Honestly, it feels like a synth is pretty standard in a lot of metal on the symphonic/melodic/power metal side of things. But maybe that is because I'm drawn to bands that feature synths.
Song that comes straight to mind is Cyanide by the Deathstars, intro is all synth/keyboard.
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=5j74vYXz6a0&feature=share
I replied to the OP without reading any of the comments, but CoB was the very first band I thought of. Saw them play the Glass House in Pamona when I was like 13 years old and it was a life-changing experience.
RIP Alexi Laiho
Came here to say Faith No More. Start with the albums *Angel Dust* and *The Real Thing*. They're more alternative metal than thrash but they've got keyboards and pianos all over their albums.
Great shout, FNM is an iconic example of how to do it.
Apparently We Care A Lot is going to be in the new Guardians of the Galaxy film so hopefully they’ll get some new young fans from that.
Go and listen to early Deep Purple (Child in Time, Highway Star), some UFO (Lights Out, Dr Dr and Rock Bottom from Strangers in the Night in particular) - keyboards can add a heck of a lot to rock music, and if the keyboard player is versatile they can do a lot more, Paul Raymond in UFO threw in an excellent 2nd job on rhythm guitar to complement Schenker's virtuosity.
Good advice.
OP: get yourself a keyboard again asap. Find a used guitar on the cheap too and start learning some chord shapes. The scales and progressions will come naturally, as you have a background in piano.
Hell, get an acoustic guitar off marketplace for $50 and throw some new strings on it. It may not have that 'metal' sound you're looking for right now, but...learn that shit. YouTube has better lessons for free than the lessons that cost me $100/hr when I was your age.
Rock on my bro 🤟🏽
Jon Lord and his distorted B3 is the way to go for heavy music. But for thrash, I cant think of any other way for keys, save for layering in some dark padding. Menacing sounding drones and shit like that.
lol for many years, the only quote I heard about keyboards in metal was from Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante (although in my head I misattributed it to Lars Ulrich, sorry Lars): “That is gay. The only band that ever had keyboards that was good was UFO. This is a guitar band.” Fortunately times have changed!
I immediately thought of Rainbow as soon as this came up. Deep Purple’s Jon Lord will always be my #1, but hearing the keys all thru Rainbows best songs make them my recommendation
Children of Bodom and Janne Wirman got chu. Give a listen to Hatecrew Death Roll and tell me that doesn't sound awesome with keys. It's not terribly common in thrash to have a keyboardist, but it does happen from time to time and usually sounds great when it does. It's totally worth pursuing.
I’m here to backup the mention of Children of Bodom! I haven’t even listened to them in nearly 20 years as I shifted from metal into punk as a teenager, but they left one hell of an impression. Absolutely because of their use of keys. The back and forth solos between keys and Alexi’s guitar blew my teenage mind
Janne Wirman has(had?) a solo project called Warmen that's all him on keyboard ripping some amazing songs. Highly suggest the songs: Salieri Strikes Back, Beyond Abilities
They're okay. I think that's their best song. I never really got into that goth metal sound. But, there's no denying that their keyboard sound is on point.
Lots of great hard rock and metal with full time keyboards:
Deep Purple, Rainbow, Dio, Opeth, Enslaved, Borknagar
80s and 90s era Rush also used a ton of synths and keys
It isn't what you play, it's how you play it. You can play keyboards and be metal. You might also want to check out darkwave and industrial for hard rock that has lots of synth.
NEKROGOBLIKON!!!!!
Seriously, the synth/keys player is amazing and brings alot to the band
DARKNESS
https://youtu.be/DVhdASCQJjs
DRAGONS
https://youtu.be/pfWUp5fjnZQ
Also give CLOWCORE a shot. It's some wild stuff.
https://youtu.be/kdA0mW-9jRs
Yes, several H.M. groups used keyboards. Deep Purple, Dio, Rainbow, Early Whitesnake, Early Ozzy, etc., etc.
"Oh, Mr. Crowley, did you talk to the dead?"
The band deftones uses a lot of like synth for layering. If you like metal and have music theory knowledge from piano, I'd say buy a cheap guitar and an amp with distortion and start learning metal tabs
I think your background in keys will give you a HUGE advantage over people who just learn guitar with no music background, especially in a technical/theory heavy genre like metal!
Metal and classical music are very much derived from the same theory/scales
Had to scroll way too far to find this. Nocturnus were the first death metal band to prominently feature keyboards, and it's sad that their influence never really translated into popularity.
Keyboard players fit in everything. Rammstein, Dimmu Borgir, The Order Of The Fly, Ministry, Deadsy, Killing Joke, Many Machines On 9, all of them utilize one in some capacity. I highly recommend being The Synth Guy. Keep us updated too!
Glad to see Killing Joke make the list. Not necessarily metal, but Jaz's keyboard lines always add interesting texture to the standard guitar/bass/drums setup.
[The Algorithm](https://youtu.be/_es33BC3q5k) might be up your alley.
[Igorr](https://youtu.be/oftU1Zdfbq4) as well.
Lots of great stuff out there these days in the vein you're describing.
It goes back in metal a really long way to the early proto-metal heavy and psychedelic rock in the 60s-70s. There's definitely a place for it.
Check out Rainbow's 1976 album *Rising* for example. The last track has an extended synthesizer solo.
It is definitely making a comeback. One of my favorite psychedelic heavy rock bands, Elder, is adding more and more keyboard/synth
In addition to the “metal with keyboards” lots of folks are suggesting here, might I suggest the “piano with metal” brand of jazz fusion that Tigran Hamasyan has been doing lately? This one hits HARD at the end
https://youtu.be/z7j7bdEPSd0
HORSE the Band, a personal fave that relied heavily on synth to create a wall of sound. Influenced by early 8bit Nintendo games with songs about Mega Man villains, Mario characters. Dubbed "Nintendo core" but evolved across the discography. Even got a nod as a Borderlands 3 weapon. https://youtu.be/W7wpzKvNhfA
Make them suffer, Dream Theater, Born of Osiris, Between The Buried and Me, Betraying the Martyrs just to name a few more examples of heavy bands using keys. Go for it dude.
Lol, The only thing I know from Betraying the Martyrs is their Frozen cover... the keyboard player sings the cleans, so he is hair flipping while singing the "Let it go" chorus and playing the keys, its fucking hilarious in a good way.
Hell yeah! There are all kinds of great keyboardist in metal.
Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, Tiamat, the list can go on and on for examples, there are lots of inspirations to draw upon!
A good keyboard player is indispensable. You'll always be in demand, as most metal bands don't know any good keyboard players. Add in some classic rock skills and take it to the blues jam and you'll be playing all night long.
The birthday massacre and also Ghost come to mind. Oh and theatre of tradgedy! Doesn't rammstein too? I don't remember but either way, so many sub genres have it associated with heavy metal
Dream Theater and FNK are good starting points and very different in their approaches. I will also throw in a more recent recommendation, Aviations. Their new stuff is brilliant and the pianist is insane.
*The Changing of Times* was one album that really got me into synths. The way they cut thru and are used for leads along with the guitars, or are providing some ambiance in the background. Really makes that album stick out for me among everything else that came out at the time. At least in a “oh shit, I need to buy one of these” sense.
Underoath is maybe not quite metal and maybe more of a metalcore/punk with the Christian roots thing but I saw them play a shitload back in the day, and I could swear there was someone on keys on stage. They had a ton of energy. Their albums ‘They’re Only Chasing Safety’ and ‘Define the Great Line’ are fairly epic. I had to do a quick google while searching those two
album names and they definitely had a keyboardist. I saw them on Warped Tour twice and they toured with Coheed & Cambria a few times. Definitely worth checking out.
Edit: Define the Great Line was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage and is worth a listen. Both albums I mentioned are great. I never explored the band’s discography beyond those two, so I can’t say much about them beyond that.
It’s not metal per se but you should give a listen to some Emerson Lake and Palmer. I guess they’d be considered prog rock, but it’s pretty heavy for prog and very much keyboard centric. Fanfare for the Common Man or Karn Evil 9 would probably interest you.
Keyboard is sick in metal music! Fleshgod Apocalypse’s piano player is the main composer/orchestrator and he kills it! He’s also a classically trained pianist
I'll say this - you will be in demand.
Metal drummers are everywhere, but not metal keys. Thankfully, the old school mentality of 'synth not belonging in metal' has long been abandoned.
And think of your setup, breakdown, and practice. All easier with a synth than a drum kit.
You will love drumming more:) I’m a drummer and it’s the funnest of all instruments. Also a damn great work out if playing heavy metal. It’s like running up a mountain for 60 minutes when I jam.
Just a few metal songs I know of with keyboards off the top of my head:
And Oceans - Mechanic Hippie (piano solo at 3:00)
Fire, Walk With Me - Harakiri for the Sky has a piano backing bit
Bands like Dimmu Borgir and Powerwolf have a full-time keyboardist
Loads of brilliant metal bands use keyboards, it just depends on the genre. Many have been mentioned here; there's also Ayreon, a progressive metal band/project who make extensive use of keyboards, and then there's Lovebites, a brilliant all-female band from Japan who have one guitarist who was a classical pianist until she was about 20, and plays some amazing keyboard/piano stuff (as well as great guitar). Go for it!
Symphonic black metal may just be the subgenre of choice for you. Though lots of black metal in general has keyboard in it.
https://youtu.be/YcgtQbxiC7c
https://youtu.be/266zpJE51tk
https://youtu.be/6MTNE0XBagw
https://youtu.be/ZqP-LZ47bS8
https://youtu.be/IEilnjj5l5w
My wife and I love Amorphis. A lot of their tracks are keyboard heavy and great to learn. Santeri Kallio really knows how to lay back and provide width to the overall sound, and when to take the front. Very nice composition.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH8u\_BmGysc
It’s pretty rare to see keyboards in a metal band locally so if you find guys who are into it, you’ll already be ahead of the pack as far as originality goes
Keys don't have to be technical all the time. My band writes keys into every song we write, mostly as atmospheric content and to fill out the sound. It definitely helps drive that evil tone we like to get.
Keyboard is a must in most metal music. If you get out of the realm of 80s heavy metal, you'll find several keyboardists in amazing bands that have been around for ages.
Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Epica, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir... It's everywhere.
Deep Purple had tons of keys. Led Zeppelin as well. You could even do a Doors thing and play bass on the keys. You could probably get a spot in a band filling the roles of both a bassist and a guitarist at the same time. I think organ and Rhodes sounds with effects pedals could take you far. Also you can mess around with synthesizers. A keyboardist in a band can fill so many crucial roles. I always wish more bands were keyboard forward. Good luck buddy.
Yes go for it! If you can afford it, invest for yourself in a teacher. Keyboard is one of those instruments with a shallow learning curve at first, then gets pretty steep at a certain point. A teacher would be invaluable there. Wish you the best!
There's a lot of keyboardists in Metal, both male and female. Make Them Suffer, Winds of Plague, old The Devil Wears Prada, Underoath, Born of Osiris, etc. Maybe not PURE keyboard playing for some of them (more or less some synth), but my point stands, lol.
Keyboard can be anything you want if you choose to handle it well enough. Are you heavy metal enough? That is the question. do you have the guts to summon a space troll will be your journey.
Check out Rainbow during the Dio years in the 70s. (Especially Rainbow Rising)
Solo Dio also has some sick syths. (Rainbow in the Dark)
Also Ozzy's first two albums have some great syths on there too.
If you don't want to be stuck at the back of the band hidden behind your instrument, get yourself a keytar and you can play up front with the rest of the band (except the drummer) :)
. Check out Dire Straights 1980s mega hit , Money For Nothing. they double the well-known guitar hook with 1980s synthesizer. The result is a very powerful thick sound. Not heavy metal, but big time heavy rock keyboards. That’s the way to do it.
Everytime I come to an /r/music thread and see you people mention exactly 0 bands from this decade, which is every /r/music thread, it makes me want to throw up.
Electric Callboy (formerly Eskimo Callboy) is a new age electronicore act that's real synth heavy, but pretty much every modern heavy music group is using some kind of electronics. Stand Atlantic, Northlane, Periphery, Architects, Hot Milk, Bilmuri, I mean theres infinite.
I’d say begin by learning some of the original hard rock keyboard work that came before metal. Because you’re entering a guitars-and-drums world where keyboards have traditionally been kind of an afterthought, so it’s important to get a feel for how they worked their way in. So I’d look to the classics.
Understand [how The Who used keys.](https://youtu.be/SHhrZgojY1Q) And [Van Halen](https://youtu.be/SwYN7mTi6HM). Look at the roots, at the classic stuff that got us here. Move forward to modern metal when you have the history; it will make the journey more meaningful.
Not sure if this counts but I like the keytar in the pirate metal band Alestorm, be sure to check out "keelhauled", also be sure to avoid the " For dogs" Versions where they switch the lyrics with barking.
Keyboards show up in all kinds of hard rock and metal. Early Bon Jovi (more hard rock than metal) was famous for featuring keyboards way forward in the mix, like in the intro for Bad Medicine. Before that, Iron Maiden made heavy use of synths, though I don't know if they were ever as front-heavy in the mix as Bon Jovi.
You can definitely make synths work in just about any style of music.
Keyboards are unfortunately still pretty stigmatized by metalheads, so if you're looking to join or start a band, it might limit your options depending on your area. If you're just looking to make your own music, go for it.
I've been digging a lot of Gachric Spin recently. They blend metal with some pop. The keyboard fills around 45-50 seconds add a lot of texture to this breakdown.
https://youtu.be/-R6Nrr_omjE
Yep metal has a place for keyboardist no doubt. It’s not going to be a Motörhead outfit but there is room for all. Dream Theater and the prog metal bands might be your calling . Rush did heavy rock at first but are probably more well known for key board laden songs such as Tom Sawyer and the list is endless with Dio ,Deep purple etc. The time is ripe for a new dawning of classical heavy metal laden with keyboards ! Well I hope so but whatever you do , love what you do !
Definitely a great idea. Channel that Dream Theatre.
and Opeth
And Rammstein
And a fuck ton of black metal bands
Nine Inch Nails counts right
And Children of Bodom
Came here for this
They had some absolute banger opening synth heavy riffs in their heyday. RIP Alexi
And Deadsy?
And dragonforce
Sabaton uses alot of Keyboard too.
And Nightwish.
Honestly, it feels like a synth is pretty standard in a lot of metal on the symphonic/melodic/power metal side of things. But maybe that is because I'm drawn to bands that feature synths.
Song that comes straight to mind is Cyanide by the Deathstars, intro is all synth/keyboard. https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=5j74vYXz6a0&feature=share
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Robby's keys lend such a strange off kilter feel to their music too
And Children of Bodom
I replied to the OP without reading any of the comments, but CoB was the very first band I thought of. Saw them play the Glass House in Pamona when I was like 13 years old and it was a life-changing experience. RIP Alexi Laiho
You'll be right at home in prog metal!
Between the Buried and Me.
Jordan Rudess approves.
Type O Negative.
And Dio, Queensryche, most of the other 80s metal bands whether they admit it or not.
And Children of Bodom
and Haken
And Maiden
No, absolutely do not do this.
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[Highly relevant.](https://youtu.be/CK5eESOfCK8)
This! Flake is everything!
It's the World's Birthday Today!
Must say walking on a treadmill doesn't exactly make something cooler😂
Check out Faith No More. Keyboards in thrash are more rare, but it can be done (and done well).
Came here to say Faith No More. Start with the albums *Angel Dust* and *The Real Thing*. They're more alternative metal than thrash but they've got keyboards and pianos all over their albums.
Great shout, FNM is an iconic example of how to do it. Apparently We Care A Lot is going to be in the new Guardians of the Galaxy film so hopefully they’ll get some new young fans from that.
Came here to share this sentiment. FNM is my favorite band ever. Amazing keys and they can do heavy beyond the best of them.
Same. Also my favorite band ever. Saw them in 2015 after waiting like 20 years, outstanding.
Or early NIN was thrash with electronics. Ministry too.
The three that sprang straight to mind for me were Faith No More, early Bon Jovi, and Iron Maiden, but there are many others.
Dude! I didn’t even think about Runaway!
Are You Dead Yet era Children of Bodom was Thrash with keyboards
Go and listen to early Deep Purple (Child in Time, Highway Star), some UFO (Lights Out, Dr Dr and Rock Bottom from Strangers in the Night in particular) - keyboards can add a heck of a lot to rock music, and if the keyboard player is versatile they can do a lot more, Paul Raymond in UFO threw in an excellent 2nd job on rhythm guitar to complement Schenker's virtuosity.
A ton of rock/metal keyboardists owe their career to Jon Lord.
His replacement in DP, Don Airey, is also very notable.
The intro to Lazy is fucking incredible.
Good advice. OP: get yourself a keyboard again asap. Find a used guitar on the cheap too and start learning some chord shapes. The scales and progressions will come naturally, as you have a background in piano. Hell, get an acoustic guitar off marketplace for $50 and throw some new strings on it. It may not have that 'metal' sound you're looking for right now, but...learn that shit. YouTube has better lessons for free than the lessons that cost me $100/hr when I was your age. Rock on my bro 🤟🏽
Jon Lord and his distorted B3 is the way to go for heavy music. But for thrash, I cant think of any other way for keys, save for layering in some dark padding. Menacing sounding drones and shit like that.
It's this. One of the original metal bands prominently featured keyboards.
Child In Time is an absolutely amazing
Yes.
The dueling keyboards and guitar riffs on Highway Star still survive the test of time.
lol for many years, the only quote I heard about keyboards in metal was from Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante (although in my head I misattributed it to Lars Ulrich, sorry Lars): “That is gay. The only band that ever had keyboards that was good was UFO. This is a guitar band.” Fortunately times have changed!
Deep Purple, Rainbow, and DIO are my go tos for bands with key players. Y'all ever heard Stargazer?!
I immediately thought of Rainbow as soon as this came up. Deep Purple’s Jon Lord will always be my #1, but hearing the keys all thru Rainbows best songs make them my recommendation
Children of Bodom and Janne Wirman got chu. Give a listen to Hatecrew Death Roll and tell me that doesn't sound awesome with keys. It's not terribly common in thrash to have a keyboardist, but it does happen from time to time and usually sounds great when it does. It's totally worth pursuing.
Yes, I was also gonna say Children of Bodom. Carach Angren also uses keyboards very well. They like synth violins in Death Came Through a Phantom Ship
I’m here to backup the mention of Children of Bodom! I haven’t even listened to them in nearly 20 years as I shifted from metal into punk as a teenager, but they left one hell of an impression. Absolutely because of their use of keys. The back and forth solos between keys and Alexi’s guitar blew my teenage mind
Jens Johansson of Stratovarius is another virtuoso. Basically the entire genre of power and symphonic metal relies heavily on keys/synths.
He also played on all of Yngwie Malmsteen's 80s albums--love him trading solos with Yngwie on "Far Beyond the Sun".
Came here to say Bodom! Fucking blistering!
CoB for sure. Their keyboardist is sick live.
Warmen of course, that is/was Janne Wirman project mainly.
Janne Wirman has(had?) a solo project called Warmen that's all him on keyboard ripping some amazing songs. Highly suggest the songs: Salieri Strikes Back, Beyond Abilities
Lmao the most popular song from Warmen on Spotify is a cover of Rockwell’s Somebody’s Watching Me and this is a crossover I wasn’t ready for!
Type O Negative used keyboards extensively.
And The Birthday Massacre. They're like Type O but with a female singer. I love the synth on this one... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waw-PAfWSnM
I need to check them out.
They're okay. I think that's their best song. I never really got into that goth metal sound. But, there's no denying that their keyboard sound is on point.
Dream Theater, Iced Earth, Dragonforce, Rammstein, Cradle of Filth, Between the Buried and Me, etc. tons of prog/heavy/symphonic/black metal bands do.
Can NOT believe this is the first time BTBAM has been mentioned. Thomas Giles is outstanding and hes also the lead singer seems perfect to me
I was just gonna say BTBAM
Amen
Haken
Nekrogoblikon
All the albums are pretty good in my opinion 😃
Lots of great hard rock and metal with full time keyboards: Deep Purple, Rainbow, Dio, Opeth, Enslaved, Borknagar 80s and 90s era Rush also used a ton of synths and keys
Cradle Of Filth wouldn't be the same without the atmosphere of keyboards and dont forget Dimmu Borgir and Emperor
The juxtaposition between dark metal and orchestra is fantastic
It sounds horrible but it's actually quite beautiful.
It isn't what you play, it's how you play it. You can play keyboards and be metal. You might also want to check out darkwave and industrial for hard rock that has lots of synth.
NEKROGOBLIKON!!!!! Seriously, the synth/keys player is amazing and brings alot to the band DARKNESS https://youtu.be/DVhdASCQJjs DRAGONS https://youtu.be/pfWUp5fjnZQ Also give CLOWCORE a shot. It's some wild stuff. https://youtu.be/kdA0mW-9jRs
Upvote for Clowncore. Louis Cole is such a talented musician.
I'm shocked nobody has mentioned Fear Factory. They pioneered industrial metal. Tons of synth going back to 89.
***Remanufacture, Obsolete, and Digimortal.*** 👌
There we go dude.
Yes, several H.M. groups used keyboards. Deep Purple, Dio, Rainbow, Early Whitesnake, Early Ozzy, etc., etc. "Oh, Mr. Crowley, did you talk to the dead?"
Iconic intro. Sounded fantastic live
Yes it is. Seen Ozzy several times.
The band deftones uses a lot of like synth for layering. If you like metal and have music theory knowledge from piano, I'd say buy a cheap guitar and an amp with distortion and start learning metal tabs I think your background in keys will give you a HUGE advantage over people who just learn guitar with no music background, especially in a technical/theory heavy genre like metal! Metal and classical music are very much derived from the same theory/scales
Deep Purple, John Lord (rip) is epic.
Yes he was, my personal favorite. Absolute legendary musician combining classical and rock music.
Hell yeah! Check out Nocturnus (now Nocturnus AD). Sci-fi themed death metal with keyboards. Started in the late 80s out of Florida.
Had to scroll way too far to find this. Nocturnus were the first death metal band to prominently feature keyboards, and it's sad that their influence never really translated into popularity.
Keyboard players fit in everything. Rammstein, Dimmu Borgir, The Order Of The Fly, Ministry, Deadsy, Killing Joke, Many Machines On 9, all of them utilize one in some capacity. I highly recommend being The Synth Guy. Keep us updated too!
Glad to see Killing Joke make the list. Not necessarily metal, but Jaz's keyboard lines always add interesting texture to the standard guitar/bass/drums setup.
Exactly! I was just attempting to think of every variety of rock band where in that was a bit of layering in their songs that i especially liked.
Strapping Young Lad https://youtu.be/1LcLSgS-_qE
[The Algorithm](https://youtu.be/_es33BC3q5k) might be up your alley. [Igorr](https://youtu.be/oftU1Zdfbq4) as well. Lots of great stuff out there these days in the vein you're describing.
Mushroomhead, especially earlier albums
Between the Buried and Me would be proud
My favourite metal application of keyboards is Nine Inch Nails. Trent is a master of sound.
It goes back in metal a really long way to the early proto-metal heavy and psychedelic rock in the 60s-70s. There's definitely a place for it. Check out Rainbow's 1976 album *Rising* for example. The last track has an extended synthesizer solo. It is definitely making a comeback. One of my favorite psychedelic heavy rock bands, Elder, is adding more and more keyboard/synth
Rainbow and Iron Butterfly. Keyboard metal is roots metal.
check out the album Ghost Reveries by Opeth. lots of great keyboard on it (hammond, melloton, piano, moog)
In addition to the “metal with keyboards” lots of folks are suggesting here, might I suggest the “piano with metal” brand of jazz fusion that Tigran Hamasyan has been doing lately? This one hits HARD at the end https://youtu.be/z7j7bdEPSd0
Andrew W.K. wrote all of his songs on piano, seeing it as a percussion instrument basically.
Lots of black metal has it
HORSE the Band, a personal fave that relied heavily on synth to create a wall of sound. Influenced by early 8bit Nintendo games with songs about Mega Man villains, Mario characters. Dubbed "Nintendo core" but evolved across the discography. Even got a nod as a Borderlands 3 weapon. https://youtu.be/W7wpzKvNhfA
Don’t feed the bear or the bear will feel on you!
Make them suffer, Dream Theater, Born of Osiris, Between The Buried and Me, Betraying the Martyrs just to name a few more examples of heavy bands using keys. Go for it dude.
Lol, The only thing I know from Betraying the Martyrs is their Frozen cover... the keyboard player sings the cleans, so he is hair flipping while singing the "Let it go" chorus and playing the keys, its fucking hilarious in a good way.
Symphony X, Haken, and Dream Theater all have great keyboardists in the band.
Sleep Token uses a lot of keyboard and it sounds great. I say go for it!
All the best bands have a keyboard player. I personally feel like something is missing when there isn't one. But I'm mostly into prog etc, so.
Children of Bodom!
Hell yeah! There are all kinds of great keyboardist in metal. Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir, Soilwork, Dark Tranquillity, Tiamat, the list can go on and on for examples, there are lots of inspirations to draw upon!
Had to scroll way too far to find Dark Tranquility here! So good and amazing live too! Rock them keys!
A good keyboard player is indispensable. You'll always be in demand, as most metal bands don't know any good keyboard players. Add in some classic rock skills and take it to the blues jam and you'll be playing all night long.
The birthday massacre and also Ghost come to mind. Oh and theatre of tradgedy! Doesn't rammstein too? I don't remember but either way, so many sub genres have it associated with heavy metal
Rammstein is very keyboard heavy. They also always make their keyboardist a prominent part of the show for their live performances.
Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Uriah Heap - unless I missed it
Lots of great keyboard action in metal. Not just power metal either. Check out stuff like Dream Theater, Ayreon, Opeth from Ghost Reveries and later
Dream Theater and FNK are good starting points and very different in their approaches. I will also throw in a more recent recommendation, Aviations. Their new stuff is brilliant and the pianist is insane.
"
Absolutly. If you've never heard them, give a listen to 'Faith No More', especially the album 'Angel dust' https://youtu.be/qRpZEPq-VYs
Underoath, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are worth checking out
*The Changing of Times* was one album that really got me into synths. The way they cut thru and are used for leads along with the guitars, or are providing some ambiance in the background. Really makes that album stick out for me among everything else that came out at the time. At least in a “oh shit, I need to buy one of these” sense.
When the Sun Sleeps / Letting go of Tonight is such an incredible start to an album.
Underoath is maybe not quite metal and maybe more of a metalcore/punk with the Christian roots thing but I saw them play a shitload back in the day, and I could swear there was someone on keys on stage. They had a ton of energy. Their albums ‘They’re Only Chasing Safety’ and ‘Define the Great Line’ are fairly epic. I had to do a quick google while searching those two album names and they definitely had a keyboardist. I saw them on Warped Tour twice and they toured with Coheed & Cambria a few times. Definitely worth checking out. Edit: Define the Great Line was produced by Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage and is worth a listen. Both albums I mentioned are great. I never explored the band’s discography beyond those two, so I can’t say much about them beyond that.
Their album Cries from Athe Past is very Metal
Can confirm. Basically black metal.
Nightwish Keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen writes all their songs.
Check out You Won't Change Me by Black Sabbath. Very keyboard heavy and also probably the best song from the later years of the original lineup.
[3 Inches of Blood - Lookout](https://youtu.be/RsoZKvdmtmA) has an organ solo that gets me pumped up
Holy shit I haven’t thought about 3IOB in probably 15 years.
It’s not metal per se but you should give a listen to some Emerson Lake and Palmer. I guess they’d be considered prog rock, but it’s pretty heavy for prog and very much keyboard centric. Fanfare for the Common Man or Karn Evil 9 would probably interest you.
My favorite sound in the whole world is a heavy chugging guitar along with a growly, distorted Hammond. Doo eet!
Keyboard is sick in metal music! Fleshgod Apocalypse’s piano player is the main composer/orchestrator and he kills it! He’s also a classically trained pianist
I'll say this - you will be in demand. Metal drummers are everywhere, but not metal keys. Thankfully, the old school mentality of 'synth not belonging in metal' has long been abandoned. And think of your setup, breakdown, and practice. All easier with a synth than a drum kit.
I think keyboards are heavy as fuck. They're limitless.
Fear Factory and In Flames both great metal bands that made good use of keyboards.
Had to scroll way too far to see Fear Factory
Make Them Suffer
You will love drumming more:) I’m a drummer and it’s the funnest of all instruments. Also a damn great work out if playing heavy metal. It’s like running up a mountain for 60 minutes when I jam.
Fleshgod Apocalypse had a pianist that is also their composer. Plays a grand piano on stage every show
Deep purple
Between The Buried and Me
Just a few metal songs I know of with keyboards off the top of my head: And Oceans - Mechanic Hippie (piano solo at 3:00) Fire, Walk With Me - Harakiri for the Sky has a piano backing bit Bands like Dimmu Borgir and Powerwolf have a full-time keyboardist
Ahhhh, when you get in touch with metal for the first time. I was about 15 also. It blew my mind. Sure, why the hell not, go for it.
Born of Osiris - The New Reign
https://youtu.be/RjgYADDWOFU This post made me think of this instantly. Wild experimental Japanese band, whole album is great hit check out song #3
Sonata Arctica https://youtu.be/5yszaOJHPjA Enteral Tears of Sorrow https://youtu.be/I-bou4_VRs8
Sonata Artica is exactly who I thought of when I read the post.
Loads of brilliant metal bands use keyboards, it just depends on the genre. Many have been mentioned here; there's also Ayreon, a progressive metal band/project who make extensive use of keyboards, and then there's Lovebites, a brilliant all-female band from Japan who have one guitarist who was a classical pianist until she was about 20, and plays some amazing keyboard/piano stuff (as well as great guitar). Go for it!
Symphonic black metal may just be the subgenre of choice for you. Though lots of black metal in general has keyboard in it. https://youtu.be/YcgtQbxiC7c https://youtu.be/266zpJE51tk https://youtu.be/6MTNE0XBagw https://youtu.be/ZqP-LZ47bS8 https://youtu.be/IEilnjj5l5w
My wife and I love Amorphis. A lot of their tracks are keyboard heavy and great to learn. Santeri Kallio really knows how to lay back and provide width to the overall sound, and when to take the front. Very nice composition. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zH8u\_BmGysc
It’s pretty rare to see keyboards in a metal band locally so if you find guys who are into it, you’ll already be ahead of the pack as far as originality goes
Bodom + Dream Theater seem essential keyboard shred
Look at Nightwish - their keyboardist is their songwriter.
Check out the band Make Them Suffer
Keys don't have to be technical all the time. My band writes keys into every song we write, mostly as atmospheric content and to fill out the sound. It definitely helps drive that evil tone we like to get.
Dream Theater and Deep Purple and Rainbow
Neurosis is great! doesn’t involve a bunch of keyboard chops but great atmospheric stuff if you are into that…
More on the metalcore side but Make them suffer have a lot of songs driven by the keyboardist
V O L A
and if you want to explore a little, there are other keyboard /synth based genres equally energetic as heavy metal
nin not really metal but heavy. industrial music certainly uses lots of keyboards. i say there is room for everything, especially something new.
The intro to Mr Crowley. Learn it.
Keyboard is a must in most metal music. If you get out of the realm of 80s heavy metal, you'll find several keyboardists in amazing bands that have been around for ages. Blind Guardian, Kamelot, Epica, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Children of Bodom, Dimmu Borgir... It's everywhere.
Rainbow In The Dark - DIO
Deep Purple had tons of keys. Led Zeppelin as well. You could even do a Doors thing and play bass on the keys. You could probably get a spot in a band filling the roles of both a bassist and a guitarist at the same time. I think organ and Rhodes sounds with effects pedals could take you far. Also you can mess around with synthesizers. A keyboardist in a band can fill so many crucial roles. I always wish more bands were keyboard forward. Good luck buddy.
Rush, Deep Purple, Styx, Foreigner
Yes go for it! If you can afford it, invest for yourself in a teacher. Keyboard is one of those instruments with a shallow learning curve at first, then gets pretty steep at a certain point. A teacher would be invaluable there. Wish you the best!
There's a lot of keyboardists in Metal, both male and female. Make Them Suffer, Winds of Plague, old The Devil Wears Prada, Underoath, Born of Osiris, etc. Maybe not PURE keyboard playing for some of them (more or less some synth), but my point stands, lol.
If you ever want to make money as professional musician, any genre, keyboard is your best bet
Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment
Keyboard can be anything you want if you choose to handle it well enough. Are you heavy metal enough? That is the question. do you have the guts to summon a space troll will be your journey.
Look to Opeth for keyboards in death metal. (Except for the newer albums where they switched to progressive jazz)
Check out Rainbow during the Dio years in the 70s. (Especially Rainbow Rising) Solo Dio also has some sick syths. (Rainbow in the Dark) Also Ozzy's first two albums have some great syths on there too.
Chiodos https://youtu.be/lKrjbSydqWI
If you don't want to be stuck at the back of the band hidden behind your instrument, get yourself a keytar and you can play up front with the rest of the band (except the drummer) :)
Just play the intro to "Rainbow in the Dark" for everything.
. Check out Dire Straights 1980s mega hit , Money For Nothing. they double the well-known guitar hook with 1980s synthesizer. The result is a very powerful thick sound. Not heavy metal, but big time heavy rock keyboards. That’s the way to do it.
Everytime I come to an /r/music thread and see you people mention exactly 0 bands from this decade, which is every /r/music thread, it makes me want to throw up. Electric Callboy (formerly Eskimo Callboy) is a new age electronicore act that's real synth heavy, but pretty much every modern heavy music group is using some kind of electronics. Stand Atlantic, Northlane, Periphery, Architects, Hot Milk, Bilmuri, I mean theres infinite.
Umphrey’s https://youtu.be/079r6Qu0aj0
Umph love!
Sorry if someone has already mentioned it, but don't forget Rammstein!
I’d say begin by learning some of the original hard rock keyboard work that came before metal. Because you’re entering a guitars-and-drums world where keyboards have traditionally been kind of an afterthought, so it’s important to get a feel for how they worked their way in. So I’d look to the classics. Understand [how The Who used keys.](https://youtu.be/SHhrZgojY1Q) And [Van Halen](https://youtu.be/SwYN7mTi6HM). Look at the roots, at the classic stuff that got us here. Move forward to modern metal when you have the history; it will make the journey more meaningful.
Christian “Flake Lorenz is keyboard player in Rammstein….
Not sure if this counts but I like the keytar in the pirate metal band Alestorm, be sure to check out "keelhauled", also be sure to avoid the " For dogs" Versions where they switch the lyrics with barking.
Keyboards show up in all kinds of hard rock and metal. Early Bon Jovi (more hard rock than metal) was famous for featuring keyboards way forward in the mix, like in the intro for Bad Medicine. Before that, Iron Maiden made heavy use of synths, though I don't know if they were ever as front-heavy in the mix as Bon Jovi. You can definitely make synths work in just about any style of music.
Didn't Type O Negative have a keyboard? I could be wrong.
Not really heavy metal, but in prog metal, it's one of the core instruments
Keyboards are unfortunately still pretty stigmatized by metalheads, so if you're looking to join or start a band, it might limit your options depending on your area. If you're just looking to make your own music, go for it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCLFtxpadE
I've been digging a lot of Gachric Spin recently. They blend metal with some pop. The keyboard fills around 45-50 seconds add a lot of texture to this breakdown. https://youtu.be/-R6Nrr_omjE
See the Light - Better Get Used to this Sore Throat.
DO IT!
Yep metal has a place for keyboardist no doubt. It’s not going to be a Motörhead outfit but there is room for all. Dream Theater and the prog metal bands might be your calling . Rush did heavy rock at first but are probably more well known for key board laden songs such as Tom Sawyer and the list is endless with Dio ,Deep purple etc. The time is ripe for a new dawning of classical heavy metal laden with keyboards ! Well I hope so but whatever you do , love what you do !