#french coldwave bands

[deadchovsky]

My friend and I are doing a project in our french class about coldwave/French goth bands, here are some of my favorites so far!

Deadchovsky, Death rock, Gothic rock (4k listeners on Spotify)

Corpus Delicti, Gothic rock (35k listeners on Spotify)

Soror Dolorosa, Coldwave (4k listeners on Spotify)

Hante. Darkwave, synthpop (83k listeners on Spotify)

The Cemetary Girlz Gothic rock, Death rock (22k listeners on spotify)

Frank (just Frank), Coldwave. (1k listeners on Spotify)

Film Noir, New wave, Post Punk, Darkwave (16k listeners on Spotify)

Palissade, Coldwave, Darkwave. (600 listeners on Spotify)

[z428]

Still waking up, sort of. https://invidious.nerdvpn.de/watch?v=ntjkoM41P6E

[thedarkcornerwithdjevildave]

From the Shadows is the debut release from The Hagley Wood Vampires, a rather eclectic dark alternative band from the UK. By even their own admissions on Bandcamp, the Vampires list a number of genres spanning from gothic folk to industrial rock. It's a lot to take in at first, despite being only 8 songs. That may seem short, but Tactical Neural Implant is only 8 songs and that is Front Line Assembly's masterpiece. Anyhow, it's uncommon to hear chuggy metal guitar or a blues rock solo against the ghosts and cobwebs conjured by the more haunting and ethereal woman vocals. It is an interesting juxtaposition reminiscent of Bow Ever Down. Lyrically, the Vampires offer the usual skeletons and vampires with that touch of dark romance, thematically tying together an otherwise near haphazard collection of tracks. What helps bind the album even more so is the DIY production, a slight tinniness that sounds as if it were recorded at a home studio. While a less glossy master might turn off some listeners, I found it added a certain charm. The mix adds a raw intimacy that runs counterpoint to some of the more French coldwave elements as might be found in a cold and lonely mausoleum. I'm curious to hear more, to see if the band focuses their sound or continues to lift elements both modern and classic, from cinematic synth pads to a jangly and watery guitar tone. Standout songs for me include the more classically gothic Vampire Sorrow and the epic folk metal Lone Wolf.

[myotis-myotis]

Great list! Leeching on this to add a few french bands I like, don't mind me (the locals deserve some love too)

SANG FROID - Goth/Coldwave with a Depeche Mode influence, very new to the scene (their first album was released last year:)

Deadchovsky - Deathrock (00s), classic sound, pretty good

The Cemetary Girlz - Goth/Deathrock (00s/20s), a band that's been active for a while yet still gives us quality records, as demonstrated by their 2023 offering (which might actually be their best one to date):

Saigon Blue Rain - Darkwave (10s-20s), haunting vocals and ambient synths - one of my favourites

Hante. - Darkwave/Synthpop/Electro (10s-20s), solo project of Hélène de Thoury (Minuit Machine), if you like melancholic synth lines and ghostly reverb on vocals, then this is for you

Minuit Machine - Synthpop/Coldwave/Electro (I'm bad at genres) (10s-20s), different vocals but still quite similar to Hante. in sound.

POTOCHKINE - EBM/Electro/Darkwave (10s/20s), granted I haven't explored much of their discography aside from Sortilèges, which I adore - absolute coldness, hypnotic beats and beautifully written french lyrics. (reddit would disagree but who cares, I assign them with undeniable goth-friendly vibes.)

And since older bands are listed in the OP, I might as well add these:

Mémoires d'Automne - Coldwave/Post-Punk (90s), Joy Division coldness. As far as I know, they only released one album? I never see anyone talk about them, which is a shame because it's a really good record.

Neva - Goth/Deathrock (late 80s), during the Batcave scene I believe. Highly recommending this abum:

Dear Baby Bats - Goth Band Recommendations

As a middle sibling goth (I’ve been in the subculture for close to 10 years now, so not a baby bat but not an elder goth either), let me turn you on to some bands because we do not gatekeep in this house!! Also, if you want consistently good lesser-known & brand new goth band recs, go follow Awfully Sinister on TikTok and Instagram. He’s a DJ & has great recs. I've found so much music through him because it's really hard to keep up with all the new bands cropping up every year. You want to avoid the goth subreddit because they are extremely gatekeeper-y and argue over labels constantly. It’ll just confuse you, and they are not nice over there.

If you’re very new to the subculture, and you haven’t yet listened to all of Bauhaus, Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cure, Sisters of Mercy, Christian Death, Cocteau Twins, Clan of Xymox, Joy Division, and Depeche Mode, go do so now. You'll want to know which of them you really enjoy the most because it will help you know which sub-subgenre(s) of goth you want to watch out for, and it'll tell you what to look for to find it. For example, Sisters of Mercy is the gothic rock subgenre, Christian Death is deathrock, Cocteau Twins is ethereal wave, Clan of Xymox is like the original darkwave, Joy Division is classic post-punk, etc.

I’ve bolded some of my absolute must-listen to goth bands, and I've put monthly Spotify listeners for each band so you know which ones deserve WAY more love. And in my pre-list ramblings for each OG band, I've given you some key terms to look up so you can more easily find music that's similar to what you enjoy. Okay, here we go:

If you like Bauhaus:

Bauhaus is a hard one because honestly, nobody really sounds like them, and they aren't really that closely associated with a specific sub-subgenre of goth. They have an extremely unique sound. They’re my favorite band of all time (I even have a tattoo for them, like I am devoted lol), but even I have a difficult time finding other bands that scratch their particular itch for me. These bands I’ve listed are as close as you’re gonna get imo.

Virgin Prunes (80’s band that has absolutely unhinged music in the way Bauhaus has unhinged music; one of my favorites; no one else does it like them and no one else ever will; I would actually give my left foot to see them live); 13.2k monthly listeners (this is actually physically painful to me, how is it this low!!! don't walk, RUN to go listen to them)

Alien Sex Fiend (80’s classic unhinged goth); 77k monthly listeners

Sextile (modern band that has some very Bauhaus-sounding guitar work at times); 147k listeners

The Danse Society (80’s unhinged goth; has similar experimental vibes to Bauhaus imo); 36k listeners

Sex Beat (80’s band); not even really on Spotify

Ritual Howls (modern band; I don’t know why it gives Bauhaus, but it does; one of the few modern bands that scratches that particular itch for me); 45k listeners

The Agnes Circle (modern band; one of my favorites; they have the right Bauhaus-like atmosphere for me); 52k listeners

Traitrs (I can’t explain why they remind me of Bauhaus, but they do; another one of my fave modern bands; they make me want to start levitating and doing the Ian Curtis dance in the same way Bauhaus does lol); 239k listeners

If you like Siouxsie and the Banshees:

Siouxsie is another one that's hard to pin down sound-wise because again, they don't really fit into one specific sub-subgenre, so all of these recs are just goth bands with female vocalists who have the same kind of powerful vocals that Siouxsie does.

Second Still (modern band; singer sounds a lot like Siouxsie to me at times); 69k listeners

Skeletal Family (80’s band; has the same “women in punk” vibes that Siouxsie has); 55k listeners

Xmal Deutschland (80’s band; has the same powerful vocals that Siouxsie has; makes you wanna go stupid go crazy the way the Banshees do); 73k listeners

Secret Shame (modern band w/ w woman singer; has the same rage that Siouxsie songs have to me, especially early Siouxsie); 6k listeners (let's get those numbers up, folks!!!)

Rosegarden Funeral Party (modern band w/ a woman vocalist); 57k listeners

If you like Depeche Mode:

For Depeche Mode enjoyers (which DM is kind of on the fringes of what’s considered “goth,” but they’re so entrenched in the subculture that I included them anyway), you’re gonna want to delve into modern goth playlists that have a lot of EBM (electronic body music) and modern goth that leans towards synthpop/synthwave. So those are the kinds of playlists you’ll want to search up for similar sounds to DM.

Nuovo Testamento (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements in a way that’s very similar to Depeche Mode; lots of fun live, and they have a good sound); 25k listeners

Boy Harsher (modern band; relies heavily on synth; feels like it should be playing at every goth club); 558k listeners

ULTRA SUNN (modern band; singer sounds like Dave Gahan); 217k listeners (they just blew up on tiktok recently, which explains why this just skyrocketed since the last time I was on their Spotify page lol; good for them, good for them, they deserve it)

Ministry's first album, which was synthwave/synthpop before they went industrial (this is one of my all-time favorite albums)

French Police (modern band); 252k listeners

Closed Tear (modern band); 152k listeners

Night Sins (modern band); 33k listeners

If you like The Cure:

You'll be hard-pressed to find a goth band that wasn't influenced by The Cure, so I really can't give you any key terms for what to look up lol. They also changed their sound so frequently that it entirely depends on what era of The Cure's music you're looking to find similar music for.

Vision Video (modern band; combines post-punk and pop elements like The Cure does; one of my fave modern goth bands; they are INCREDIBLE live); 52k listeners (I'm gonna need y'all to get a song or two of theirs to blow up on tiktok expeditiously lol)

Urban Heat (modern band; great live); 36k listeners

The Chameleons (80’s band; very underrated; they are also very good live); 167k listeners

House of Harm (modern band, very new; also very good live; has pop elements); 44k listeners

Deceits (modern band, another very new one); 28k listeners (it's crazy how much this number has grown the past two months because it was in the single thousands not that long ago; everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Drab Majesty (modern band; their instrumentals remind me of The Cure); 172k listeners

Double Echo (modern band; their instrumentals also remind me of The Cure); 15k listeners (let's get these numbers up!!!)

The Bolshoi (underrated 80’s band that combines new wave and goth elements in a similar way to The Cure); 114k listeners

If you like Clan of Xymox:

Most of these bands will be modern ones because Clan of Xymox was honestly way ahead of their time. (They are also amazing live, so go see them before they eventually call it quits!) For playlists that are full of their vibe, you’re gonna want to look up “darkwave” playlists and also some EBM. Clan of Xymox pioneered darkwave, so any darkwave band you listen to is gonna be influenced by their sound in some way or another.

Harsh Symmetry (modern, very new; very heavily relies on synth); 29k listeners

Ssleeping Desiress (modern band; instrumentals similar to Xymox); 55k listeners

Twin Tribes (probably my favorite modern goth band; they are fucking incredible, and I’m dying to see them live); 276k listeners

ACTORS (modern band; heavily relies on synth); 86k listeners

Mareux (modern; heavily relies on synth); 4.8 million listeners (this is wild!!!! everyone say thank you, tiktok)

Sixth June (modern); 23k listeners

If you like Christian Death:

All of these recs will be deathrock recs or goth bands that heavily leaned on punk sounds. So if CD is the OG goth band you’re most fond of, you’re gonna want to delve into deathrock playlists for similar sounds.

Asylum Party (80’s band); not on spotify

45 Grave (80’s band); 47k listeners

Voodoo Church (80’s band; probably my favorite out of this bunch; I actually like them more than Christian Death); 7k listeners (let's get these numbers up immediately!!!!)

Ausgang (80’s band); 2k listeners (WHAT; they deserve so much more, damn)

Corpus Delicti (90’s band; they are very good; they sound the least like Christian Death on this list imo); 26k listeners

13th Chime (80’s band; very underrated); 6k listeners

The Birthday Party (80’s band; very unhinged sound); 54k listeners

UK Decay (you know, I actually don’t know what era they’re from; unhinged sound); 1k listeners (omg)

Super Heroines (underrated 80’s band); 2k listeners (you see what I meant about underrated?)

If you like Cocteau Twins:

Cocteau Twins’ early sound is usually categorized as “ethereal wave” goth, so those are the playlists you’ll want to look up if you enjoy their early sound. If you like their later sound, you’re gonna want to lean more towards shoegaze for similar vibes.

Dead Can Dance (80’s band; NO one, and I mean NO ONE, was doing it like Dead Can Dance; so fun to dance to in the goth club); 332k listeners

Lycia (90’s band; their music is very transcendent); 20k listeners

Linea Aspera (modern band; gorgeous woman vocals; honestly, their music is just very beautiful); 67k listeners

If you like Joy Division:

All of these bands will be ones that sound very classically post-punk, so those are the playlists to search out; emphasis on "classic" because post-punk is a very broad term that gets applied to a lot of music. I would argue that Joy Division has had the most influence out of all the OG goth bands on the current goth sound/goth renaissance we're going through right now, so there are a LOT of bands out there for you if you’re a JD fan.

Molchat Doma (modern band); 2.5 million listeners (wow lol, they've grown so much over the past two years, it's actually insane; good for them)

Soviet Soviet (modern band); 152k listeners

Fearing (modern band; very good live); 30k listeners

Ploho (modern band); 146k listeners

Pink Turns Blue (criminally underrated 80’s band; they are SO good live); 98k listeners (this is an actual travesty, this band is way too good to not even be in the hundred thousands)

The Sound (another incredibly underrated 80’s band); 119k listeners

This Cold Night (modern; has the deep vocals of Joy Division and the driving bass); 150k listeners

Bleib Modern (modern); has very similar vocals to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry, which is a band listed under the Sisters of Mercy section of this post, so if you end up liking this band, you should also listen to Red Lorry Yellow Lorry & vice versa; 36k listeners

Lebanon Hanover (modern; has the existential angst that Joy Division always ignites in me); 936k listeners (this is crazy, holy shit!!!!!! go, Lebanon Hanover, go!! now if only they would tour the damn US)

She Past Away (modern; deep vocals); 226k listeners

Belgrado (modern; woman vocals!); 18k listeners (they deserve better than this!!)

Leonora Post Punk (modern; Mexican goth band w/ Spanish vocals, so support them! They’re amazing! They have those deep vocals you want when you’re looking for a similar sound to Joy Division); 56k listeners

O. Children (modern; has the deep vocals & interesting bass lines that Joy Division was known for; great band); 29k listeners

If you like Sisters of Mercy:

This is one of my least favorite goth subcategories, which is odd because I actually love Sisters. But if you’re looking for a lot of music that sounds like SoM, I’d suggest delving into the 90’s and early 2000’s goth music scene. Search out those playlists.

Rosetta Stone (90’s band); 54k listeners

Miazma (modern); 10k listeners

Red Lorry Yellow Lorry (another criminally underrated 80’s band; one of my fave goth bands); 40k listeners (THEY!! DESERVE!! BETTER!!)

Dreamtime (modern); 65 listeners (ouch lol, please go show them some love)

Fields of the Nephilim (80’s, I think; if you’re a metalhead, you’ll probably appreciate this band); 95k listeners

The Merry Thoughts (80s); 19k listeners

Also, if you want a 1500-song, 105-hour goth playlist that’s constantly growing, here you go. The name of it is a dig at my ex lol: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6jCV530pMmOEmDHj4CLNka?si=cEVKiyAwQpaieGiV2pMyqw

[th3-0bjectivist]

    Dear listener, I’ve been in a really dark mood lately, so open your mind REAL WIDE because this week’s music pick is a doozy. It’s kind of hard for me to explain this week’s act, because they’re weird as all shit, but I’ll try my best to summarize. There’s this dark wave group I’ve known for about a decade called Die Form, who were never big mostly because their music is widely deemed too disturbing for the mainstream. Despite being around since the late 1970′s and having a catalog that mostly centers around the spicy subjects of eroticism and death, I’ll bet this is the first time you’ve heard of them. Ain’t it? I’d be surprised if you have, as this performance act from France isn’t exactly as popular as, say, a similar group like Skinny Puppy. DF’s brand of coldwave and neo-classical electronics has always been very memorable to me, if for no other reason than they pushed boundaries in music in bizarre ways. Their tones are VERY dark, boasting unconventional electronic beats and effects that you CAN’T find anywhere else, and backed up since the late 1980′s by the booming and haunting voice of one Éliane P. This tune is by a country mile my favorite track of theirs, Morphosis from the 2006 album ExHuman, which interestingly was a counterpart and sequel to their 2004 album InHuman. It’s highly experimental, it’s kinda goth overall, and many of their latest albums contain less voice and more atmospherics for those who appreciate a little variety. Smash play and go down a rabbit hole that is both dangerous and, in some cases, very taboo, their most extreme topics including subjects like necrophilia... to name just one. This stuff may be too dark for you, or it could just tickle you in your audio no-no place... as it certainly does for me. Get out of that rigid comfort zone and enjoy something different for a change!

Image credit: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4EtqRPBTABMndC9NYOkBAA

[nugothrhythms]

“Weimar” by Swiss and French coldwave band Factice Factory off of their 2021 album Figments

[princessa-puppeteer]

Watch "Opéra De Nuit - Annabella" on YouTube

One of my favorite Coldwave band😍😍😍

[wedig45grave]

Asylum Party- Julia (1988)

[hallundecho]

Saigon Blue Rain - ethereal cold wave band from France / Czechia

[testure-1988]

They made a Little Nemo in Slumberland live action film

Whaaaatttt??! I love the original comic strip by Winsor McCay and I grew up with the animated film (I also love Little Nemo, the 80s french coldwave band too...nothing to do with this, just wanted to recommend them). Never thought anyone would do this.

Netflix don't fuck this up.