post-punk

Sex Gang Children is an early gothic rock group that formed in the early 1980s in Britain. They were a very dramatic band, relying on heavy bass, tribal drumming, sudden mood shifts, a woozy cabaret ready sound that influenced the rise of the later dark cabaret scene, and yet another in a long line of goth singers with an odd, highly dramatic voice. Although the group only released one official album, their singles and various other tracks have been packaged into numerous collections, and they remain one of the better known bands out of the early goth scene.

Read more about Sex Gang Children on Last.fm.

Swans is an influential band from New York City, New York, United States, active from 1982 to 1997, reformed in 2010, led by singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Michael Gira. Marginally associated with the no wave scene at first, their original sound was slow and heavy, with live performances that were often so brutal and physical that in a number of instances certain audience members were made ill, police were called and venues were shut down. This early physical sound is possibly best heard on the live album Public Castration Is a Good Idea.

Half Man Half Biscuit, often abbreviated to "HMHB", is a UK rock band from Birkenhead, active sporadically since the mid-1980s, known for its satirical, sardonic, and sometimes surreal songs. The group consists of Nigel Blackwell (lead vocals, guitar), Neil Crossley (bass), Ken Hancock (lead guitar), and Carl Henry (drums). Throughout their career they have been signed to Probe Plus records. The band's first single, The Trumpton Riots, topped the British Independent Chart in 1986, and they went on to perform a set at the Glastonbury Festival, rapidly becoming tipped as the 'next big thing'.

Bella Morte (Italian for "beautiful death") is a gothic band that was formed in 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia by Andy Deane and Gopal Metro. Their music incorporates elements of metal, darkwave, deathrock, alternative, and synthpop. By combining electronics, graveyard ballads, emotive storytelling and unique guitar riffs, Bella Morte have developed a style that is solely their own, which is aided by the talents of Andy Deane, who studied opera for five years to strengthen his vocal capabilities.

Read more about Bella Morte on Last.fm.