Goth Rock (gÁΘ rÁk) is a genre of music that began to emerge in the late 1970s during the post punk years. While sharing some stylistic similarities to punk, gothic rock differentiates itself most notably through its dark, introspective, and personal lyrics, as opposed to punk’s more aggressive and confrontational tone. It often features keyboard or synthesizer-intensive music, in addition to more typical rock instruments including guitar, bass, and drums. Vocals often sound eerie or melancholy. Bands considered to be quintessential goth rock include Fields of the Nephilim, Mephisto Waltz, and the Sisters of Mercy, while The Cure, Joy Division, and Siouxsie and the Banshees are widely regarded as spiritual predecessors to the genre.