I'm looking for dark emotional acoustic music that is very depressing. This could take two forms - it could either be happy-sounding music with depressing lyrics (kind of like the chorus in "Oh, Susquehanna" by Defiance Ohio: And I wonder / what did they do with the bodies). The music itself could also be depressing sounding, like "Fablesse De Sens" by Amesoeurs, or dark folk/apocalyptic folk such as the album Flowers from Exile by Rome. Violins and Cellos are a plus.

Also, if there are any acoustic bands with gore lyrics I'd be very interested to hear them, kind of like an acoustic Visceral Evisceration - melodic and somber music with gore or other extreme metal lyrical themes. "Kill the Jocks and Eat Their Brains" and "Bio-Satanic Terroristic Attack" by Total Fucking Destruction also provide examples of what I'm looking for. I'd prefer it to be serious music though, not like Acoustic Corpse.

Definitely, definitely check out Forseti, album Erde. This is great neo-folk/dark folk (depends on who you ask). Very melancholic, beautiful, calm and 100% acoustic. It has a variety of instruments and dual vocals here and there.

Also, it might be worth the effort to go here: http://www.autumnal-fog.de/download They have a free downloadable compilation with pagan/black, (dark) ambient and neo-folk/dark folk. It's divided into 3 discs, and the third one is solely filled with the acoustic bands. Highly enjoyable in itself, plus you might come across some names that really get to you.

Tenhi

Current 93 - Thunder Perfect Mind
It's fantastic. Has violins and many other instruments.

Seconding Current 93. This is a song from the album suggested: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Br5UIiOr2-w

Also check out Death in June: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFUPK4zaQl4

Agalloch's White EP is some really great melancholic neo-folk as well.

Maybe Hypothermia - Kaffe & Blod is up your alley

Hypothermia - Del IV is a pretty depressing acoustic track.

also since you have Defiance Ohio as an example I'd probably have to recommend some folk punk:

-Johnny Hobo (specifically the lyrics in "Whiskey is My Kind of Lullaby")
-Blackbird Raum (the album "Swidden" is amazing)
-Mischief Brew (not really depressing but still good)

you may already know those and if so i apologize.

Steve Von Till's solo material is pretty depressing but the lyrics aren't exactly gorey. They're just soul crushingly bleak.

In addition to my first post: I totally forgot the album Leaving Eden by Antimatter. Not neo-folk or dark folk, it's a little more depressing than what I already mentioned. Should be noted that some songs, although the entire album is mainly acoustic, build to a climax or chorus with some distorted work, but nothing extreme.

try OF THE WAND AND THE MOON

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsJdVwGvo74

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoQSfGjsx3w

Every post thus far fails for not mentioning Vàli (Nor). Forlatt is probably among my top five albums, ever. I'm about 90% sure that it's my most played album, and that I have the most plays on Last.fm . Here's a short description I posted awhile ago on a different forum:



Get this, and get it now. It's pretty much the best thing, ever.

Seconded.

Vali is one of my favorite bands ever. They have a new album coming out soon!

LINK ME NOW.

This. Also Scott Kelly's Spirit Bound Flesh.

I'd recommend never listening to "folk-punk"
shitty fucking train hopping punx bastardizing folk is absolute garbage.

shit, indie is more accessible and at least listenable.

Try Vincent Gallo's album - When.
Really chilling, beautiful depressed acoustic music that's not super pretentious garbage like bikebombers and that other crap.

Stuff like, Kevin Drew- Gangbang Suicide. Despite the name it's a very emotional song and fits into the indie genre i think you're moreso leaning towards. Even Akron/Family's Tour Demos from 05/06 and their first self titled album are gorgeous examples of sorrow filled acoustic music.

Whle not remotely metal, Marrissa Nadler plays some amzing, acidy "dream-folk", all acoustic (she is contributing to the next Xasthur album).

Word, she's pretty great as is alela diane, but then all that stuff will just segway into radical folk/indie stuff

It might as well be acoustic, check out Red House Painters - Down Colorful Hill.

Bob Dylan

I love this album. It didn't come to mind though. Shame on me.

Already know Vali, Agalloch's White EP, and Current 93, but I'm checking out all of the other stuff. Thanks everyone for the recs.

Yes, shame! Haha, its definitely in my top ten albums of the '90s.

try CHANGES

http://www.myspace.com/changesfolknoir

esp. this song:
http://www.lastfm.de/music/Changes/_/Wa ... r+the+Fall

quite uprising song but with dark (or aggressive) lyrics:

"There's talk of revolution, impending Civil war, The lines are being drawn, The writings on the wall.

Ancient spirits slumber, The calm before the storm. Hero wakes and stretches, reaches for his sword.

Waiting for the fall my friend, Just waiting for the fall, Waiting for the fall my friend I am - just waiting for the fall.

The first shots have been fired, The battle has begun The blood red tide is rising, swelling like a flood.

An age of soot and ashes, Hero takes his stand: " Lets have this out with fate My brothers - and liberate our land."

Waiting for the Fall - just waiting for the fall. Waiting for the fall I am my friend - just waiting for the fall."

and this one:
http://www.lastfm.de/music/Changes/_/Tw ... f+the+West

Lyrics:
Your churches all are classrooms of humanistic thought
Who preach of economics and salvation which is bought
They measure good in dollars, no longer martyrs' blood
And promise "pie" not of the sky, but lying in the mud

I watch the West now dying
Its twilight time has come
As its melody plays sadly
Of that which has become

The politician tells you, that there's nothing left to fear
"Peace on Earth -- goodwill towards men," as he grooms his doomed career
Opponents you thought vanquished, have come to take their fill
As they hover on the sidelines, preparing for the kill

Your well-fed soldiers stand in line, amid the morning rain
But the pulse-beat of their fathers spread so thin through their veins
The ancient vow to valor, lies shrouded in the mist
Of the years of tranquil living, that have robbed them of the test

TENHI, ULVER Kveldssanger,

Sonne Hagal - neofolk with a somber tone.

Lindbergh Baby - Trippy intolerant Americana. Features members of Blood Axis.

Waldteufel - The first record is acoustic. The others are folk with metal touches, martial drumming, and pagan imagery.

Cadaverous Condition - Julian cope released a collection of their acoustic songs. Harsh cookie monster vocals over simple repetitive folk songs. Has guest spots from David Tibet (Current 93) and Changes.

Comus - First Utterance is absolutely essential listening. Not at all related to metal except for the influence they had on Opeth, but get it.

You could try Sol Invictus (smlar to Current 93 and Nurse With Wound)- the album Lex Talionis is great.

Well it's not really gory, but Scream of the Butterfly by Acid Bath has some pretty extreme lyrics. A couple other AB songs (Bones of Baby Dolls, Dead Girl) could fit for the depressing lyrics, and if you like those you could try the band that a couple of the guys were in after Acid Bath, called Agents of Oblivion, specifically the songs Wither and The Hangman's Daughter.

I'm pretty sure you can find all of those songs on youtube, but I'm too fucking tired to find them right now, so sorry for the lack of links. By the way, I second whoever said Bob Dylan.

In these kinds of threads the first band I always think of is Nest. They play a mix of acoustic neofolk and dark ambient. It's dominated by a string instrument called the kantele with occasional drums, keys (made to sound like a flute) and acoustic guitars. Try the demo and the songs from their split CD (they're free at their website and Mikseri profile) and then move on to the full-lengths. Trail of the Unwary may be the deepest emotional experience I'vw had with this kind of music. These guys also did an acoustic split with Agalloch that would surely suit your fancy.

Im guessing this doesn't have to be metal, obviously. You should check out The Decemberists if you haven't already heard of them, on of my fav bands of all time.

This is a great group man, especially that song twilight of the west. Could you recommend any other bands with that kind of sound?

Have you heard Nick Drake? The dude killed himself after his third album in the early 70's.

If you like Changes, check out Werkraum. The guys from Changes are all over the newest album.

http://www.last.fm/music/Werkraum

You might also want to try Sangre Cavallum:

http://www.last.fm/music/Sangre+Cavallum

Seconded, Drake's material is fantastic. That 3rd album ("Pink Moon") is my favourite, really sparse with just his voice and guitar:

Things Behind The Sun

His death has never been proved as suicide, though most people agree it's fairly likely.

EDIT: apologies, it WAS officially recorded as suicide, but this is disputed by his family.

any news on the next Vali album?

Posting nigh 6 AM before having opened any Xmas presents to third Nick Drake.

Woven Hand has some pretty dark acoustic material.

Welcome To The Machine by Pink Floyd. :3

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Now playing: Welcome To The Machine - Pink Floyd

I've recommended this to someone else recently, but you need to check out "Failure" by Swans.

Some of the other later Swans material may be up your street, as well as Michael Gira's other projects like Angels Of Light.

Not metal in the least bit but if you want depressing acoustic music check out Townes Van Zandt, especially the songs Tecumsah Valley or waiting around to die.