Gothic Metal

Gothic metal is a genre of music, which often combines the 'heavier' sound of heavy metal with a darker, brooding atmosphere of atmospheric metal. Starting in the 1990's in Europe with a fusion of death and doom metal, with bands like Peaceville of Three, Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride leading the way. The band Theatre of Tragedy started dual vocals, with a growling male voice, and clean, often operatic female vocals contrasting, which has come to be known as 'Beauty and the Beast.'

More recently, Gothic Metal bands have taken on a symphonic atmosphere. Many bands, such as Nightwish and Xandria, often have a full orchestral back-up to their music.
Epica not only uses orchestras in their albums, but released one album that had only one song with vocals, the rest being either fully orchestral, or orchestral with overlaying guitars. Outside of Europe, the band Evanescence from Kansas has found success bringing a gothic metal-style and mixing it with nu metal.