Pagan rock

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Pagan Rock
Stylistic origins:	Gothic Rock, darkwave, post-punk, Medieval music
Cultural origins:	1989 United Kingdom
Typical instruments:	Vocals - Guitar - Bass - Drums - Synthesizers
Mainstream popularity:	popular mainly with Pagans though there is significant crossover with Goths in North America and Europe
Other topics
Neopaganism - Paganism - Gothic Culture - Darkwave - Gothic fashion

Pagan rock is a religious themed subgenre of pagan music and typically (though not exclusively) a subgenre of gothic rock and darkwave. The musicians of Pagan rock bands are Pagans, their songs openly use pagan imagery and deal with pagan themes, and the music is designed to appeal to a Pagan audience.

1 Characteristics
2 History
3 Artists
4 External links

[edit] Characteristics

While Pagan rock has its roots firmly in gothic rock, it may also incorporate medieval music or some the darker elements of traditional and folk music, especially Celtic music into their music. Pagan rock can be differentiated from neo-folk from its use of electric guitars instead of acoustic guitars, and reliance on Wiccan and Celtic mythology instead of Germanic paganism and heathenry. Some bands will use a synthesizer instead of guitar and bass guitar, or a drum machine in place of a drummer. Pagan rock bands which use synthesizers typically blend in elements of darkwave, ethereal, ambient, industrial, post-punk and occasionally trip-hop or medieval music into their songs. Other musical instruments, especially Medieval instruments such as the recorder and cittern, may also be used. Lyrically, Pagan rock replaces the Christian religious symbolism and themes frequently found in gothic rock with the neopagan themes which include mythology (especially Wiccan and Celtic), magick, reincarnation, neopagan deities, spirits, fairies, etc. Pagan rock also replaces the nihilism or pessimism sometimes present in gothic rock with the more hopeful themes of spiritual freedom, release, escape or ascension. Aside from the differences between imagery and themes, Pagan rock is essentially the same as gothic rock and darkwave, and is frequently played in goth clubs.

[edit] History

Pagan rock is a label first given to the British gothic rock band Inkubus Sukkubus which was founded in 1989 [1], but has since been applied to gothic rock, darkwave or bands from related subgenres who have pagan members and who's songs use pagan imagery and pagan themes.