ESODERIC MANIA
KYOKUSHOKU ELEGY, 1994
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GENRE: gothic rock, new wave, post-punk
COMMENTS: ethereal and haunting. the singer switches between a floaty, high, piercing voice and a strong, low one so skillfully it's as if there are two different vocalists.
TOP TRAX: warrior, 安息日, 花粉犯罪
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of cocteau twins, siousxie and the banshees

MEMOIRE
MALICE MIZER, 1994
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GENRE: gothic rock, visual kei
COMMENTS: tetsu's amateur yet heartfelt vocals along with mana and kozi's blend of trad goth and classical music compositions are what make this album stand out amongst malice mizer's larger discography.
TOP TRAX: baroque, kioku to sora, e-ge no umi ni sasagu
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of mylene farmer, the cure

PSYENCE
hide, 1996
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GENRE: alt rock
COMMENTS: eclectic, bold, and groovy, with hints of industrial. a perfect blend of "pop"like songs and heavier songs with grating industrial-esque vocals.
TOP TRAX: beauty&stupid, genkai haretsu, pose
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of nine inch nails

HOMO DEMENS
DER ZIBET, 1990
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GENRE: punk, new wave
COMMENTS: eclectic, energizing punk album with psychedelic lyrics and fast, emotive vocals and guitar.
TOP TRAX: shinkaigyo, fade away, psycho lizard
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of david bowie, iggy pop, t-rex

FUTILE COMBAT
SKELETAL FAMILY, 1985
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GENRE: gothic rock, new wave
COMMENTS: an understated classic of the 80s goth rock genre. floaty, almost ghostlike vocals contrast against piercing guitar and eclectic drums.
TOP TRAX: she cries alone, promised land, move
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of the march violets, specimen

LOW
DAVID BOWIE, 1977
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GENRE: art rock, electronic
COMMENTS: ambient, melancholy, and affecting; yet also hopeful. bowie masterfully layers sounds, each with different textures, creating a tapestry of music. the songs flow into each other like water and pierce you to your core.
TOP TRAX: always crashing in the same car, warszawa, breaking glass
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of kraftwerk, brian eno

REINE DE FLEUR I & II
LAREINE, 2003
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GENRE: chanson, kote kei
COMMENTS: two-album compilation of lareine's early songs. kamijo's raw, lamenting vocals combined with mayu's sharp, winding guitar and machi's fast, almost harsh drumming contrast them from other kote kei bands of their time.
TOP TRAX: tsukiyo no kageki, hishu no hanazono, kisetsufuu
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of malice mizer, baiser

GILLES DE RAIS
GILLES DE RAIS, 1993
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GENRE: gothic rock, heavy metal
COMMENTS: gilles de rais' most "kote kei"-esque album. a mix of melodic, soft tunes and anguished heavy metal, sometimes in the same song.
TOP TRAX: song remains, negaro mania, black list
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of zi:kill, early dir en grey

HABIT OF SEX
EX-ANS, 1990
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GENRE: gothic rock, positive punk, visual kei
COMMENTS: dark and melancholy with hints of punk influences.
TOP TRAX: habit of sex, mysterious..., she made no ans...
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of zi:kill, gilles de rais

ULTRA
SCHAFT, 2016
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GENRE: industrial
COMMENTS: fierce, abrasive, highly textured sound. an unstoppable album that makes you want to put on big boots and stomp under a bridge.
TOP TRAX: vice, der zauberlerling, swan dive
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of KMFDM, nine inch nails, buck-tick

OCTOBER RUST
TYPE O NEGATIVE, 1996
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GENRE: gothic metal
COMMENTS: witty lyrics and deep, growling vocals. a fun autumn album for spooky season
TOP TRAX: love you to death, be my druidess
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of fields of the nephilim, sisters of mercy, tool

DUM SPIRO SPERO
DIR EN GREY, 2011
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GENRE: experimental, metal
COMMENTS: searing, unstoppable album like a whirlwind. one of kyo's best performances, vocals-wise.
TOP TRAX: diabolos, ruten no tou, youkoso ni dreambox
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of bathory, slayer, metal in general

WARRIOR ON THE EDGE OF TIME
HAWKWIND, 1975
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GENRE: prog rock
COMMENTS: fun, eclectic, and somewhat silly album with some great synth. TOP TRAX: assault and battery, spiral galaxy 28948, the demented man
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of yes, king crimson

PLANET VENUS
SEX ANDROID, 1988
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GENRE: gothic rock, deathrock
COMMENTS: sharp, piercing vocals and guitar. songs that worm into your head and never quite leave. atmospheric, sci-fi inspired goth.
TOP TRAX: sister guy, nabiria, marionet
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of christian death, phaidia

THE MAN WHO SOLD THE WORLD
DAVID BOWIE, 1970
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GENRE: glam rock
COMMENTS: underrated bowie album with hints of hard rock. great for background listening.
TOP TRAX: the man who sold the world, the width of a circle
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of deep purple

KOROSHI NO SHIRABE
BUCK-TICK, 1992
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GENRE: gothic rock, post-punk
COMMENTS: a selection of BT's greatest hits (at the time), re-arranged and re-recorded. eclectic, haunting, and moody.
TOP TRAX: taboo, victims of love, love me
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of love and rockets, peter murphy

PRETTY HATE MACHINE
NINE INCH NAILS, 1989
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GENRE: industrial, alt rock
COMMENTS: the first NIN album i ever listened to. my introduction to industrial and "alt" music when i was in middle school. a bit softer and more "pop-y" than other industrial albums, it's a great introduction to the genre for unaccustomed listeners.
TOP TRAX: head like a hole, sin
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of depeche mode, ministry

TOKI NO SOURETSU
VARIOUS ARTISTS, 1984
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GENRE: gothic rock, new wave, post-punk
COMMENTS: compilation of singles from japanese goth pioneers g-schmitt, auto mod, madame edwarda, and sadie sads.
TOP TRAX: princess rita, catholic, toki no souretsu
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of siouxsie and the banshees, sisters of mercy, alien sex fiend

TABOO
BUCK-TICK, 1989
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GENRE: post-punk, gothic rock
COMMENTS: oscillates between pulsating, almost grating songs like "iconoclasm" to melancholy, introspective tracks like "taboo." considered to be BT's first "serious" gothic album.
TOP TRAX: tokyo, iconoclasm, just one more kiss
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of bauhaus, the mission

ACID BATH
ALIEN SEX FIEND, 1984
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GENRE: gothic rock, deathrock
COMMENTS: absurd, brain-frying album with thumping, pulsating beats like some kind of putrid, mechanical organic unholy creation.
TOP TRAX: dead and re-buried, she's a killer, e.s.t. (trip to the moon)
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of sex gang children, specimen

DEATHTOPIA
AUTO-MOD, 1985
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GENRE: gothic rock, deathrock
COMMENTS: absolutely mad lyrics, shrieking vocals, and unforgettable guitar solos.
TOP TRAX: sadistic dream, requiem, deathtopia
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of alien sex fiend, specimen, madame edwarda

BARA NO SEIDOU
MALICE MIZER, 2000
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GENRE: darkwave, neo-classical, industrial
COMMENTS: a masterpiece of emotionally-charged classical gothic music, with soaring operatic vocals, spooky industrial beats, and unique instrumentals.
TOP TRAX: kyoumu no naka de no yuugi, shiroi hada, kagami no butou
RECOMMENDED FOR: everyone. listen to this album!!

GARDEN
DER ZIBET, 1988
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GENRE: new wave, post-punk
COMMENTS: post-punk 80s pop, with affecting, melancholy vocals and lyrics. der zibet's best album.
TOP TRAX: blue film, blue blue, lonely dance
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of the cure, david bowie

MY ARMS, YOUR HEARSE
OPETH, 1998
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GENRE: progressive metal, death metal
COMMENTS: prog metal that oscillates between dreary and depressing to searing, frenzied death metal
TOP TRAX: demon of the fall, april ethereal
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of tool, haken

IN THE DARK
PHAIDIA, 1985
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GENRE: gothic rock, deathrock
COMMENTS: fast-paced deathrock with the same distinctive vocalist from sex android.
TOP TRAX: shinigami, dark side, dead end love
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of christian death, sex android, specimen

HOMURA UTA
MUCC, 2002
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GENRE: nu-metal
COMMENTS: deppresive nu-metal with an impressive vocal performance from tatsurou
TOP TRAX: zetsubou, kurayami ni saku hana, suimin
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of korn, system of a down

ARCHE
DIR EN GREY, 2014
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GENRE: experimental, metal
COMMENTS: melancholy metal, a very pisces album
TOP TRAX: uroko, chain repulsion, sustain the untruth
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of opeth, daylight dies

HALLELUJAH
IGORRR, 2014
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GENRE: avantgarde, electronic, heavy metal, neo-classical
COMMENTS: bizarre, insane arrangement of musical styles and genres
TOP TRAX: lullaby for a fat jellyfish, absolute psalm
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of mr bungle, dir en grey

INSPIRE
LA'MULE, 1998
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GENRE: rock, visual kei
COMMENTS:
TOP TRAX: inspire, cry in past, prism
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of kagerou, zi:kill

IN THE DIRECTION OF SUNRISE AND NIGHT LIGHT
DEADMAN, 2005
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GENRE: alternative rock
COMMENTS:
TOP TRAX: follow the night light, aesthenia bullet stain, this day. this rain
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of l'arc en ciel, nirvana

SHAMBARA
DEAD END, 1988
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GENRE: heavy metal
COMMENTS: heavy metal with an 80s pop undertone
TOP TRAX: embryo burning, psychomania, luna madness
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of loudness, paranoia

THE POWER TO BELIEVE
KING CRIMSON, 2003
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GENRE: prog rock
COMMENTS: eclectic, bizarre, winding album with incredible guitar
TOP TRAX: level five, facts of life, eyes wide open
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of slayer, hawkwind

SOUTH OF HEAVEN
SLAYER, 1988
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GENRE: thrash metal
COMMENTS: explosive, bombastic
TOP TRAX: south of heaven, ghosts of war, live undead
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of thrash metal

TAMAHIME-SAMA
TOGAWA JUN, 1984
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GENRE: synthpop, new wave
COMMENTS:
TOP TRAX: teinen pushiganga, tamahime sama, mushi no onna
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of sioxsie and the banshees, skeletal family

CORKSCREW
KUROYUME, 1998
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GENRE: punk
COMMENTS: fast-paced, explosive, energetic punk visual kei
TOP TRAX: masturbating smile, candy, tell
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of the dead pop stars, kamaitachi, tokyo yankees

WHO'S BEEN SLEEPING IN MY BRAIN
ALIEN SEX FIEND, 1983
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GENRE: gothic rock, new wave
COMMENTS: insane goth dance beats
TOP TRAX: ignore the machine, wish i woz a dog
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of specimen, sex gang children

BARA NO TETSUGAKU, DATEN NO BIGAKU
LUCI'FER LUSCIOUS VIOLENEUE, 2002
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GENRE: darkwave
COMMENTS: ethereal, ambient, floaty goth
TOP TRAX: eternal you, tsuki to bara
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of cocteau twins

DARKER THAN DARKNESS - STYLE 93 -
BUCK-TICK, 1993
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GENRE: gothic rock, new wave
COMMENTS: BT at their best. brooding, suicidal lyrics, evocative vocals, eclectic and moody compositions. musical brilliance
TOP TRAX: dress, yuuwaku, die
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of love and rockets, the cure, nine inch nails

JEEZSO8DOVEDOPE
ZIZ, 2016
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GENRE: electro, pop
COMMENTS: fun pop ziz single
TOP TRAX: SO8, JEEZ... all of them really
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of kozi, soft ballet

LORELEI・ ÉTRANGER ・HÉLIOGABLE
MADAME EDWARDA, 1985
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GENRE: gothic rock, post-punk
COMMENTS: three-song vinyl. haunting, dreamy, melancholic.
TOP TRAX: all of them
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of g-schmitt, sex android, bauhaus

SIN, SECRET & DESIRE
G-SCHMITT, 1986
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GENRE: new wave, gothic rock
COMMENTS: soaring, swooping vocals and solid, spooky basslines. goth masterpiece
TOP TRAX: belladonna, mescaline dream, someday somewhere
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of cocteau twins, siouxie and the banshees

IN THE FLAT FIELD
BAUHAUS, 1980
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GENRE: gothic rock, post-punk, new wave
COMMENTS: perhaps the best goth album of all time. the album that inspired the best! everyone must listen to this album at least once before they die (or after)
TOP TRAX: stigmata martyr, god in an alcove, st. vitus dance
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of goth music

UROBOROS
DIR EN GREY, 2008
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GENRE: experimental, metal
COMMENTS: if misery, desperation, and depression were an album.
TOP TRAX: vinushka, toguro, dozing green
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of neurosis, opeth, tool

LSD
G-SCHMITT, 1985
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GENRE: new wave, gothic rock
COMMENTS: two-song single. psychedelic, manic goth
TOP TRAX: LSD, rudy ii
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of skeletal family, bauhaus

SATSUI
GILLES DE RAIS, 1992
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GENRE: heavy metal, gothic metal
COMMENTS: dark, angry, moody goth metal. gilles de rais' first major label album
TOP TRAX: moonlight lovers, k3 noise, people for people
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of zi:kill, dead end

LIGHTLESS
EMMURÉE, 2018
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GENRE: gothic rock
COMMENTS: hopeless, depressing, despairing music. features operatic, almost sobbing vocals; low, plodding guitar; and eclectic drum beats. 10/10
TOP TRAX: lightless boku no yami, tonight, circus. but they really should be listened to in order.
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of deadman, gibkiy gibkiy gibkiy

TALK ABOUT THE WEATHER
RED LORRY YELLOW LORRY, 1985
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GENRE: post-punk, gothic rock
COMMENTS: vocals like a mix between lou reed and andrew eldritch (of sisters of mercy). throbbing bass and vibrating guitar tuning, with a pounding drum machine.
TOP TRAX: talk about the weather, this today, sometimes
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of sisters of mercy, the chameleons

BLACKWATER PARK
OPETH, 2001
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GENRE: progressive metal, death metal, acoustic
COMMENTS: a rollercoaster of sound and emotion. bleak, angry, and hopeful all at once. fantastic guitar and vocals.
TOP TRAX: the drapery falls, the leper affinity, bleak
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of neurosis, tool, haken

ADDLE APPLE
THE GOD AND DEATH STARS, 2011
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GENRE: alt rock, indie
COMMENTS: hollow, almost flat vocals and plodding, tinny guitar combine to be surprisingly effective and atmospheric.
TOP TRAX: elephant, roka, taima
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of deadman, the studs

DAMNED PICTURES
GILLES DE RAIS, 1990
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GENRE: prog rock, gothic rock
COMMENTS: long, experimental goth songs with superb guitar and vocals.
TOP TRAX: cosmetic palette, picture of future, blue
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of king crimson, creature creature

FUJOURISHUGEKI
GIBKIY GIBKIY GIBKIY, 2016
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GENRE: experimental, gothic rock
COMMENTS: despairing wailing, dissonant guitar and bass, and frantic drums. atmospheric, moody, and downright depressing in the best way.
TOP TRAX: spoiled me, katachi no nai(...), nounai ni
RECOMMENDED FOR: fans of merry-go-round, the studs