Okay, so I'm a VERY big fan of 90's gothic/doom metal. Bands like Katatonia, My Dying Bride, Theatre of Tragedy, Paradise Lost, The Sins of Thy Beloved, etc are my favorites.

I'm trying to find something very specific, that doesn't necessarily confine itself to gothic or doom metal, but moreso in sound production and execution.

I want to hear very raw, dark, obscure stuff with a Medieval, castle-like atmosphere. I want bands that are extremely obscure, because anything that is even somewhat common I've most likely heard at some point or another. I want the kind of sound production that is heard in these particular tracks, and I want to hear female vocals (with harsh male vocals or without is fine). It doesn't have to be limited to gothic, doom, or black metal, but a band somewhere within those realms will probably be the best. I don't want it to be driven by symphonic metal elements, but tasteful usage of organs, violin, harpsichord, or pianos are greatly welcome. Here are the songs that sum up what I'm looking for.

I don't think of many right now, but did you try Opera IX?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A46DBfWdbK4

Yes, I love Opera IX! The first three albums and demo material are pretty damn cool. While they aren't the first band that would come to mind, they are a good rec for what I'm looking for.

Dismal Euphony's first album Soria Moria Slott seems to fit well in your description: Raw, female Vocals, gothic castle atmosphere.. it's not my style, but i find it pretty good, despite its eye-gouging artwork
The second album is also good, but later they switched to a more modern gothic metal sound, so i wouldn't bother with them.

i'll link a song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTF3gZe-7wk

Amazigh from Tunisia fit your description, particularly for raw and obscure. I wouldn't say they really sound "medieval" but I know they're greatly influenced by many of the bands you mentioned. I have to say the music isn't really that good though. I'm surprised there's a song on youtube since the band only released a demo in 2007 and basically stopped after that.



If you like it though, I can look for the CD (if I still have it, so not 100% sure) and upload the demo for you. I'm quite sure it's impossible to find a copy nowadays, especially outside of Tunisia.

VERY good example. I had listened to their 'All Little Devils' album and thought they were alright, though I had never given their black metal material a proper listen. This is exactly what I had in mind, thank you!



It's not bad, though I was hoping more for a bit more of a castle-like atmosphere. The female vocalist has a really pleasant voice. I appreciate you digging that up for me!

Here are a few more examples of some even lesser known songs that pull off what I have in mind.

Atargatis, as a whole, are not at all what I'm trying to go for (or even a band I enjoy). This song from their earliest demo, however, is fucking sweet. The female vocalist sounds kind of shitty, but the rest of the music is great. Notice that doom/deathy sounding riff style and the Medieval sounding keyboards in the background.


Silentium has always been really hard for me to get into, mostly because I could never get into the male vocals and the female vocals were always pretty bland. This song from their demo Caméne misera is a nice piece of gothic/death/doom metal that has a lot more kick to it than their later material.


Crestfallen make much less usage of their female vocalist as the other bands that have been listed, but they are utilized so well alongside violins and a Medieval atmosphere in their melodic sounding form of death/doom metal. The first track of this EP, Secrets of Time, indicates the kind of majestic, epic atmosphere I look to hear with melancholic, ethereal female singing.

By the description raw, obuscure, medieval, female reminds me the Canadian band Howling Syn.

Mystic charm, Check em out really good, old death doom shiet

I'm going to revive this thread, since this is exacly what I'm looking for. Tristania's first album is the best medieval/gothic piece of music I've ever heard.

An example that wasn't mentioned here is an obscure Finnish black metal band called Arthemesia. They are mostly famous for featuring Jari Maenpaa and other members of Ensiferum and Wintersun. Their Devs Iratvs album has a pretty medieval/gothic sound.



Could anyone recommend me something like this? Honestly, I am not very knowledgeable in this sphere, despite being a fan, so I will accept well-known bands. Female vocals and symphonic elements aren't really a requirement, although they usually help to create this dark atmosphere.

Don't suggest Dimmu Borgir or Cradle of Filth though, they are pretty bland, in my opinion.

I am not necessarily looking for metal bands, if you know some non-metal bands with this medieval/gothic atmosphere, feel free to suggest. I am a fan of Dead Can Dance, Arcana, Dark Sanctuary, Artesia, Qntal and Corvus Corax.

The two Estatic Fear records come to mind. A Sombre Dance has some female vocals - I don't honestly remember if the debut does or not. Both albums are dripping with a morose but tranquil medieval, gothic, nature sort of atmosphere. They're both wonderful records, but A Sombre Dance specifically is a masterpiece in my opinion.

In keeping with the Dark Ambient bands, I would also throw Dargaard in the mix. I enjoy the first two records the most.

Summoning's "Where Hope and Daylight Dies" - while just one song, granted - comes to mind as well.

Thanks for resurrecting this thread, also. My tastes align with the op in many regards and there are some bands in here I had not checked out yet. I also had no awareness whatsoever of that Arthemesia record, but its sounding pretty great. Thanks for that!

Thank you for responding, I'll check these bands out. I forgot to mention Summoning, some of their songs indeed have a medieval atmosphere. I assume you've heard about Die Verbannten Kinder Evas, they are basically Summoning minus black metal with some female vocals and a more gothic atmosphere.

Italian Evol perfectly fits the description in the title.

The Australian darkwave band Avrigus might scratch this itch (_The Secret Kingdom_ is my favorite darkwave album and definitely has a "castellar" atmosphere):