Gothabilly is distinctly different in sound from psychobilly, as while psychobilly fuses 1950s rockabilly with 1970s punk rock in a faster, more aggressive sound, gothabilly fuses bluesy rockabilly with gothic piano and guitar, and is defined by having slower tempos and emphasizing mood over aggression.[1]
History
The Cramps have been credited with coining the term "gothabilly".[1] The term was not popularized until the release of a series of international gothabilly compilation albums released by Skully Records in the mid-1990s.[3][4]
Gothabilly is particularly active in the western portion of the United States, with many of today's bands originating in California.[5]