Metal bands that use the synth best

Synthesisers. Not something that metal fandom of old has really accepted. Yet, we've had some bands that make really good use of synths. Which ones can you name? So far, these seem the best users of the instrument, without adding random horny noises, generic organ/piano solos and an overused faux string-quartet backup. I'm not looking for just the neoclassical soloists, but also those who provide a futuristic sound, and the synth creating an environment- a lot like Rush in the 1980s. A few I can name are Threshold, Pagan's Mind, Dream Theater, Symphony X, Tarot, Pretty Maids and Queensryche (mostly the 1980s and Empire), for a band that didn't have a keyboardist.

DREAM THEATER by far.

Rush used keys in pretty cool ways like Tom Sawyer.

Dream Theater (duh!), Queensryche (just listen to Rage For Order!!!), Iron Maiden (used just to enhance the song), Firewind and any of the euro-power metal bands, Fates Warning.... I am sure I will think of more later

In my opinion, the ones that use it best are the ones where I don't notice it.

Sabaton, Stratovarius, Deep Purple

Type O Negative's first album (SLOW, DEEP & HARD) had my favorite keyboard sound ever.

More bands need to use them ... and more bands need to use them WELL IMHO.

The most shredding keys I have ever heard was in the solo in UK's "Presto Vivace". Now THAT'S the kind of thing that would make you want to pick up the instrument the way rockers are inspired by their favorite guitarists.

I was listening to Deliverance - Assimilation this morning. It's loaded with synth. I actually got bored with it about five songs in and turned it off and put on some Halford instead.

Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Children of Bodom(at least on Hatecrew), Sabaton

Do key-tars count?

Just to clarify, we're talking about synthesisers here, not hammond organs or piano, right? I'm not the biggest Deep Purple fan, but I don't think of them as using "synth". They have an organist.

When I think of synths, I'm thinking of electronic music that's trying to sound like an orchestra or other instrument, usually failing.

I see a clear difference between electric organ or piano and a synthesiser.

Quote :

Do key-tars count?

Don't ever type those words again around here, you hear me!

Nocturnus was arguably the first death metal band to ever implement them in the genre and they sounded great.

Dream Theater with Kevin Moore, specifically on Awake. Awake has some really good sounds(I would call them soundscapes) and not just a bunch of noodling....... and I like noodling. He knew when to hold back and set up the scene.

I prefer the sound of analog keyboards and synths, I've seen a return to using this sound and avoiding the cheesy 80's synth sound.

Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Moog, Oberheim...I'd love to see more metal bands add these to their arsenal (even if they are just computer patches that re-create these sounds).

Stender wrote:

Nocturnus was arguably the first death metal band to ever implement them in the genre and they sounded great.

Nocturnus would be my first choice as well Stender! The guys voice was wicked as well, the drummer if I remember correctly...

Faith no More, Sabaton.

S.D. wrote:

I prefer the sound of analog keyboards and synths, I've seen a return to using this sound and avoiding the cheesy 80's synth sound.

Hammond Organ, Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer, Moog, Oberheim...I'd love to see more metal bands add these to their arsenal (even if they are just computer patches that re-create these sounds).

On Falling Into Infinity Derek Sherinian(a big Jan Hammer fan) uses a lot of those vintage sounds, maybe even sampled mellotron(I highly doubt that he used a real one, they are hard to come by..... Spock's Beard even used samples on one of their albums, V ?????). I'll put that one on here as well.


I actually like this album, very song oriented............ less wank.

Opeth used an actual Mellotron when recording Heritage, the making of footage shows Mikael changing the tape reels.

I've always wanted to see one of those machines close up.

Nocturnus for me as well.

Iron Maiden for sure. Somewhere in Time is my favorite album of theirs.

I saw Symphony X named and I love their stuff

Some might think I'm crazy, but I thought the songs on Sadus's last album that had the synth sounded pretty cool in a way!

I think a lot of newer Power Metal bands have been incorporating too much synth for my personal tastes. Some do use it well, though.

Iron Maiden. Somewhere in Time is a prime example of how synth in metal should sound.
Dream Theater certainly
Queensryche
Symphony X
Vision Divine
Judas Priest - I actually love the TURBO album.
Running Wild - On the few songs they use it, it is to accentuate the melody.
Axel Rudi Pell
Dio
Faith No More
Savatage
Type o Negative
Virgin Steele


and the best?

SABATON!

Too tired to think of any more right now.

Circus Maximus. Cuz, you know, it sounds like a circus, but with crunchy guitars.

DT's Awake has got to be (one of) the best synthworks in all of Rock and metal

EmoElmo wrote:

DT's Awake has got to be (one of) the best synthworks in all of Rock and metal

Yep!