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| Pagan rock | |
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| Stylistic origins | |
| Cultural origins | 1989 in London, United Kingdom |
| Other topics | |
Pagan rock is a genre of rock music created by adherents ofneopagan traditions. It emerged as a distinct genre fromgothic rock in the 1980s. Bands in this genre will often use pagan and occult imagery and deal with pagan themes. In some cases the definition is stretched to include rock bands embraced by modern Pagans.
Pagan rock as a more distinct genre emerged in the United Kingdom in 1980s, in particular fromgothic rock and relatedpost-punk genres. Gothic rock had become popular among younger pagans as an alternative to the singer-songwriter style established by pagans from thebaby-boom generation, which dominated the neopagan institutions in the 1980s and 1990s.[1] One of the first bands to be labeled as Pagan rock by the press wasInkubus Sukkubus, founded in 1989, who haveWiccan members[2] and whose songs use pagan imagery and pagan themes. After Inkubus Sukkubus had some mainstream success with their debut album in 1993, many gothic rock and darkwave bands emerged with neopagan members and lyrical themes.[3] By the mid-2000s, pagan rock had become fully integrated into the mainstream of neopagan events and institutions.[1]
The term "Pagan rock" differentiates the genre fromnew-age music, and from the traditionalfolk music found at many Neopagan events and gatherings. While many bands under this loose category do incorporaterock and roll styles, one can also find bands inspired by gothic rock,medieval music, the darker elements oftraditional andfolk music,Celtic music,neofolk andneo-classical,darkwave,ethereal,ambient,industrial andexperimental music.
In many ways, the label of "Pagan rock" carries with it the same complexities and problems asChristian rock. Like contemporary Christian music, it is more an umbrella term than a cohesive musical genre. The Pagan rock label can include bands like Inkubus Sukkubus andThe Moon and the Nightspirit who explicitly state their allegiance to Neopaganism; bands likeAbney Park who have Neopagans in the band but do not label themselves as pagan rock, and bands likeUnto Ashes who sing songs involving occult and Neopagan themes but avoid publicly labeling their personal belief systems.
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| Styles and fusion genres |
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| Related topics | |||
