Friday, February 3, 2012

The Saxophone in Metal

I know there have been recent posts about this on Invisible Oranges and possibly some other places, but I do feel qualified to make a post about this because I played the saxophone for eight years. I was pretty good at it too, winning several awards at solo and small ensemble contests and being a member of a high school jazz band chosen as one of 20 groups from across the country to perform at a contest honoring Duke Ellington's 100th birthday at Lincoln Center in New York. I have experience playing the alto, baritone, and soprano saxophones.

The saxophone has not made frequent appearances in heavy metal, it is typically a complimentary instrument and requires a guest appearance. Sigh is the only band I am currently aware of that employs a full-time saxophonist, Dr. Mikkanibal. While it would be interesting to hear a band use the saxophone full-time, the instrument often adds an eerie atmosphere to the songs in which it does appear.

So, after an exhaustive search through my collection, these are a few examples of the saxophone in heavy metal:











Anyone know any others I may have missed?

4 comments:

  1. "Another Day" by Dream Theater. That's the only one I can think of off the top of my head, though I seem to recall FMA posted some others on his blog as well.

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  2. Here. They were grind bands. Solefald uses it sometimes, and there's Cephalic Carnage's "Repangaea". Also check out Ephel Duath's "The Passage (Pearl Grey)" or "Ruins (Deep Blue and Violet)".

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  3. I remembered you posting something, but I could not find it for some reason. Ah well.

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