Despairingly dark Western music. World-famous classics and popular songs.

Even though it’s not exactly a good habit, when we’re feeling down we tend to listen to dark songs, don’t we…?

This time, I’ve picked out some “desperately dark” Western tracks that I’d recommend to anyone in that mood.

Even within “desperately dark,” I’ve chosen from a range of genres—from quiet, subdued pieces to metal tracks that are dark yet crank the voltage to MAX.

I’ve covered most of the major genres, so music nerds shouldn’t miss this!

There are some pretty obscure songs in here too, so if you’re digging for great tracks, make sure to check them out!

Playlist

Despairingly dark Western music. World-famous classics and popular songs.
	Title	Playlist	Review
1	No Time To DieBillie Eilish		Introducing Billie Eilish’s dark songs
2	Bring Me To LifeEvanescence		Introduction to representative songs of Evanescence
3	TormentoMon Laferte		Mon Laferte's dark Latin music album
4	En Mi PielBuika		Theme song of a Spanish film
5	The Cold SongKlaus Nomi		A dark song about Klaus Nomi’s struggle with HIV
6	ToxicYael Naim		Yael Naim’s dark track “Toxic”
7	RedboneChildish Gambino		Donald unveils a dark and distinctive new song
8	She’s In PartiesBauhaus		Introduce Bauhaus's classic gothic rock songs
9	Run, Run, RunTokio Hotel		Explanation of Tokio Hotel’s hit songs
10	Sombre dimancheDamia		The Dangerous Allure of Gloomy Sunday
11	PatienceEivør		Fusion of Aibōru folk songs and digital music
12	Pulling Your Insides OutJill Tracy		A talented singer-songwriter of Gothic music
13	BelleZAZ		Introducing ZAZ’s dark classic Belle
14	Concavo Y convexoDiego El Cigala		A dark, tragic flamenco sung by Diego
15	2 WickyHooverphonic		Dark gothic trip-hop by a Belgian unit
16	Morada AbertaMariza		Introduction to Mariza’s Fado Masterpieces
17	HelloMolly Zenobia		Molly Zenobia “Hello” Gothic style
18	SurrenderIAMX		Chris Corner's dark electronic music project
19	La bohèmeCharles Aznavour		Introduction to Puccini’s opera La Bohème
20	LazarusDavid Bowie		Introducing David Bowie's dark song “Lazarus”
21	Make Me BadKorn		A dark, insane masterpiece of progressive metal
22	DownfallExodus		Exodus’s socially critical metal song
23	Forever FailureParadise Lost		Paradise Lost's desperately beautiful masterpiece
24	Crying Of The SunMETALWINGS		A symphonic metal song by Metal Wings
25	hell is a teenage girlNessa Barrett		Introduction to a ballad with a dark worldview
26	QwertyMushroomhead		Mushroomhead’s dark tracks, resistance against society
27	Your Broken ShoreMy Dying Bride		A despair-laden masterpiece by My Dying Bride
28	My Promise (90 Days)Jack Kays, Travis Barker		A collaborative song on the theme of addiction recovery has been released
29	FaillingStaind		The appeal of Staind’s emotional rock songs
30	Everlasting PainMeden Agan		Introduction of songs by a Greek symphonic metal band
31	The EndThe Doors		A doomsday-like song by The Doors was used in a war film
32	DeathNervosa		Nervosa's dark death metal
33	Someone Like YouAdele		Adele’s heartbreak ballad, a soul-stirring masterpiece
34	EverydayCeleste		A track that highlights Celeste’s powerful vocals
35	The Last BaronMastodon		A closing song of a rock opera, with a sense of despair
36	AchtungVarg		German metal band, insane and intense music
37	CheersSleeping With Sirence		Introduction to Songs by Sleeping With Silence
38	TEETHWesGhost, Diggy Graves		A dark love-expression song fused with pop-punk
39	All Girls Are The SameJuice WRLD		An emotional song that sings about the pain of heartbreak
40	LithiumNirvana		Nirvana’s classic song about loneliness and a sense of loss
41	Symphony of DestructionMegadeth		A Megadeth classic. A warning about political corruption.
42	You Will Know My NameArch Enemy		Swedish melodic death metal
43	The Devil Went Down To The Holy LandBetzefer		Betsufer’s socially critical groove metal
44	1-800-273-8255 ft. Alessia Cara, KhalidLogic		Logic: Hip-hop with a suicide prevention theme impacts society
45	The Dark RideHelloween		Helloween signals a shift to a darker musical style
46	FSUMimi Barks		Mimi Barks’s DoomTrap rap
47	Endless DarkHiM		A dark, brooding track by a Finnish gothic metal band.
48	Darkest BlueLostprophets		A despairingly dark song by Lostprophets
49	Warriors Of The World UnitedMANOWAR		Manowar’s signature song, with a majestic sound and a message of unity
50	DeadlockAnnihilator		Annihilator’s socially critical metal song
51	We Don’t BelongBlack Veil Brides		Introducing popular songs by Black Veil Brides
52	Buried MoonWildpath		A song by a French symphonic metal band