Hello

I am looking to expand a playlist of mine. So i am looking for slow melodic songs with depressive and/or existential lyrics.
Please note that i am not looking for 'glorious' ballads or any kind of inspirational/motivational songs/ballads.
The lyrics should be as close to soul crushing as possible.

A perfect example is Noumena's - Sundown
youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk336AuU_9Q
and lyrics here


Another good example is Orphaned land's - The beloved's cry
youtube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNLQ9c_rdWc
lyrics:

I am aware of other requests for balads or slower songs or sad songs or something similar in these forums etc. I found some music that i can use but not that much. I've spent quite some time browsing through these forum threads. To conclude, I've found a few songs there but the majority of the request is supposed to make the listener feel better. I am looking for the exact opposite as I do like to sometimes take a dive in sadness and sorrow.

Also in an effort to unite all those entries under one roof i'll gather the aforementioned links here so the 'guide to sadness' can be complete and easily accessible.

Hypocrisy - The Final Chapter
Katatonia - Journey Through Pressure
Fear Factory - Timelessness
Crematory - Unspoken
Paradise Lost - Your Own Reality

just to name a few...

Thank you very much, those are some great suggestions (happy face)

I liked the Hypocrisy and Katatonia songs, Fear Factory I'll have to listen again a few times.
Paradise Lost must contribute to this list no doubt but I don't like this song very much, not sure why.

Weird thing though, i was unable to track down Unspoken, it's not on youtube, google music nor spotify (sad face)
I will look it up again, maybe after some time it will become availiable!

Thanks again!
If any more come to mind feel free to share, they will be greatly appreciated!!

On top of my head

Anathema's mid period offered us songs like Forgotten Hopes and Regret wich i consider really great

A favorite of mine is Stangt PGA Semester by Lifelover, with it's lovely jazz beat

Noumena's Great Anonymous Doom may be not sad as the ones above, but the hopeless theme and the unusual waltz time makes ot a good candidate

I'm aware of the Great anonymous doom, yep.
Lifelover seems very interesting, too bad (for me anyway) that they write in swedish. I'll definitely listen to them more though. THANKS
I was never a big fan of Anathema (bar Serenades) so I can safely say I have never listened to their mid period, I'll get to it.

Thanks again

edit: sorry for the late responses, my messages must be reviewed by an administrator

Ever tried Warning's Watching from a Distance?

Here's another toast to sadness:

Tiamat - A Deeper Kind Of Slumber
Dark Tranquillity - Day To End
Katatonia - Day
Amorphis - Summer's End
Lake Of Tears - Solitude
My Dying Bride - Thy Raven Wings
Moonspell - Mute
Evereve - Where No Shadows Fall
Pain - Fade Away
Mortiis - Everyone Leaves

Aye, after you suggested it. That's a different kind of sad. I looked up the band (I am not into doomy stuff that much so I was not familiar with them). I will listen to them more sometime in the future i hope (my list is getting bigger and bigger).

Cheers

Inside your delicicious toast there are some songs I already knew and love, DT is one of my favourites bands lyrically and musically.
Anyhoo, some of these have a place in the playlist BUT that Mortiis track is just perfect. More of that please lol.

Cheers mate, thanks again

Katatonia are the undisputable (mainstream) kings of the kind of sad you describe. plenty of songs with that lyrical content... it's practically a meme:



Sentenced too, they write songs about life going down the drain (that's an actual lyric of theirs)...

Alcest's lyrics are pretty much the same, but they're in french :/ and their music is mostly a bit more uptempo.

do you like doom? Candlemass' Solitude is spot on what you describe, Reverend Bizarre's "the hour of death" is about the withering of beauty, and "anywhere out of this world" is a suicide song... a little-known finnish band, Fall of the Idols, have some of the darkest lyrics ever...



sample tracks:

Wouldn't October Tide fit?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4Pm0kM9BI0

lol true


They are on my 'to listen to" list, I've never given them proper attention, cool


I can understand the French language, so no problem there. The sample track is on the right path (happy face), I will check their rest of their work.


I am aware of Solitude, yes it is on spot for this current psychosynthesis. Doom is somewhat weird to me, some i like and some not. Fall of the Idols did the trick for me, 'My home the gallows' is really good. They'll get more attantion from me.
I came across Reverend Bizarre in another thread, yes those are good recomendations


I played the whole album (once more). Yes this is good stuff but not for this playlist I am getting together.

Thanks guys, you are really helpful. Have in mind that I actually listen what you suggest carefully (with the lyrics on the side ofc), even the songs/albums I already know. There are no bad recomendations, if something does not fit in this playlist it will in another!

Managed to post in the wrong thread...

You should appreciate both Swallow the sun and Pantheist, have a listen, cheers

The Chasm's Honoris Lux Infintus - you wont' fond any more depressing DEATH METAL (no doom/death metal here).

Are you at all interested in listening to funeral doom? The only thing that may be off putting is that the vocals are sung rather slowly.

But there's a few great bands in here that can pull off these sort of existential, soul-crushing lyrics all over dreary emotional music. Especially with some of the newer bands.

Here's the song "Delirium" by Colosseum: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjRsuop5eoE

Great track, probably my favorite by the band.



This next one might be a little more accessible with the faster beat and clean vocals. It's "Aeternus" by Doom:VS. This band used to be pretty hot a few years back, but in the absence of new material they've been kinda forgotten. Still pretty great. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=89WYc5J-vi4



So if you liked the above tracks, I want to put you to a real test: a full album with a singular concept. Slow from Belgium with their fifth release Oceans. While I could recommend other full albums by other bands, this not only is one of the most recent (2017) releases in the genre that really sounded spectacular but also is one intended by the artist to be listened to as a whole. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzsxxkkh4eU

(consolidated lyrics from all five pieces)

Well here's one that is "as close to soul crushing as possible."

I read in one of your posts above that you're not into doom; doom though is really about soul-crushingness... Warning is a good rec in the style. Thinking of The Gault as well.

Skinny Puppy wrote some really depressing/ numbing songs. But I guess this is totally not the scene you'd like to explore.

Necrotic Trust, Leakh are two slightly industrialized doomy projects that could fit the request.

Listening to the Noumean song you posted, I see the moods your after; I can suggest you Antimatter in the same vein, their latest album is very good, the vocalist really shines in there:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9zVawCwvy8&t=2387s

The Wounded/ Sunset is another wonderfully sad album, a bit "glorious" at times, admitedly:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn7QmHabYkA&t=1s
the lyrics: http://www.darklyrics.com/lyrics/thewounded/sunset.html

I already had a listen my mediterranean friend!
I am familiar with Swallow the sun but not Pantheist. I had a quick 'research' they seem cool. I think I'll find material here. Cheers
(Wilytank also suggested some funeral doom bands (i am getting there), i guess it makes sense)


Nice, I like the combination of DM with gloomy lyrics. I will have a more thorough dive in them at some point too (I wish I had more time)


Nice one! I liked the combination of BM with industrial, interesting outcome.

Seems like you guys want to get me into Funeral doom... I've tried it in the past but I could not get into it, maybe I started with the wrong groups, I don't know. As a general rule I like faster tempos, a lot faster. Anyhow now that I am looking for different things it seems that i enjoy it better. I have already listened to some songs and bands that were mentioned in various threads and next I'll check out your and Wilytank's recommendations. I am willing to explore my musical boundaries, I am not sure if they can be expanded though.

Glad you enjoy it! You might get some value out of their second album, which I'd argue is some of the most mentally exhausting death metal you'll ever hear even if it's more of an emotional rollercoaster than depressing like the song I linked earlier.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DaSBHc5C6NY (especially from 3:58-4:33)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJ-HBUs8ve8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci6QxLCvw7E

If you liked the Godkiller one, here's another soul crusher in a similar style:

Sorry for the pause, long busy weekend. So, shall we continue...

It is a bit off putting at first, yes. I listened to it a few times, I did like the melodies especially the keyboards on the background. I can't say I hated it but I can say I liked better the second one by Doom:VS.


Can i have more time on this? I need to listen to it properly. Thanks


Doomsday recommended Warning too, so I played a few more of their tracks. Good stuff after all.


That Antimatter track is good. Maybe I should give the whole album a listen.
I played The Wounded album also, It has some great moments but it also has something that puts me off. I can't pin it down yet.


I liked Leakh better, maybe i'll find something for the list there. You are correct about the Skinny Puppy, I wouldn't like to explore that path, would it be easy to throw a few song titles? If yes, cool, if not, also cool!


I was not aware of that Samael track, it is a little faster so I am not sure if it fits the mood. I'll have to test it in 'real sadness' conditions.


Cool stuff, though this is not material that fit in my "sad sad songs" lists, yet it is stuff i can enjoy anyway. I will take a dive in The Chasm at some point.

Thank you all, for the recommendations, I'll keep exploring them. Feel free to post if anything else comes in mind.

To expand a bit on doom, try this funeral doom song, it's that kind of depressive music I'm thinking of that could fit your request:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UQGSp_s9oE
And this original doomy "batcave" project, The Gault:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j2BYfwrX1xI

Cool i'll check it out, I had a listen of the Gault, i think you mentioned it in a previous post.
Thanks for your insight on doom, I will explore it further at my own pace.

^I second The Gault. Too bad they only ever released that one album, but it's great.

Funeral's "The Architecture of Loss" fits the bill I'd say, as soul-crushing as they come, lyrically.

When you go out of town do you ever think of me?
The poison you put in your veins might make you share my fate.
I am so scared that I am shaking all day long.
Answer to the great mystery, most likely I'll be gone.

Also The 3rd and the Mortal's "Silently I Surrender."

Silently I surrender
The lack of hope is driving me under
I walk away
To seek comfort in the dark.

Oddly enough I am aware of that Funeral song!
They have a quality that keep me from fully enjoying them, I think that sometimes their lyrics could be a little more polished. Maybe it is just me.


This one sounds cool! I will check their music further.
Thanks!

Think I've got a good one for you mate, let me know what you think.
I would never kill myself but if I did it would be at the end of this song.
Moonspell-The Hanged Man

Damn, I know this song but for some reason I have never really paid attention to the lyrics. Thanks mate for the "one under my nose". These "new" lyrics make it better!



Aye man same here, only my song would be my perfect example in this thread Sundown by Noumena. I like the picture they paint.

Thanks again!

Well, I just came here to post some Hypocrisy suggestions again...

Hypocrisy - Disconnected Magnetic Corridors
Hypocrisy - Until The End
Hypocrisy - Slippin' away
Hypocrisy - All Turns Black

Cheers!

A German post-punk song with the translation below, probably doesn't have the same impact if you don't understand the words directly.

I am glad you did!



It is true I would prefer songs that I can understand the words directly. I will give them a try anyways.
Thanks!

This might be one you'll like

https://youtu.be/1frcJii4SKI

Sad music is one of the purest forms of expression and catharsis to help one feel better. Funny that hearing people go through similar personal stuff makes one feel better. Here some of my recommendations for sad bands/music:

Aerial Ruin, How Far: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mROxVx7nhNw

Panopticon, (Cowering) At the Foot of the Mountain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVGZfGU50TA

Death Comes Crawling, Nothing to Find: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1_0Bi6Q0LQ

Midnight Odyssey, From a Frozen Wasteland: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ql_5J9ya990

Toby Driver, Avignon: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi5rUbmCsas

Hope you enjoy the tunes!

I also happen to like this style of songs, specially when they're tossed in the middle of metal albums, so I might have a few contributions to this thread:

Lacuna Coil - Falling
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3upc_gPW3Q


Saturnus - The fall of nakkiel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xlKNaihoAjo


Agathodaimon - Solitude
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LD7b152HZIc


Triptykon - My Pain
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpc6zU13YaM


Celtic Frost - Drown in Ashes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix4cJ2AJ3f8


Latest two, those manage to ruin my day sometimes. (goddammit tom g warrior...)

Speaking of Celtic Frost, monotheist can be a really depressing album overall, so probably you might want to check it out.

Now, If there's a band that should at least be part of your guide to sad music it's the chilean doom metal/neofolk band Uaral. They have songs in both english and spanish, hoever, their best ones are definitely those with lyrics in spanish. There's a particular song I consider to be one of the saddest ever written, both musically and lyrically. Below a translation I did myself (note their lyrics are very poetic and metaphorical so the translation might not be exact bu I tried my best to convey the meanings):

Uaral - Eterno en mí
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZaxcCrde2QY



You can't go wrong with this band, pretty much all their music carries the same sorrowful mood and they have some songs in English, so you might give them a shot.

Perhaps not as devastating as the OP wants, but could fit the bill:

Kreator - Everlasting Flame


Zakk Wylde - Thrown' It All Away (as an aside, both of his solo albums are really good - particularly the first one - and the second one is a pretty sombre affair, so could be worth checking even if it doesn't quite match the specifications of this topic).


Black Label Society - Fear


Type O Negative - Can't Lose You (lyrically very simple, but I've always found this song devastating in its beauty)

Cathedral's 'Fountain of Innocence' is bittersweet.

Thanks guys for the recent responses, I will check them out for sure!

I was wondering if I could return here for a mini summary and I think I will.

I think the indisputable "winners" of this thread were Katatonia, once I paid close attention to their songs it was obvious that i should focus there.
But that's not all of it. I have been listening to Funeral doom quite a lot. I cant say it is my cup of tea but I cant say that it isnt either. I've found bands that I like but i resort to them while in a very specific mindset.

Anyway I know all this is boring so I wont be reviewing all of the suggestions (be sure that I spent time with every single one) so I would like to expand a little to a certain direction.
What I am looking for this time is stuff similar to Katatonia (Viva Emptiness, The Great Cold Distance, Last Fair Deal Gone Down) and maybe Ghost Brigade.

I would like bands that arent afraid to "experiment", meaning that they are not hesitant to cross genres etc.
Also if possible it would be good if those bands are lyrically "original", meaning that the lyrics should not be too generic ("I feel so alone", and "Oh the suffering i feel", etc.)
I can be more detailed if the above are too vague. (e.g. I love the fact that I can feel the despair or the depression Jonas Renkse feels by reading his lyrics, though they are relative simple)

Recommendations also could be heavier than that, as long as there are clean vocals and sad melodies (Hamferd could be a good example I guess, their combination of heaviness with clean vocals is something "unique", producing a special kind of melancholy, to me at least).

Finally if you come across anything that fits the original request feel free to post.

Thanks

To expand on the Katatonia vibe you're keen on, I think you could find some interest in these projects:

TheNightTimeProject - Pale Season - a simplified version of Katatonia
VARAHA - A Passage for Lost Years - remind of Katatonia with bits of Process of Guilt, musically it's more prog than Katatonia
Ars Onirica / I: Cold - some excellent classic guitar lpart in here. Very diverse album that reminds of the older, darker Katatonia

About funerary doom including male cleans, I'm thinking of Before the Rain "Frail" and Deos "to Depart", this peculiar album being rather similar to Hamferd's latest.
The Howling Void is a very active one-man project that, at leats as far as I know, produced one album with only cleans, "Nightfall". It's very lush, very soft, but still quite heavy.

edit: Another little gem, complex, lyrical is "The Sky Over" by Void of Silence. It's not that depressed, but its grand scope is impressive.