Keyboards In Metal

This was a hot topic back in the mid-late 80's but I'm curious as to the attitudes today. Many people hate keyboards and piano in metal and feel that it has no place. Many people (like myself) enjoy it and have no problem one way or the other. I'm also sure there are many who are indifferent. What are your feelings on the matter?

For me I love metal with or without keyboards and embrace both the bands who utilize them regularly, occasionally, or not at all.

LOVE EM!!!!

It really depends on the genre, not really gonna work w/thrash!

candlemass wrote:

It really depends on the genre, not really gonna work w/thrash!

Yeah, I like my thrash without too, but then again, there are some cool intros that keys can produce.

For me it all depends on how the band uses them.I hate it when the keyboards drown out the guitar to were the sound is so flowery and watered down.I like a little in certain places but not alot.

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

An instance of liking them would be "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio.

ultmetal wrote:

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

An instance of liking them would be "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio.

Exactly

Savatage made keys work.

thrasher73 wrote:

ultmetal wrote:

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

An instance of liking them would be "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio.

Exactly

Agree. Sometimes the keyboards just aren't needed. Iron Maiden comes to mind. They have three guitarists so why use keyboards.

I like em in Prog metal and some power metal and Symphonic metal. I suppose I could take it or leave it.

Done properly it's awesome!!!

blackieboy wrote:

LOVE EM!!!!

Agreed. But only if it's done well.

Mostly I don't like 'em in my metal, but there are occasions when it's done right and that's fine with me.

I tend to like a natural piano sound in most contexts, but the electronic keyboard sounds not as much. They are cool in the lower registers as a background, but I'm not fond of using keys for the main melody line, especially in the higher registers. "Rainbow In the Dark" is an example of how NOT to do it, IMO, although it's still a really good song.

Depends on the band I guess. As long as the guitars remain at the forefront and the keyboards aren't overpowering'em, then I'm fine with 'em.

My fave keyboardist, by the way, is Josh Silver of Type O Negative. That guy can make some seriously sick, scary sounds with his rig!!

Depends on how it is done.

I like em when they can actually play something and not just hold a few chords here and there.

Eddie Jobson rules.

I like the atmosphere it gives to epic songs, plus when the play leads along with the guitar, it's really cool.

ultmetal wrote:

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

ditto

My favorite keyboardist is Thuomas Halopaien from Nightwish. That dude tears it up. I seen them live a few weeks ago and Thuomas' fingers were going so fast at times it almost made me dizzy!!

Just because I like melodic bands. Most of my faves feature keyboards, but even so, I don't think it would be a good idea to add them to Motorhead, for example.

i love how they fit into the background of the song as well, I also like the idea of using it as a dueling solo with the guitars.

Quote :

"Rainbow In the Dark" is an example of how NOT to do it, IMO,

Life's a trip, Colonel!!

TT - that's the FIRST song and album I thought of when thinking "if it's done right". I love the keys on that whole album!! Funny.....

ultmetal wrote:

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

An instance of liking them would be "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio.

Super Dot

I dislike them most of the time.

ultmetal wrote:

Depends how they are used. Sometimes I like 'em, sometimes I don't.

An instance of liking them would be "Rainbow in the Dark" by Dio.

Man, that to me is one of the best examples of song that got butchered by crappy keys. Man, that song would be SOOOOOO much better without the cheesey keys.

Tall Tyrion wrote:

I tend to like a natural piano sound in most
contexts, but the electronic keyboard sounds not as much. They are cool
in the lower registers as a background, but I'm not fond of using keys
for the main melody line, especially in the higher registers. "Rainbow
In the Dark" is an example of how NOT to do it, IMO, although it's
still a really good song.

This is my take on it too pretty much.

It depends on the genre, and how they are used.