Christian Death

The founding fathers of American goth rock, Christian Death took a relentlessly confrontational stand against organized religion and conventional morality, with an appetite for provocation that made Marilyn Manson look like Stryper. Regardless of who was leading or performing in the group, Christian Death set themselves up to shock, both in their cover art and their lyrics, which wallowed in blasphemy, morbidity, drug use, and sexual perversity. Their self-consciously controversial tactics set them apart from the British goth scene, having more to do with L.A. punk and heavy metal, and thus the band dubbed its sound "death rock" instead. Their music also relies on slow, doomy, effects-laden guitar riffs and ambient horror-soundtrack synths, and their theatrical performances are legendary.

Black Season Witch is a Chicago-based band/art collective known for their industrial goth sound, often incorporating cinematic elements and goth film backdrops during live performances.