Gotisk metal er en meget varierende genre med bands der følger mange forskellige retninger, lige fra "langsomme og knusende variationer" til "orkestrale og bombastiske."<ref name="MODYSM"/> [[Doom metal]]s tidlige pionerer som [[Paradise Lost (musikgruppe)|Paradise Lost]] og [[My Dying Bride]] har for alvor inspireret grupper som [[Artrosis]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Arancio, Dennis |title=''In the Flowers Shade'' Review |url=http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=35 |publisher=Soniccathedral.com |access-date=2008-05-06 |archive-date=25. december 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225134611/http://www.soniccathedral.com/webzine/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=30&Itemid=35 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[Ava Inferi]]<ref>{{cite web |author=van der Wal, Kim |title=''The Silhouette'' Review |url=http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=10577&lang=en |publisher=Lordsofmetal.nl |access-date=2008-05-06}}</ref> og [[Draconian]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Fox, Erin |title=Interview with Anders Jacobsson of Draconian |url=http://www.thegauntlet.com/interviews/1064/Draconian.html |publisher=Thegauntlet.com |access-date=2008-05-06 |archive-date=22. december 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222133203/http://www.thegauntlet.com/interviews/1064/Draconian.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Fusionen af gothic metal med [[black metal]], som blev introduceret af [[Cradle of Filth]] og det tidlige [[Moonspell]], kan også høres hos senere bands som [[Graveworm]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |title=Graveworm |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,3771.sm |publisher=[[Rockdetector]] |access-date=2008-04-19}}</ref> [[Drastique]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Melzer, Alexander |title=''Pleasureligion'' review |url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=6275 |publisher=[[The Metal Observer]] |access-date=2008-04-19 |archive-date=23. juni 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080623054654/http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=6275 |url-status=dead }}</ref> og [[Samsas Traum]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Sharpe-Young, Garry |title=Samsas Traum |url=http://www.rockdetector.com/artist,1006.sm |publisher=[[Rockdetector]] |access-date=2008-04-19}}</ref> mens præget af symfonisk metal fra [[Tristania]] og [[Within Temptation]] kan findes hos grupper som [[Epica]] og [[After Forever]]. Andre variationer inkluderer [[dødsmetal]] fra [[Trail of Tears]],<ref>{{cite web |author=Melzer, Alexander |title=''Existentia'' review |url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=11876 |publisher=[[The Metal Observer]] |access-date=2008-06-05 |archive-date=30. juni 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630195919/http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=11876 |url-status=dead }}</ref> [[folk metal]] fra [[Midnattsol]]<ref>{{cite web |author=Melzer, Alexander |title=''Where Twilight Dwells'' review |url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=7618 |publisher=[[The Metal Observer]] |access-date=2008-06-05 |archive-date= 3. maj 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080503211045/http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=7618 |url-status=dead }}</ref> og [[alternativ metal]] fra [[Katatonia]].<ref>{{cite web |author=Melzer, Alexander |title=''Ghosts Of The Sun'' review |url=http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=1985 |publisher=[[The Metal Observer]] |access-date=2008-06-05 |archive-date= 8. juni 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608235644/http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=1985 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Musik