inkubus.. I really like what I’ve heard of these.

Trumpets of Death

Experimental dark ambient dungeon  music with apocalyptic folk vocals. I shudder as I type, hints of avent garde jazz.

Trylok

Trylok have some link with Strategy reviewed elsewhere. I’m not sure if one is an individual the other a band but Strategy is/are the less formulaic.

Trylok are much more unrelenting uptempo arpegiator but with hints of the subtlety of Strategy.

Trylok are Mind, Energy, Strategy (Apparently) but also produce the graphics for the Tomorrow Never Came Comp so if they are the group they’re also collaborative artists.
Turnbund Sturmwerk

Dark ambient with a bit of apocalyptic folk thrown in for good  measure  
TV Jesus
Not dissimilar to mid-period Ministry. “No Object,” is run of the mill electronic industrial presumably appealing to the MM brigade

TV Noise

“Forever,” is the electro successor of “I feel love,” but with slightly Wolfsheim vocals and more full on orchestration. Capable of 8 bit computer game tendencies at times

Twelfth of Never
kind of a more ethereal AAE with an almost Mike Oldfield feel to guitars at times. “things that were,” has a beautiful tribute to one loved and lost and the music reflects that feeling almost neo-classical at times. One for all fans of that genre. I am even almost reminded of Judith at times and praise can rarely come higher than that Probably hail from Massachusetts but my American geography is pretty poor at times.

Twelve 88 Cartel

Another bass heavy 80s sounding guitar band. File alongside In Excelcis and the March Violets but with a fairly traditional industrial edge. Put at least one 7” out on Bite Back records. Even reminiscent of ENDG at times.

23 Skidoo
a bit tribal in the drumming and some eastern noodling but very solid 80s industrial. “Seven Songs,” says pay no more than £2.99. I paid £4 but that is with 20 odd years inflation added on. Interesting and experimental but they certainly deserve their place in pop history.
Quite interesting sound forms with some really good atmospheric vibes building up and have managed that avant gard trick of looping a riff on the run off groove that always works really well
Quite a swampy dungeony sound a la Raison D’Etre etc.
More a testament to their access to technology than any recognition of inspiration or musical talent.

Twice a Man

A bit Visage a bit Human League

Twins, the

Not to be muddled up with Gail and Gillian the umpteenth Neighbours chart spin off act these Twins are the closes Goth ever came to Rick Astley. Part of me wanted to say the closest it got to Stock Aitken and Waterman but since they produced both Dead or Alive and Danse Society that doesn’t really work. I suspect this lot would do pretty well at Eurovision. Worrying overtone of Happy Mondays playing “don’t you forget about me,” by Simple Minds.

Twitch

Slightly dreamtime sinister electronics. Rather good at it though

Two Witches

Male and female lead vocals whilst the music jumps between gentle and atmospheric and gothic rock stomp

Tylean
I guess the most obvious comparison is Dresden Dolls but without being able to put my finger on it they don’t seem to work in the way the Dolls do

Type Non

Quite big sounding atmospheric kind of stuff that reminds me of In the Nursery.

Type O Negative

I was never overly convinced this lot were Goth but my wife was adamant and they do seem to have been generally accepted within the scene.

Musically I always thought they were quite clearly the bloke out of the Crash Test Dummies singing over the 14 Iced Bears (neither being very goth) although later albums start sounding a bit Carter USM

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