Anathema

While Paradise Lost and My Dying Bride got more attention from underground doom metal fans, Liverpool natives Anathema were just as important in creating a new strain of doom that drew heavily from atmospheric goth metal and, in the early days, featured gruff death-style vocals. Formed in 1990, Anathema’s early albums owed much to early-'70s Black Sabbath, most notably with their preference for low, ominous riffs. Combined with the influence of '90s death metal, particularly the abrasive guitar and vocals, Anathema were heralded as one of the leading exponents of a new style of doom metal. Lineup changes in the late '90s saw them moving away from the brutal noise of their earlier work, however, adopting a mellower sound to complement the poetic romanticism of their lyrics.