Metal's Most Important Instrument

IYO, what is the most important instrument in metal? Obviously all are important, but if you had to choose which one would you pick and why?

While drums are very important, they don't necessarily need to be mind blowing drummers to get the job done.

Keyboards, no self respecting metal head would ever pick this one. While I like keys, they are most definatly not necessary for metal. If tomarrow, all keys were taken out of metal, I'd be disappointed, but I would survive.

Bass, while bass is sort of the often overlooked backbone of the music, apart from certain bands (i.e. Maiden, Sabbath, Overkill, Mortification, etc.) I barely notice the bass playing that much.

Vocals, while I am a vocalist and love to sing I still can't say that this is the important instrument (and yes a vocalist's voice is his instrument). That is why there are so many good instrumentals in metal.

This leaves the guitar which IMO is the most important instrument in metal. The guitar is what drew me into the world of metal. From rhythm to lead I love the guitar most of all (I wish I would have had patience and learned to play it). A guitarist can make or break a band for me. For the most part I love solos and unless I hear some decent solos I usually don't like it which is what turns me off of a lot of nu-metal and modern metal bands (the only exception I can think of is Fear Factory which is not nu). While I love to sing, I love to do air guitar even more. Guitar rulz!!!!!

The Triangle

Vocals. Unless we're discussing an instrumental band, of course. But if you have a bad vocalist, or one that can't write a good melody, you might as well have nothing at all.

I don't know with some of this new stuff coming out, maybe the keyboards. Guitars always!

Eyesore wrote:

Vocals. Unless we're discussing an instrumental band, of course. But if you have a bad vocalist, or one that can't write a good melody, you might as well have nothing at all.

Quite a valid point. Vocals are definatly my second choice. That being said, in death, black, and thrash the vocalist doesn't necessarily have to have melody, range, or perfect pitch.

Definitely the vocalist. This is no-brainer for me, though the rest can definitely either enhance the music or detract from it.

Oboe

I voted for drums. Everytime I hear metal music, that's the first thing that I concentrate on.

Vocalist of course, when the music is killer and ur waiting to hear the singer and he just blows u, that is such a great feeling.

blows u

For me it is the guitar.

I voted for vocalist 'cause yeah, a crappy vocalist can ruin otherwise great tunes.

Guitar is close, though. One man and a guitar combining forces can stand alone and make great music. However, as much as we all love bass and drums I've never heard many bass or drum solo albums or bass and vocals or drums and vocals albums.

All the instruments are integral but the vocalist/guitar rule - imo.

vocals can make or break a band for me. a bad vocalist or a vocalist that doesn't fit with the band can totally kill it, even if the musics cool

in flames for example

Any one is worthless without the others. So, none of the above.

It's hard to pick only one. Metal is basically guitar driven, but without a quality rhythm section behind that guitar and a vocalist that works with the music, it's worthless. I guess being in a band for nearly half my life, I see how vital each member is to a band and how each can affect a band's sound.

ult

Vocals. The best riff ever written can be ruined by Ozzy Osbourne.

COWBELL!

the guitar. thats what heavy metal is about: the power of the riff!!!

GrandNational wrote:

I voted for drums. Everytime I hear metal music, that's the first thing that I concentrate on.

same here. it controls the whole speed of the song.

I voted Guitar.Without the distortion of guitars its not metal.

instruments are integral but mean nothing without a good song. I know alot of players who are great players and can't write a song for the life of them. For example... you have Holy Rite... good musicians...average singer...weak songs. They form a band without the singer called "Iron Wrath" good musicians...better singer... a lil better songs.
Then the singer joins up with a song writer and forms Final Axe. Better songs with above average musicians...still a better overall product.

drums are important as well i feel as they add intensity to the guitar

MetalRob331 wrote:

...and he just blows u, that is such a great feeling.

Flute - if you ask the Grammy's people.