Keyboards in extreme metal part 2
Carrying on a list I made a while ago because there are quite a few bands I missed out on in the first list |
| 1 |  | Strapping Young Lad
Alien
Can't believe I glossed over SYL in the first list. Devin Townsend's newer output is a lot softer but this stuff was utterly bombastic, with keyboard parts that helped create a very unique atmosphere. |
| 2 |  | Blut Aus Nord
Disharmonium - Undreamable Abysses
Legendary black metal band that use keyboards and electronics to create some truly disturbing soundscapes. One of the most unsettling bands out there. |
| 3 |  | Waste of Space Orchestra
Syntheosis
A psychedelic/spacey black metal band featuring members of Oranssi Pazuzu. The psychedelic soundscapes created by the keyboards are downright terrifying at times. |
| 4 |  | The Ruins of Beverast
Exuvia
Another super-dark black metal project, this time incorporating elements of doom metal, and their later stuff even has an element of Type O Negative goth-ness to it. |
| 5 |  | Neurosis
Through Silver in Blood
Neurosis have many great elements to their sound, but Noah Landis' keyboards and soundscapes are one aspect I don't hear mentioned a lot of times. They're incredibly subtle, but add an extra dynamic to the band's sound that really is the icing on the cake for me. |
| 6 |  | Thorns
Thorns
Classic black metal album with some great electronic/industrial elements. Almost a precursor to Blut Aus Nord in a way. |
| 7 |  | Cult of Luna
Salvation
Cult of Luna apply keyboards to their sound in a similar way to Neurosis, but again the subtlety really adds an additional dynamic. |
| 8 |  | Ihsahn
After
Obviously nowhere near as bombastic as Emperor, but Ihsahn's solo work has still pushed a lot of boundaries in metal, with a lot of unorthodox instrumentation including (but not limited to) the keyboards. |
| 9 |  | Enslaved
Axioma Ethica Odini
Another legacy act that I neglected on the first list. The keyboard work on Enslaved's work ranges from wintry synths to the more progressive style they've evolved their sound into. |
| 10 |  | Between the Buried and Me
Colors
Not much that I can say here that hasn't been said before really, a classic extreme prog album with masterful musicianship, including the keyboard work by frontman Tommy Giles Rogers |
| 11 |  | Rolo Tomassi
Time Will Die And Love Will Bury It
I wouldn't consider every metalcore band to be extreme, but it's difficult to deny Rolo Tomassi a spot on this list. Ranging from zany mathcore to dreamy shoegaze sections, and the keyboard work on their albums reflect both sides of this sound very well. |
| 12 |  | Persefone
Core
Criminally underrated progressive death metal band from the tiny country of Andorra. Miguel Espinosa's keyboard parts are superb. |
| 13 |  | My Dying Bride
Turn Loose the Swans
My Dying Bride have stayed almost consistently solid throughout their long career, but their earliest work is still amongst their best, with Martin Powell's keyboard and violin parts being a particular highlight for me. |
| 14 |  | Solefald
The Linear Scaffold
One of the weirder black metal bands out there, ranging from bombastic Emperor-esque symphonic black metal to quiet dreamy sections. |
| 15 |  | Make Them Suffer
Neverbloom
Whilst these guys have evolved quite substantially since their debut, Neverbloom is still a great blend of deathcore and symphonic black metal. |
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