Nico’s The Marble Index is considered is a proto-goth album and has even been citied as “the first Goth” album due to her “lyrical drone accompanied by a medieval-sounding musical landscape populated with a harpsichords and glockenspiels”. [7] X Research source [8] X Research source

Other bands like UK Decay, Southern Death Cult, and The Danse Society were also particularly popular and influential bands during this era. [11] X Research source [12] X Research source [13] X Research source

Goths evolution saw the beginnings of notable offshoots, including darkwave (Clan of Xymox and Switchblade Symphony) which is post-punk crossed with new wave and synthpop,[17] X Research source and ethereal wave (Cocteau Twins). [18] X Research source The first deathrock revival began in 1998 and petered out, with bands such as All Gone Dead and Tragic Black as the face, around the mid-00s. These bands mixed cartoonish aesthetics with the caricature of the Batcave and a more modern deathrock sound. [19] X Research source [20] X Research source

One includes the boom in Russian post-punk with bands like Ploho and Molchat Doma, who gained popularity after their song “Sudno (Boris Ryzhy)” went viral on TikTok. [21] X Research source [22] X Research source Another includes bands such as She Past Away, Twin Tribes, and Wingtips part of so-called “gothwave” genre, a perfect blend of classic goth guitar sounds with signature darkwave synths. [23] X Research source

Rites of Spring’s Guy Picciotto and Ian MacKaye of Embrace eventually formed the hardcore punk band Fugazi, another band credited as influencing the emo movement.

As bands continued to form under the influence of preceding emo bands, offshoots of the emo sound started to shape in all kinds of directions, most notably screamo (Saetia and Orchid). [27] X Research source

Soon other bands, such as Fall Out Boy and My Chemical Romance whose debuts, Take This to Your Grave[31] X Research source [32] X Research source and I Brought You My Bullets, You Brought Me Your Love[33] X Research source [34] X Research source [35] X Research source respectively, began gaining more mainstream attention.

More recently, emo continues to influence present-day artists in a more multifaceted style, with emo rappers like Lil Peep, Lil Tracy, and Princess Nokia bringing innovations to the genre. [40] X Research source Billie Eilish is also another great example.

In the early days, many goths creatively thrifted and made their own clothes; the goal was to take inspiration from their idols without directly copying.

For example, 1980s and 1990s emo bands like Embrace and Sunny Day Real Estate really didn’t emphasize fashion as a part of the work that they did. Later emo-pop bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy were more focused on style and fashion.

At one point in time, goth was given the name “positive punk” in reference to the positive direction punk was heading. Many bands used tribal drums and avoided guitar power chords, opting for slashing, screeching and razor-like effects instead. [45] X Research source

For example, Guy Picciotto kicks off the Rites of Spring track “For Want Of” with the lyrics, “I woke up this morning with a piece of past caught in my throat / And then I choked. ”[47] X Research source

For example, liking emo music doesn’t make someone an unhappy person. They may just enjoy the emotional catharsis the lyrics and music bring them!