5 Goth Metal Bands Who Deserved to Be Bigger

Although Charon, who reunited in 2025, have been wrongfully denied the mass-scale adoration of their compatriots HIM, for example, their exceptional work proves ridiculously addictive. Enter their catalog via timeless earworms such as “Ride on Tears,” “Little Angel,” “Colder” and “Erase Me.”

Charon boast one of the most underrated voices in metal, Juha-Pekka “JP” Leppäluoto. This unforgettable artist has taken part in a number of other exciting projects, appears on the televised music show Elämäni Biisi and has indeed been involved with theater — the theatrical charm of his performances, which are always spot-on, certainly cannot be ignored.

In 1996, the magnetic Ville Laihiala became the frontman of Sentenced, a death metal act prior to his entry, and he possesses a voice just as intoxicating as Leppäluoto’s.

Also a composer and guitarist with a gift for crafting catchy yet aggressive gems, Laihiala founded Poisonblack in 2000 with Leppäluoto serving as the group’s original vocalist on the orgasmic Escapexstacy (2003).

Even die-hard fans will acknowledge that certain Sentenced and Poisonblack songs featuring Laihiala on vocals sound like they could have come from either band, especially when the whiskey-pounding heavy metal influences are more notable.

Whereas Sentenced disbanded in 2005, and their co-founder Miika Tenkula sadly passed away in 2009, Poisonblack, including Leppäluoto, reunited for a string of live gigs in 2023 before leaving the following message on social media: “The coffin is not completely closed.”

The refreshing energy within much of To/Die/For’s material qualifies them as a great go-to band for whenever you are feeling stricken with ennui. These Finnish stalwarts, formed in 1993 as Mary-Ann, are known in part for their entrancing covers, having taken on the likes of Cutting Crew’s “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” and Sandra’s “In the Heat of the Night” with former helmsman Jarno “Jape” Perätalo.

To/Die/For previously showcased the talent of the late Tonmi Lillman, a friend and collaborator of the also fondly remembered Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom, who commented in Petri Silas’ Alexi Laiho – Chaos, Control & Guitar (2019/2020): “He played like Tommy Lee but with an incredible amount of technical prowess.”

The remarkably unique gothic/doom outfit Ava Inferi featured one of music’s most extraordinary couples, ex-Mayhem and current Vltimas’ guitarist Rune Eriksen and songstress Carmen Susana Simões, whose angelic performances prove remarkably haunting here and in other contexts like Moonspell. During their career, this Portuguese-based group welcomed several special guests, such as Anathema’s Daniel Cardoso and Ulver’s Kristoffer Rygg.

Ava Inferi released four full-length albums before disbanding, though some of their unused content might just emerge one day.

Fortunately, Simões and Eriksen continue to collaborate in the bewitching Earth Electric.

From Norway, the goth-infused pioneering funeral doom institution aptly named Funeral have benefited from a long list of amazing musicians throughout the years. Co-founder Anders Eek remains with this vessel of sepulchral beauty, while awarded guitarist Stian Kråbøl, a hugely underrated axeman, made his debut with the team on the sublime Gospel of Bones (2024), as strengthened by violin, hardanger fiddle, keys and extra vocals.

With their sophisticated orchestral components, dramatic qualities, sometimes operatic leanings and so forth, Funeral emotionally overwhelm and ultimately devastate listeners.

Death would tragically take members Einar Andre Fredriksen and Christian Loos, both of whom joined early on, as well as former vocalist Sindre Nedland.