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DoomMetalAlchemist
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 12:44 am 
 

I used to use guitar synthesizer a lot when writing music, and usually the synth dominates those songs. And usually my favorite uses of keys come when they are used in heavy doses. I have one example, however, of a really subtle use of keys that makes makes the song (or at least the moments where it's used) way better than it would've been without the keys. That is in Dio's The Eyes, from the Master of the Moon album. Listen to the first 1:23 of the song, and take special note of the subtle keys that come in at about 1:02. Doesn't it make the song so much better?

What are some other examples of subtle keys elevating the greatness of certain songs?

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TheDefiniteArticle
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:24 am 
 

When Fukpig use keys (well, it's a 'choral' sound but it's clearly synthesized) it tends to be fairly subtle. For example, 'Fascist Moron' (once you get past the intro):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rTo0emA66jI

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joppek
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:29 am 
 

nocturnus' the key is a prime example of this (tho' at times, they're not that subtle), and a pinnacle of how to utilize keys in death metal
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Syntek
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 6:49 am 
 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LtBsBRFK8do

Sybreed, pretty much the entire time.

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Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 7:12 am 
 

Talking about keys in DM, one of my favorite use of keys is on Phlebetomized's Immense Intense Suspense
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TheLiberation
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:54 am 
 

I'd say the entire "In Requiem" album by Paradise Lost. I really didn't notice them at first, but over time I started to appreciate their subtle use very much.
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Kveldulfr
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:02 am 
 

I like the sparse use of keys on early Rotting Christ and especially Varathron albums. The keys only helps to set up the 'ancient' atmosphere are one of the reasons 'Walpurgisnacht' is such a masterpiece.
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uzilover
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:10 am 
 

King diamond is great at this, particularly on The Eye and The Spiders Lullaby.

I love a bit of DM keyboards too, but I don't think Nocturnus are particularly subtle at this (they're great though).

Some of favourite DM keyboards are on Darkthrone's Cromlech and Morbid Angel's Chapel of Ghouls.

When Geoff Nichols was in/played with Sabbath there was lots of subtle keys. They really add a lot to the albums without it being super obvious.

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uzilover
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:13 am 
 

I forgot to mention Quorthon's use of keyboards on Under the Sign of the Black Mark. There's an occasional solo but mostly they are just there for atmosphere, which that album has in (black) spades.

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ThrashingTheRedemer
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:23 am 
 

Darkthrone's use of keys on Soulside Journey was equally as tasteful...yes, Darkthrone used keyboards!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mlOtAVwuvs

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conquer__all
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:04 pm 
 

absu are kings of the subtle keys, on each album there in all the right spots not overused. Enslaved use to have wonderful Subtle keys on their first few albums but now the keys are more dominate now that that have a full-time keyboard player (okay, yeah they have had one for over ten years now).
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despotband
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:55 pm 
 

conquer__all wrote:
absu are kings of the subtle keys, on each album there in all the right spots not overused. Enslaved use to have wonderful Subtle keys on their first few albums but now the keys are more dominate now that that have a full-time keyboard player (okay, yeah they have had one for over ten years now).


Wow, I was thinking about mentioning Absu when I opened this thread. I second this!

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TheRealThing
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PostPosted: Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:23 pm 
 

Baxaxaxa - Church of the Antichrist

The keys are kinda prominent in the mix, but the playing is very subtle and simple.
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Nameless_Rites
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:15 am 
 

Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind wrote:
Talking about keys in DM, one of my favorite use of keys is on Phlebetomized's Immense Intense Suspense



-l-

One of the most underrated albums ever!

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MalignantTyrant
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:32 am 
 

I think it's used subtly a few times on Lucifer Incestus
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the_raytownian
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:17 am 
 

At first, I misread the OP thinking they referenced "Evil Eyes", and, while they did not, I think that's another great Dio song with subtle keyboards.

I guess it helps that the synth sounds like an arpeggiating rock organ riff until the end of the song when you can clearly tell it's a synth and not an organ, but that's what makes it subtle, and I think it adds a lot to the song.

Actually, IDK that it positively is a sequenced synthesizer arpeggio, but that little bit you hear of it at the end does kind of make me think "TANGERINE DREAM" for a moment. Could still be an organ though, for all I know.
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Panflute
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 5:40 am 
 

Drudkh comes to mind. The keyboards are not very prominent, but hugely contribute to the atmosphere. This is evident especially on Blood in our wells and Eternal turn of the wheel.
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CF_Mono
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:27 am 
 

Celtic Frost's Drown in Ashes comes to mind, as well as a few Sabbath Tunes. I kind of agree, I like it when keys are introduced in an unorthodox manner to add texture to a song, but the really cheesy melodies that try to mask a riff with fake instrument sounds are annoying.
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Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:21 pm 
 

Love the keys @ 2:20 here

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invinCIBility
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:18 pm 
 

Klage - Dystopias Weige
Selvhat - Gjennom...

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CrushedRevelation
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PostPosted: Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:47 pm 
 

Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind wrote:
Love the keys @ 2:20 here



When the hell is that album going to be available to buy dammit!

Keep Of Kalessin uses some haunting, atmospheric keys on their magnificent debut on tracks like the awesome I Choose To Suffer. The recent Ataraxy album also uses some cool, subtle synths on the closer Unreachable Spheres and Ethereal Slumber (mostly intro though).
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Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 4:16 am 
 

CrushedRevelation wrote:
Evil_Wicked_Twisted_Mind wrote:
When the hell is that album going to be available to buy dammit!


Official release date is next week
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Beer Baron
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 5:31 am 
 

I'm not much of a fan of keys in extreme metal but Drapsnatt use them extremely well to enhance the melancholy in their music. Their albums wouldn't be anywhere near as good without them.
All three albums are very good.

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DaBuddha
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PostPosted: Sun Jul 07, 2013 11:45 am 
 

Darkthrone also used keys and acoustic guitar at the end of In the Shadow of the Horns, which makes it that much more epic and atmospheric.

I really like the keyboards on Burzum's Filosofem album. Used just right without overpowering anything, and they enchance the atmosphere ten fold.
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