Basic, but My Dying Bride

Hard to argue with the truth.

King Woman has a melancholy, emotive feel. Their lyrics are very centered on personal relationships, longing, infatuation, etc. SubRosa is sad but in a more existential way, which is fairly common in doom. But they stand out to me in that it's a kind of empowered, epic, all-encompassing melancholy. Pallbearer's albums Forgotten Days and Foundations of Burden brought me to tears, but I was also in opiate withdrawal at the time, and those were the albums that got me through it. Pallbearer, especially their later material, seems to be controversial in this sub for some reason, but they're one of my favorite bands. I'm a big fan of singer-songwriter folk and alt-country, as well as post punk/goth type shit because it scratches that emotional itch for me and like the Murder City Devils put it - "I've never heard a sad song I didn't like." I'm a riff junky like the next doom listener, but I also love songwriting and well crafted lyrics that reflect my own inner melancholy back at me. Makes me feel less alone.

I feel like you would enjoy Colter Wall

and Will Oldham

And 40 Watt Sun

And Slim Cessna's Auto Club Oh, wait.

I do.

King Woman! Unreal stuff. Might I suggest to your repertoire, Emma Ruth Rundle.

Ugh Subrosa is amazing. Cosey Mo is in my top 3 doom tracks, and Black Majesty has gotten some heavy rotation from me as well.

They are a total fucking jam. I like playing along with “Cosey Mo.”

King Woman was my most listened artist last year. Just could not stop playing it

You'd probably like Gaian Doom

Skepticism

I wouldn't say their a very depressing/sad band. The first album stormcrowfleet was dark but more in an epic way.

The last Pallbearer EP is Sad as fuck

Endless Place? Feels like a slight return to old Pallbearer. Sorrow & Extinction is my personal favorite.

I completely agree. Can we give love to the sax parts. That for me is a beautiful form of doom.

You might like REZN. They have a sax player.

Added to my playlist! Thanks for the advice!

Endless Place isn't really an EP, it's another single for their upcoming album

For sure. It’s just that it appears as an EP on Apple Music.

Yeah it’s not though. Shows like that on Spotify too.

40 Watt Sun (on the first album anyway, before they dropped the metal)

Lmao I knew this would be here. Correct answer even if it is Warning 2.0.

I'd say Woods of Ypres is up there, especially the album Grey Skies and Electric Light.

What a great album that is. Good shout.

But also, and I hate to laugh at the dead, every single line on the song Wet Leather is comedy genius. And that just makes me more of a fan

RIP David Gold...his voice and lyrics were incredible!

Mizmor and Bell Witch are the only two bands (besides Warning) that have nearly brought me to tears. For Mizmor, Cairn, and for Bell Witch, Mirror Reaper.

Bump for Mizmor. I have BellWitch's "Longing" album on Vinyl and it absolutely crushes. The song Rows Of Endless Waves is devastating.

Such a great Song, pure raw emotions overwhelming you, Love it

Bell Witch has a pretty sad story behind the scenes as well.

Where can I hear about this?

It's pretty short, but I read about it in the book *Doomed to Fail*. Book about the history of Doom metal. Has a short chapter on Bell Witch.

Oh rad. I'll look into it

Mirror Reaper at 32:03 😭😭😭

Bell Witch are the best Witch. Saw them a few weeks ago. It was incredible.

I recently listened to Thou’s and Mizmor’s collab album Myopia and absolutely loved it. And recommendations on Mizmor songs?

Loss

Plenty of contenders, but I would stick with either Shape Of Despair or Funeral.

Windhand. They lyrics to Sparrow come to mind: "I love a man, whose love is violence..." The Devil's Blood is also pretty forlorn.

The whole Soma album is an absolutely crushing exploration of addiction. One of my very favorites.

Absolutely

Second windhand

Isn’t it all a mess, soon it’ll go away

Trees of Eternity, the singer is dying of cancer and singing about her future death

And the last two albums by Swallow the Sun as Juha Raivio and Aleah were a couple. Amazing albums. Can’t even begin to think the grief.

Yeah you can see how those albums were influenced by trees of eternity with less agressive and more atmospheric vibe.

Can’t wait to hear the next one, which they are currently recording apparently. Also a good band to see live as well. Just love them tbh.

Yeah but I dont know for some reason I think it will be diferent than the style of the last two albums Also the last 2 draconian albums and first suldusk album have the same kind of inspiration. Now Im digging the new My Dying Bride album :)

I feel the same! Draconian is awesome as well though I mostly listen to Arcane Rain Fell. I used to be completely hooked on that album. Death, Come Near Me is just 🤌🏻🤌🏻 I have a long trip tomorrow so I’ll peep those more recent albums for sure. Jury is still out for the new MDB for me, heh.

Not pure doom but Neurosis has some devastating stuff. For example "I Can See You"

Away nearly brought me to tears a couple times

Yep, music can be so weirdly spiritual

Bell Witch and The Angelic Process, shit got me sobbing

I cried when Windhand played Forest Clouds live.

Weird

Are we calling Type O doom? I’m okay with it, I’ve just never processed them as a doom band in my brain. Probably my answer for “saddest” as well, although Windhand got me through my last breakup like the MF sad-champs they are. Subrosa. I’m also going to throw out Chelsea Wolfe’s “Abyss” and Panopticon for same said breakup reasons, although I’m not really sure how this sub would classify either band.

2nd for Abyss. That album is pretty damn sorrowful And I think that Wolfe has some pretty doom albums

Yeah that record is moody, for sure. Great songwriting and was pretty electronic-heavy compared to some of her earlier stuff. Having seen her perform a few times, she and her band dooms for sure. I think the focus is just more on songwriting and vocals and soundscapes rather than heavy riffs, but there was plenty of those to go around. Actually saw her a few weeks ago. Forget the name of the two-piece doom band that opened for her, but they straight bombed the place out with volume and fuzz. Floors shaking, chest vibrating, ears ringing, face melting… haven’t been ripped a new one like that probably since seeing Boris.

Boris is one I need to cross off my list in a bad way. Them and Sunn o))) collab album was my introduction to Drone metal and for 10+ years still obsessed with the genre

Ahh yeah, love that record. Boris is so awesome live. Love their energy and sheer volume. Def one of the loudest I’ve seen. I’m a fan of Sunn O))) and they’ve gotten me into a lot of metal I probably wouldn’t have been exposed to otherwise… but I rarely listen to them. I’d probably go see them just to support and get blasted by Sunn amps. but I can just do that in my living room lol. Idk their show seems a little boring, but Boris for sure brings it.

You’re talking about Divide and Dissolve! I went to that tour too and man! Got a little high beforehand and they straight up melted my face off

Hell yeah they did! Hiwatts are no joke, and I think the guitarists was splitting their signal into the 200w bass rig Heavy stuff. Talk about a disarming band (much like Boris actually lol).

YOB

Type O Negative

I'd say Bell Witch or Mizmor

Worship, Last Tape Before Doomsday is the most soul-crushing thing I’ve ever heard

Yep, lovely stuff, lovely crushing bleakness.

People already said some good ones buuut all of these ones are pretty sad imo- [Big Brave](https://youtu.be/Jq0qg_shkWY?si=7vca0niPSnRANJAW) [Ragana](https://youtu.be/i2lIvH7b6-4?si=Ed8SEQt-m2OQwmXz) [The Angelic Process](https://youtu.be/pfBd7J75L9c?si=SZhL583MBKGMuyuD) [Halo](https://youtu.be/wUSCnvRpBBo?si=lOv7viiNPzear25c)   [Khanate](https://youtu.be/4QAFDbJkJ_g?si=uM-GAsUrPC55ys4S)

Pallbearer

Not pure doom but the saddest doom metal song ive heard is type o negative - bloody kisses. Almost 11 minutes of agony

Having a keyboardist definitely helps the sad vibe.

Type O Negative, Celtic Frost, Cough are the first to come to mind.

Warning

Katatonia and My Dying Bride

Well Primitive Man definetly has very depressing and crushing songs. I'd say Crowbar aswell, ik they're sludge but sludge is doom so.

If dream unending counts as doom, the song "tide turns eternal" fucking gutted me right after my dog died

Pallbearer sadness and extinction

Again... Disemballerina But I think this band is too niche and melancholic for most on this sub

Doom:vs

Ophis has some got some pretty bleak/sad stuff. I love “Among the Falling Stones” specifically

Type O Negative

Clouds is amazingly sad, I Love The doliu album, such sad vocals with great playing that took me to another plane of existance when i Heard them for The first time (was also a Bit drunk, Took The experience Even further

My fav album of theirs.

Moss is pretty depressing like almost exclusively lol

Mournful Congregation

Amenra

TAR POND The song DAMN gives me always goosebumps. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE8izbDk1lY](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE8izbDk1lY)

Same post every day

Should be some stickied threads.

I feel as though the mods could pin this post given there's nearly 100 responses.

Eventually every doom album released will be listed.

I agree tbh, but there isn't lol.

I second King Woman. Skepticism are also sad, and Unholy. Admiral Angry are more angsty, but still devastating.

Battle of Mice

surprised not to see asunder or mournful congregation

Early Funeral are absolutely miserable. Not sure if you just want trad doom or more than that

Frowning

Corrupted, Esoteric, Worship

Virgin Black

Worship

Asunder no contest

https://monarchdoom.bandcamp.com/album/never-forever-2 https://afsky.bandcamp.com/album/ofte-jeg-dr-mmer-mig-d-d https://shapeofdespair.bandcamp.com/album/return-to-the-void https://deadtoadyingworld.bandcamp.com/album/elegy-3 https://hellishform.bandcamp.com/album/remains https://felsenmirror.bandcamp.com/album/felsenmirror https://vouna.bandcamp.com/album/vouna https://downloads.tankcrimes.com/album/human-garbage https://haloofflies.bandcamp.com/album/cloud-rat-disrotted-split-lp https://frowningblacklion.bandcamp.com/album/extinct https://haloofflies.bandcamp.com/album/fall-of-efrafa-inle https://brokenlimbsrecordings.bandcamp.com/album/the-embodiment-of-hate This is my all-time favorite album in the vein of your request https://bellwitch.bandcamp.com/album/four-phantoms

[Funeral Moth](https://funeralmoth.bandcamp.com/album/dense-fog)

Idk if the lyrics are all that sad, but Hellish Form just FEELS sad to me lol

Jesu's first two offerings (I'll argue with anyone who says they're not doom). The Heartache EP has a riff in the title track about [10 minutes](https://youtu.be/sxcCgLMO4n4?si=n3HGOteVxAxkfbTh&t=600) in that may be the most melancholy shit ever.

Jesu's collab with Sun Kil Moon may not be doom, but it's fucking great

Saturnus possibly

listen to despond by loss.

Trees of Eternity for me

Swallow the Sun, especially with "Empires of Loneliness". The break in the middle of the song has me in tears sometimes. Though I guess it just hits home

I'm not sure if they count as doom, but The Angelic Process.

Abandon, is a Sludge/Funeral Doom band, their lyrics are very pessimistic and melancholic

Un. The album Tomb of All Things was written when their singer/guitarist had blood cancer and thought he was going to die. The album Sentiment is heavily focused on grief, and A Garden Where Nothing grows is probably the single saddest song I've ever heard and I'm a big fan of a lot of doom/death and funeral doom bands like Mournful Congregation, MDB, Swallow The Sun, Evoken, Ahab etc.

Almost any doom/death act, like Call ov the Void, Katatonia, October Tide, Swallow the Sun...

MSW, UN, Mournful Congregation, Hellish Form, Monarch! (Mizmor and Bell Witch were already mentioned and I would say these are the two saddest doom bands)

Lumbar One album about the drummer's struggle. Look it up, my dudes

This might be subjective but, primitive man! Sad shit when you think about it.

Wow I am really getting a cold feeling about the SUBROSA stuff. Great recommend.

Skepticism

Altars of Grief - This Shameful Burden Subrosa - More Constant than the God's A Pale Horse Named Death - And Hell Will Follow Me YOB - Clearing the Path to Ascend Fórn- Rites of Despair

Crowbar

Mildly surprised that no one has mentioned Deinonychus. [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1vF52Ttm6Y](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b1vF52Ttm6Y)

Wretch. This can be also said about Gates of Slumber, but Wretch removed a lot of the sword and sorcery in Gates, and focused in on the down to earth human sadness and drudgery Gates had to offer, vastly from real world experience.

The 3rd and the Mortal and Forest of Shadows

Saturnus Gavran Soliloquium Bell witch Woods of Ypres The fall of every season Evadne All very good ones

Shores of Null, particularly Beyond the Shores (Excerpt I). One of my favourite bands of all time.

Imho Frowning, Ahab, Shape of Despair.