dark metal
what it is
Dark metal is a sub-genre of metal music that typically employs dark atmospheres, imagery or themes, often dealing with melancholy, dark romanticism, depression, sorrow and death. Dark metal bands usually play a mix of black metal, doom metal and gothic metal. Bethlehem are widely credited for inventing the term (named after their first full-length album), and creating the dark metal style.
✦ start here: albums
✦ who's making it, level by level
level 3 · one step out
cult favorites and indie darlings
level 4 · further
art pop, hyperpop, and the underground
level 5 · all the way
deep experimental
✦ make dark metal a playlist
turn these 22 artists into something you can press play on.
✦ nearby genres
questions
What is dark metal?
Dark metal is a sub-genre of metal music that typically employs dark atmospheres, imagery or themes, often dealing with melancholy, dark romanticism, depression, sorrow and death. Dark metal bands usually play a mix of black metal, doom metal and gothic metal. Bethlehem are widely credited for inventing the term (named after their first full-length album), and creating the dark metal style.
What are good dark metal albums to start with?
Try Kuolema by Ajattara, Dark Metal by Bethlehem, Lux Mundi by Samael, and Forever Autumn by Lake of Tears.
Who are some women making dark metal?
musicisforgirls.com/genres/dark-metal/girls lists women, non-binary artists, and bands with women making dark metal, from mainstream to underground.
genre notes from last.fm listeners · artists and albums from last.fm, updated 2026-10-22