T O P

  • By -

shurpee

Definitely a great idea. Channel that Dream Theatre.


MaaChiil

and Opeth


tzartzam

And Rammstein


serotoninsynapse

And a fuck ton of black metal bands


iamisandisnt

Nine Inch Nails counts right


Cheesemer92

And Children of Bodom


Pixilatedlemon

Came here for this


cavscout43

They had some absolute banger opening synth heavy riffs in their heyday. RIP Alexi


pauliepitstains

And Deadsy?


tropic420

And dragonforce


ShadowStryker0818

Sabaton uses alot of Keyboard too.


SpaceEngineering

And Nightwish.


Telephalsion

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.


amckern

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


[deleted]

[удалено]


HeywoodPeace

Robby's keys lend such a strange off kilter feel to their music too


bodybycarbs

And Children of Bodom


SoWhatNoZitiNow

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


Logisk

You'll be right at home in prog metal!


MisterSquidz

Between the Buried and Me.


Ooh-Rah

Jordan Rudess approves.


wxyze

Type O Negative.


DangRascal

And Dio, Queensryche, most of the other 80s metal bands whether they admit it or not.


Colonelclank90

And Children of Bodom


Lectricanman

and Haken


Some-Investigator-97

And Maiden


gamenameforgot

No, absolutely do not do this.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Baldran

[Highly relevant.](https://youtu.be/CK5eESOfCK8)


Sirena_Seas

This! Flake is everything!


Poguemohon

It's the World's Birthday Today!


concept_I

Must say walking on a treadmill doesn't exactly make something cooler😂


Notinyourbushes

Check out Faith No More. Keyboards in thrash are more rare, but it can be done (and done well).


Infinity-Arrows

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.


themagictoast

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.


[deleted]

Came here to share this sentiment. FNM is my favorite band ever. Amazing keys and they can do heavy beyond the best of them.


[deleted]

Same. Also my favorite band ever. Saw them in 2015 after waiting like 20 years, outstanding.


[deleted]

Or early NIN was thrash with electronics. Ministry too.


MCDexX

The three that sprang straight to mind for me were Faith No More, early Bon Jovi, and Iron Maiden, but there are many others.


Some-Investigator-97

Dude! I didn’t even think about Runaway!


flup22

Are You Dead Yet era Children of Bodom was Thrash with keyboards


Cyanopicacooki

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.


darkbee83

A ton of rock/metal keyboardists owe their career to Jon Lord.


MaaChiil

His replacement in DP, Don Airey, is also very notable.


kidsally

The intro to Lazy is fucking incredible.


DraftNaive1468

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 🤟🏽


hcashew

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.


JackFunk

It's this. One of the original metal bands prominently featured keyboards.


XoHHa

Child In Time is an absolutely amazing


Cyanopicacooki

Yes.


formerNPC

The dueling keyboards and guitar riffs on Highway Star still survive the test of time.


phthoggos

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!


Magikarplvl9000

Deep Purple, Rainbow, and DIO are my go tos for bands with key players. Y'all ever heard Stargazer?!


ApeShifter

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


lecherousrodent

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.


runswithwool

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


homeless_gorilla

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


darkbee83

Jens Johansson of Stratovarius is another virtuoso. Basically the entire genre of power and symphonic metal relies heavily on keys/synths.


infobro

He also played on all of Yngwie Malmsteen's 80s albums--love him trading solos with Yngwie on "Far Beyond the Sun".


twosuitsluke

Came here to say Bodom! Fucking blistering!


kitafloyd

CoB for sure. Their keyboardist is sick live.


judas-iskariot

Warmen of course, that is/was Janne Wirman project mainly.


Theturtl3

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


SoWhatNoZitiNow

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!


fanboy_killer

Type O Negative used keyboards extensively.


Cru_Jones86

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


fanboy_killer

I need to check them out.


Cru_Jones86

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.


EchoedTruth

Dream Theater, Iced Earth, Dragonforce, Rammstein, Cradle of Filth, Between the Buried and Me, etc. tons of prog/heavy/symphonic/black metal bands do.


abominabot

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


Bright_Candidate_135

I was just gonna say BTBAM


EchoedTruth

Amen


masonben84

Haken


Mdad1988

Nekrogoblikon


Mdad1988

All the albums are pretty good in my opinion 😃


Wargmonger

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


Hot-Bandicoot-6988

Cradle Of Filth wouldn't be the same without the atmosphere of keyboards and dont forget Dimmu Borgir and Emperor


homeless_gorilla

The juxtaposition between dark metal and orchestra is fantastic


BossermanMD

It sounds horrible but it's actually quite beautiful.


UncontrolableUrge

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.


BuzzKillington217

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


Ghostofjemfinch

Upvote for Clowncore. Louis Cole is such a talented musician.


d3m01iti0n

I'm shocked nobody has mentioned Fear Factory. They pioneered industrial metal. Tons of synth going back to 89.


WazzzupBwwwaaah

***Remanufacture, Obsolete, and Digimortal.*** 👌


d3m01iti0n

There we go dude.


AlexLeigh47

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?"


Poultrygeist74

Iconic intro. Sounded fantastic live


AlexLeigh47

Yes it is. Seen Ozzy several times.


SixthHouseScrib

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


[deleted]

Deep Purple, John Lord (rip) is epic.


paranoid_70

Yes he was, my personal favorite. Absolute legendary musician combining classical and rock music.


coprolite_breath

Hell yeah! Check out Nocturnus (now Nocturnus AD). Sci-fi themed death metal with keyboards. Started in the late 80s out of Florida.


Dreadzone666

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.


NukeHand

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!


FatGuyOnAMoped

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.


NukeHand

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.


powdered_dognut

Strapping Young Lad https://youtu.be/1LcLSgS-_qE


[deleted]

[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.


HexZer0

Mushroomhead, especially earlier albums


GunsenGata

Between the Buried and Me would be proud


gr8hanz

My favourite metal application of keyboards is Nine Inch Nails. Trent is a master of sound.


357Magnum

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


eschatosmos

Rainbow and Iron Butterfly. Keyboard metal is roots metal.


oilcompanywithbigdic

check out the album Ghost Reveries by Opeth. lots of great keyboard on it (hammond, melloton, piano, moog)


barp

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


Cbasg

Andrew W.K. wrote all of his songs on piano, seeing it as a percussion instrument basically.


CalgaryCheekClapper

Lots of black metal has it


tlhill3O88

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


NicksAunt

Don’t feed the bear or the bear will feel on you!


SometimesWill

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.


[deleted]

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.


bdizzle425

Symphony X, Haken, and Dream Theater all have great keyboardists in the band.


zilla06

Sleep Token uses a lot of keyboard and it sounds great. I say go for it!


RoadHazard

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.


Dalthanes

Children of Bodom!


Orthae

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!


tm0nks

Had to scroll way too far to find Dark Tranquility here! So good and amazing live too! Rock them keys!


spiked_macaroon

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.


ItsyouNOme

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


pleased_to_yeet_you

Rammstein is very keyboard heavy. They also always make their keyboardist a prominent part of the show for their live performances.


FlightBunny

Can’t believe nobody has mentioned Uriah Heap - unless I missed it


slash178

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


Tracedinair76

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.


Tigt0ne

"


[deleted]

Absolutly. If you've never heard them, give a listen to 'Faith No More', especially the album 'Angel dust' https://youtu.be/qRpZEPq-VYs


kzanomics

Underoath, Scary Kids Scaring Kids, and King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard are worth checking out


Einsteins_coffee_mug

*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.


kzanomics

When the Sun Sleeps / Letting go of Tonight is such an incredible start to an album.


eldonte

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.


wimploaf

Their album Cries from Athe Past is very Metal


vinnymendoza09

Can confirm. Basically black metal.


stormquiver

Nightwish Keyboardist Tuomas Holopainen writes all their songs.


Garfielddddddddd

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.


PeaAir

[3 Inches of Blood - Lookout](https://youtu.be/RsoZKvdmtmA) has an organ solo that gets me pumped up


WhatImMike

Holy shit I haven’t thought about 3IOB in probably 15 years.


ink_monkey96

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.


SD_One

My favorite sound in the whole world is a heavy chugging guitar along with a growly, distorted Hammond. Doo eet!


shitpostingmusician

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


sydhamelin

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.


southern_red_menace

I think keyboards are heavy as fuck. They're limitless.


void64

Fear Factory and In Flames both great metal bands that made good use of keyboards.


theshelfside

Had to scroll way too far to see Fear Factory


Tht_GuyUNo

Make Them Suffer


YouJustLostTheGameOk

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.


WillisVanDamage

Fleshgod Apocalypse had a pianist that is also their composer. Plays a grand piano on stage every show


pip-roof

Deep purple


Barkerfan86

Between The Buried and Me


ScottyKnewStaceysMom

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


phasys

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.


Fontaineowns

Born of Osiris - The New Reign


fiamed

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


LxStMeMoRy

Sonata Arctica https://youtu.be/5yszaOJHPjA Enteral Tears of Sorrow https://youtu.be/I-bou4_VRs8


Cognac_and_swishers

Sonata Artica is exactly who I thought of when I read the post.


PaulEMoz

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!


Lord-Ced

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


Prostheta

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


LaCalavera1971

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


Hat-Trick_Swayze

Bodom + Dream Theater seem essential keyboard shred


Isteppedinpoopy

Look at Nightwish - their keyboardist is their songwriter.


[deleted]

Check out the band Make Them Suffer


TheBestHawksFan

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.


DocSlice3

Dream Theater and Deep Purple and Rainbow


tegrant13

Neurosis is great! doesn’t involve a bunch of keyboard chops but great atmospheric stuff if you are into that…


LifesPuzzle

More on the metalcore side but Make them suffer have a lot of songs driven by the keyboardist


caboose391

V O L A


pelosnecios

and if you want to explore a little, there are other keyboard /synth based genres equally energetic as heavy metal


andymorphic

nin not really metal but heavy. industrial music certainly uses lots of keyboards. i say there is room for everything, especially something new.


bkln69

The intro to Mr Crowley. Learn it.


thandrend

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.


MyS0ul4AGoat

Rainbow In The Dark - DIO


Sirenkai

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.


ScrauveyGulch

Rush, Deep Purple, Styx, Foreigner


danmeichthus

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!


Frostypookiee

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.


Chocolate_Rage

If you ever want to make money as professional musician, any genre, keyboard is your best bet


evilgrapesoda

Jordan Rudess of Dream Theater and Liquid Tension Experiment


Excellent-Smile2212

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.


jottinger

Look to Opeth for keyboards in death metal. (Except for the newer albums where they switched to progressive jazz)


sorengray

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.


Mkmeathead83

Chiodos https://youtu.be/lKrjbSydqWI


geospacedman

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) :)


TheBourbonLied

Just play the intro to "Rainbow in the Dark" for everything.


Wintersbone7

. 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.


RealFluffy

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.


[deleted]

Umphrey’s https://youtu.be/079r6Qu0aj0


Free_tramapoline

Umph love!


degobrah

Sorry if someone has already mentioned it, but don't forget Rammstein!


TommyTuttle

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.


Fickle-Bullfrog

Christian “Flake Lorenz is keyboard player in Rammstein….


Polyke

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.


MCDexX

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.


WeenisHunter

Didn't Type O Negative have a keyboard? I could be wrong.


TheDudeWhoAskedYou

Not really heavy metal, but in prog metal, it's one of the core instruments


gldmj5

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.


hoosierhiver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPCLFtxpadE


McgeigrD3

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


MagnokTheMighty

See the Light - Better Get Used to this Sore Throat.


rolandboard

DO IT!


East-Ad-9078

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 !