Top 10 Best Metal Keyboardists
Who are the best metal keyboardists? Who are the best in feeling? Who are the best in speed? Who have the best solos? Not matter the sub-genre.
Jordan Rudess is an American keyboardist and composer best known as a member of the progressive metal/rock band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment. While men like Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman brought the keyboard into the spotlight with prog rock, it was Rudess who took that same inspiration and blew it out of the water, showing that the keyboard can be just as heavy and technical as metal requires.
This man isn't just a keyboardist.
He's a musical genius with a mind that inspires.
Jordan's sense of musicianship is simply out of this world. Sometimes I get lost in his work even listening to product demoes he does for his endorsers. He takes full advantage of every tool provided to him and uses them in combinations that in essence are songs within songs. There is about six more hands hidden under that beard!
His compositions in every single Children of Bodom song are amazing! Listening to tracks such as Next In Line, Lake Bodom, Bodom Beach Terror, Northpole Throwdown, are down right brutal. He can shred the keyboards and can be metal and really classical. He's amazing at finishing and starting a solo off for Alexi in the band and is a down right awesome force that drives that band and makes Children Of Bodom really sound and really melodic. Plus he's hilarious, songs like Oops I did it again, Clash of the Booze Brothers, and their 2008 Wacken performance!
Jens is the fastest and the best keyboardist in the world. Much current keyboardists have been influenced for him, his solos are the best that I've seen in the world, he made the keyboards an insrument of respect in the metal. And his simplicity is unique because he beats many keyboardists with his solos and compositions just using a Yamaha keyboard, and not a big set of keyboards or synths that use another keyboardists... Jens must be the number one, not another one...
I can't understand why Johansson is behind Wirman, Holopiainen and Rudess.
The lead solo of Johansson are way better in '80's and during Strato Era he improve it. Rudess is only a tech nerd and not a key wizard and the only reason for his first place is Dream Theater fame, the other two are just here because the fame too, not for skills! Remember that, Johansson can play anything, anyway. Solo carreer prove it! Cheers!
The current keyboard-player in the Finnish rock band, HIM. His keyboards gives to HIM music the the characteristic melancholy that made famous their "Love Metal". He is classically trained. I think his talent is underestimate if you barely listen to HIM studio albums: you have to see them live to understand... His live piano intro of "Sleepwalking past hope" is really an amazing piece of classical music!
He is the current keyboard-player in the Finnish rock band HIM. His keyboards give the characteristic melancholy to the HIM famous "Love Metal" sound. He is classically trained. I think he is underestimated when you simply listen to HIM studio albums: you've got to see them live to appreciate them. His long piano intro of the live version of "Sleepwalking past Hope" is really remarkable!
Maestro Holopainen adds beautiful classical flavor to the metal genre. He is not just a musician, he is also a songwriter and the genius behind Nightwish's songs. He is able to write such epic notes and make them fit the other band members' strengths. To me, it is not just about playing the keyboard for him, he has complete and utter knowledge of the ways of the orchestra.
I like Tuomas because he's a god keyboardist master in Nightwish... Nobody can match him... Every each album will be difference sound and still amazing today...! The best heavy metal keyboardist is on rule the world..! Same reminiscent as Mark Tremonti with heavy metal musician style...
Extremely underrated keyboardist whose classical training and abilities elevated Symphony X to be one of the greatest of all time metal bands! His solo albums are also overlooked and underappreciated
In my opinion, Michael Pinnella is the most talented keyboardist of all time. The musicality, technicality and atmosphere of his playing is awe-inspiring. Simply put, he is a genius!
Classy and talented. Just give Bastards of the Machine or Candlelight Fantasia another listen.
Extremely fast and technical player. Makes perfect harmonies with guitar. Will often trade solos with guitar players.
Henrik shreds better on his keyboard than the best guitar player do on their guitars. Henrik is a god.
How can you not like Bob? Not only does he do a excellent job in Firewind, but all of his other material it top notch as well. Saw him with Firewind live in Denver a while back supporting Turisas, and I was blown away. Ended up hanging out with them after they played instead of watching Turisas.
Bob is definitely one of the best keyboardists in metal out there. His ability to come up with such grat melodies and awesome shreddings is what it makes him amazing. It is the feeling of his songs and his unique and majestic style that makes him as good as Johannsson or Rudess. You can check out his 4 solo albums and you will sure like him!
His keyboard contributions on Opeth's Watershed album are simply amazing ranging from his blistering solo on Burden to his crazy polyrhythms on The Lotus Eater. He is also brilliant with Spiritual Beggars, his solo on Lunatic Fringe is a great example of a more mellow, jazzy keyboard solo played with real class.
A shame, simply... He shouldn't leave of opeth
Has a very unique keyboard style and tone that make him sound like a guitarist during solos (see "blast of hell", "emotions", and "seasons cry"). His keyboarding also doesn't get in the way of the song, but complements songs very well.
This guy is absolutely insane! From perhaps the most talented metal band around. Galneryus m/
Very underrated, so much talent.
Might no be the most skilled keyboardist (actually, he was trained as a classical pianist), but his presence on stage is his main characteristic. I mean, he walks on a treadmill while making solos or tries not to be burned by a flamethrower shooting at him while playing live, and he has his own non sense dance, the "Flake Dance". He sometimes uses samples for the solos, though.
He is not the most skilled keyboardist, but any sound he performs serves the sound of Rammstein and makes the bands sound more than "just" metal. You should not forget his role in the live shows: he is the one who does most of the stunts... While playing!
Jonathan Douglas "Jon" Lord was an English composer, pianist, and Hammond organ player known for his pioneering work in fusing rock with classical or baroque forms, especially with Deep Purple, as well as Whitesnake, Paice Ashton Lord, The Artwoods, and The Flower Pot Men. The first metal keyboardist. at his time everybody though only guitar can create metal sound, but he changed it. he said something like that " if Ritchie Blackmore is going to play his guitar heavily, I, I need to also play my organ heavy. I need to put tough on my hammond organ" you can see he also created lots of solos with his organ while Ritchie played solos with his guitar.
Show some respect, people. Keyboardists on this list and even this list exist thanks to him.
He introduced the keyboards in metal.
I can't believe no one recognized him as a part of this list. He was with dream theater from the beginning in some of their best albums such as Images and Words. And after he left them he became even better. He might not be reknown for his technique, but his synth patching abilities surpass any other keyboards player I know right now. And with OSI he took his compositions to a whole other level. He is not just glamour and popularity. He has actual talent.
Maybe not a great discography as other keyboardists, Kevin is one of the most romantic yet technically and professionally prepared musicians nonetheless. I suggest to hear the differences between his version of Space Dye Vest included in his album "Songs meant to be heard" and the Dream Theater's one.
Aside from being a great musician, he's very recognizable! You can hear his personality in both Dream Theater and Planet X projects, even if he let place for the other members of the bands to do their parts.
Maybe his hands is not as fast as Rudess, but I like his musical style. Every time I listen to his songs (Solo album and Planet X) it's like travelling to Antartica, then it took me to the space.
In my mind, Derek Sherinian and Allan Holdsworth are tied as the musicians who inspire me the most. Inertia and the Planet X albums just do it for me
He is the reason I decided to finally pick up keyboard. Not just his speed is amazing but his stage antics, mobility, presence, and all around goofyness is what makes him, in my opinion, one of the best.
Yep. He speeds things up with his little computer so they can't play it live. Such talent.
I think that everyone in dragonforce doesn't get enough credit for their skill at their instrument
Best supporting keys, with great background and haunting intros
Michael Trent Reznor, known professionally as Trent Reznor, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and film score composer. He is known for his intense music videos.This man Should NOT be ignored. Listen to Norther's We Rock song and then say your opinions.
This guy is so underrated. Listen to him in Darkest time or Omen! And what is Janne Puurtinen doing on second place?
Tuomas should be in top 10 position just listen song and solos...so so underrated
Staropoli is in 26th place?! Who wouldn't love his classical instrument playing from his keyboard in every song of Rhapsody of Fire, and his brilliant keyboard solos in songs like Holy Thunderforce, Raging Starfire, and Sea of Fate?! Check him out and you'll see what I mean!
Simply listen and see why he deserves the top ten.
This was the keyboardist who played on Kalmah's Swamplord. An essential pick for anyone into metal keyboardists.
Listen to the Hollow Heart solo.
Not only he is the best in metal but also he is perfect in all genre
The real genius behind the amazing band Ghost is. Listen to the live versions of "Genesis" by Ghost. It is mind blowing.
Air Ghoul - essential part of the Nameless Ghoul sound machine!
Awesome keyboardist who's way underrated.
Part of the keyboard/turntables duo of Slipknot. He has great atmospheric skill when he plays with Slipknot. He should be more recognized just like Sid Wilson of Slipknot. Just listen to some of Slipknot songs and you understand what I'm talking about.
The silent one. Wish they could play their samples live along with keyboard, but then they'd need a tenth member. Actually, is that such a bad thing, actually? Anyway, Craig rocks.
He is one of the most underrated keyboardists in the world... Although his contribution in slipknot is extremely recognizable... Listen to vermillion and you will understand his capability