>> Joy Division

Developing out of the early British punk scene, Joy Division’s sound was marked by stripped-down melodies, carried out by both a twangy, tin-like guitar and a deep bass, accompanied by steady rhythms. The groaning of front man Ian Curtis fleshed out the band’s sound, adding an extra layer of gloom to the band’s sound. While not as downcast as Gothic acts, Joy Division’s sound featured a marked decrease in energy than their punk forerunners. After Curtis’ suicide in 1980, the band carried on, changing its name to New Order, which would later briefly split into Electronic and Monaco in the ’90s.

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