Top 10 Heavy Metal Guitarists

[PokemasterLonely]

No Ryan Knight? I'm disappointed.

[FleshgodKalmahCynic]

number 3 sucks, arch enemy is not goodat all all other are pretty good nice lsit

but do you realize that anyone of the mentioned plays heavy metal, don't you?

[amazingaustin13]

alex skolnick is the fucking best \m/

[Wolfman745]

I agree with a some of these bands but Alexi Laiho of Children of Bodom should of made the list...

[IAmTheAvalanch]

as an avid fan of heavier music i think kirk is a great metal guitarist but not top 10 material, also i love metallica but lars is kind of weak sauce there are billions of better drummers on the planet.this is the best list i have come across so far on here but there are some obvious greats missing one being paul wagoner from between the buried and me another being from the human abstract 2 of the cleanest most skilled musicians in metal and its suprising that the get over looked so much

[Ginnungagap418]

someone never heard alex scholnick of testament play, or jari maenpaa, or alexi laiho

[CTUKeyes]

@Ginnungagap418 I definately agree with you on Maenpaa.

[15viceandvirtues]

I saw arsis on the video preview :p, so i just had to watch it. Hell yes, Romeo, James malone, and CHUCK and classic maiden!!! Good list overall :D

[GNRslash28]

first video I've seen with Chuck as #1.

well done sir

[TrollandDie]

@GNRslash28 Third for me.

I think he was very good-my personal favourite alongside Jeff Loomis.

[svenny1324]

did ur srry ass ever heard of dave murray?

[979peter]

I love MIKE AMMOT's tone , he is great :)

[MrNevermore72]

Where's Victor Smolski? By the way, you choose excellent guitarists! Stay Metal \m/

[Chips185]

Chuck Schuldiner DEATH Trey Azagthoth MORBID ANGEL Michael Ammot ARCH ENEMY Karl Sanders NILE Dave Suzuki VITAL REMAINS Erik Rutan HATE ETERNAL Christian Muenzner OBSCURA Andy Laroque KING DIAMOND Quorthon BATHORY Dan Swano EDGE OF SANITY These guys listed above are better musicians then Dimebag or a Kirk Hammet. Seriously Pantera and Metallica arent the greatest metal bands to exist.

[ridethelightning64]

@Chips185 Haha dude, Chuck Schuldiner maybe but none of those other guys are better then Dimebag, his style was pure metal.

[Chips185]

@ridethelightning64 Schuldiner > Dimbebag. Death > Pantera. all the other guitarists I mentioned > Dimebag. Metal doesnt revolve around Pantera and metallica.

[ridethelightning64]

@Chips185 I never said revolved around Pantera and it definately doesn't revolve around Metallica, I just think Dimebag's better then most of the guitarists you mentioned, he brought so much to the genre, unlike the many you mentioned who haven't done shit. :)

[Chips185]

@ridethelightning64 Andy Laroque, Quorthon, Trey Azagthoth? never done shit? You are so wrong. Slap yourself for me.

[ridethelightning64]

@Chips185 I accidentally neglected Any Laroque, the others haven't though, haha, yeah sure thing, fuck you.

[Chips185]

@ridethelightning64 Listen to some Bathory for once, a one man band founded by Quorthon. Without Quorthon their is no black metal. You know nothing. Blood Fire Death by Bathory >>>>> Panteras entire catalog.

[ridethelightning64]

@Chips185 How the hell is Pantera influenced by any black metal? Maybe you need to listen to some more Pantera, I have listened to Bathory, and like them, I just don't think Quorthon really influenced much, Venom would be more up there for me in case of incluencing the genre or anything.

[rapcoremanx]

@ridethelightning64 but mayhem influenced phil anselmo

[pastuiedada]

Great list!

Few people have the true spirit of metal these days, seem to have forgtten Azagthoth and Mauser, and Suicmez gots' his chops but the solos are farfrom chaotic enough for my tastes.

[soilworker2099]

Kerry king Is fuckin garbage.... Jeff is decent but Kerry is fucking garbage, and I love slayer same as Kirk hammet, I can play everything metallica has ever released and it's not that good and for a long time metallica was my favs intact james hetfield was my inspiration to play so I'm not just trolling or being a hater... And I still appreciate metallica for what they were and providingy childhood with music to push me into what I listen to now

[kurtio1965]

"getchaable" took my response. My question is where is Criss Oliva?

[SpartanMota]

WTF????? wheres dimebag darrel, wheres marty friedman, wheres kerry king

[W33dIsGood]

Wheres dimebag in this? he is clearly the best heavy metal guitarist ever...

[getchaable]

its all just Malmsteen to me . no dime?

[tizioincognito95]

that wasn't adrian smith's solo. it was dave's solo. 

[virginkiller777]

to bad new cryptopsy sucks balls

[6second2004gto]

Guitarists that write good songs are always better than someone that can shred, but never wrote a good song. If the song sucks the solo automatically sucks in my opinion because the song comes before the solo.

[bloodpleez]

@6second2004gto I find that's the same in my opinion, for example Devin Townsend great guitar player, but never shreds because he prefers song writing over shredding.

[PAULOcbi]

@bloodpleez the self-taught guitar heros of yore were more creative than todays technically proficient guitar school grad heros,lol.SteveVai or Satriani couldnt write a memorable riff to save their life but are technically great.

[Caxsoni94]

This is very nice....But Jimi Hendrix is GOD

[soilworker2099]

@Caxsoni94 maybe 300 years ago bro... im a guitar player my self so i wont say he doesnt have skill, or didnt is proper... but there are many more skilled players than hendrix

[edgekrusher20]

@soilworker2099

[Caxsoni94]

@soilworker2099 You mean Blues music or general?

[soilworker2099]

@Caxsoni94 im lost bro, i dont know where blues got into this from...

[xXMetallica4everXx]

Not that good list, you let alot of legends out...

but i'd give you the thumbs up for Chuck he is my hero! hate every list where he isn't on

[caronja70]

fuuuck yeaaa, chuck on the 1st place! totaly agree

[the4noobz]

Dude...

what about Kirk Hammett, Dave Mustaine, Jeff Hanneman, Kerry King, Gary Holt, Marty Friedman, KK Downing, Scott Ian, Dan Spitz and Chris Poland?

[jiggerXLR8]

I dont usually comment on these things but.....Karl Sanders of Nile is probably the best guitarist in the world right now, He's consistantly voted in the top 3 by every metal mag on the planet and to have him listed behind anyone from Death is beyond obsurd. Mohammad Suicmez of Necrophagist is one of my favourites, but hes all pentatonic runs, and Arsis is a good band, but no one from that band should even be listed in the top 10.

[1Blubbe]

Where the hell is Dave Murray, Janick Gers and Roy-Z?

[xXMetallica4everXx]

dime?

alexi?

marty?

kirk?

dave?

petrucci?

dude you're forgetting some REALY big names

[eco7savatage]

CRISS OLIVA could smoke these players anytime....  rip CRISS....

[wakkozDeLaShit]

Kirk Hammet????

[davidsonguy24]

who isthe title this song of the arch enemy

[McMothman]

@davidsonguy24 Blood On Your Hands

[davidsonguy24]

who is the title song this bands ?

[Mrbowser59]

James Malone is the fuckin balls

[MsMETALLYRICS]

Chris from AE is also a good guitarrist but he is more technical Michael has the feeling.

Malone is amazing and their ex guitarrist Ryan Knight was also good,but yeah I like this list anyways.

Chuck is the best !

[MsMETALLYRICS]

Chuck,Michael,Jon !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(:

[memetalhead1]

Top ten kid guitarists i guess.

What about glenn tipton, randy ,yngwie, And many?

Chuck is the best? don't you all know how chuck fucked up painkiller solo?

[dstncowles]

i love your choices man but were is dave mustaine

[Vladimirjunger]

Surprisingly wise choice, five stars.

Keep it Brutal !

[NukeTheCrossXPT700]

This is one of the best Top 10 lists I've ever seen.. Some asshole had one saying James Root From Slipknot was better than Alexi Laiho and Kerry King was better than Dimebag.

[crapman3000]

R.I.P Chuck.

[MrMatbri]

dave murray best ever

[2010eleazar]

Batio?¿?

Muy buena la lista igual 10/5 :)

[investigacionessa]

perfect

[MartyrOfMetal]

DINO CAZARES IS A CHUBBY BEANER

[termnusdangerus666]

way to hate, dick

[MartyrOfMetal]

i just dont like his style. you cant deny it though, he is.

[lzeppelinrocks]

I love kirk hammet, and metallica is by far my favorite band(with slayer, exodus, pantera, megadeth, and testament right behind) But he proabably shouldnt be #1. Hes amazing and almost always people underrate him but hes not the best. maybe like #5,or 6, or 3

[waltknowm]

wil i be hated forever if i said that my top ten are: 10:willie adler 9:angus young 8:dimebag 7:tony iommi 6:slash 5:dave murray 4:adrian smith 3:kirk hammett 2:jeff hanneman 1:kerry king the reason why i think ill be hated is because i put jim root and mick thompson in the list

[MartyrOfMetal]

Slipknot is awesome, and Mick and Jim are great guitarists.

[asd19991]

@waltknowm mhmhmh, u have to listen dimebag darrel's solos, because if u say that he's the eight....

and kerry king the first? -_-

[waltknowm]

@asd19991 its just by my account.

ive heard alot of dimebag solos. theyre fuckin epic.

but i guess i just prefer slayers style a bit more...

[Soulgrazer]

Suicmez>Schuldiner

[AcousticMetalMan]

wasn't a big fan of Alex Pell...too messy in my opinion, the solo didn't really vibe with the rhythm...and where in the FUCK is Alexi Laiho?!?!...props on putting Shuldiner as number 1, no complaints there

[666seventhson666]

Kirk in "best guitists"? Is this joke? He is poor guitarist... Ohh my god... stupid kindermetals

[IWB420]

Wow another list without dimebag, you pussys all shut the fuck up and learn what real metal is.

[jokoyaka]

That's thrash metal. This is heavy metal. Different style and different subgenre,

[Headbanger9000]

yeah but their is also Death Metal so that condradicts what you are saying

[jokoyaka]

Well, I don't considet Pantera death metal. You think it contradicts what I am saying, but you don't know how I think. So, different oppinions. Either way. Who really gives a shit?

[Headbanger9000]

@jokoyaka No what i meant was that there are also death metal bands on this vid and not just regualr metal bands

[jokoyaka]

But either way Pantera isn't death metal. I was replying to IWB420's comment.

[wakeupdead92]

shit i forgot to put karl logan in the list.

[wakeupdead92]

in no particular order.

James murphy, alex skolnick, jeff loomis, chris broderick, andy larocque, glenn tipton, chuck shuldiner, freidrick thordendal, rocky george, corey beaulieiu. altho this list has some sick players.

[Kalmahborn]

Personally, I like James Malone better than Muhammed, however, Chuck at #1? Couldn't have said it better myself

[acorn9345678]

y the fuck would a piece of shit like kirk hammett ever be on a list of greatest guitarists...he is sloppy and not creative whatsoever

[zantiagho]

lol kirk hammet my ass

[huzy06]

what necrophagist song was that?

[nyy4life313]

Symbiotic in Theory!

[Memodoky]

1-Kirk Hammett

2-Marty Friedman

3-Dave Mustaine

4-Dave Murray

5-Randy Rhoads

[jaredr0]

dave mustaine sucks ass

[nyy4life313]

Ha u must not listen to much metal or thrash. if you are to pick a thrash guitarist, Alex Skolnick (testament) is your man. He is a lot better than Kirk.

[Memodoky]

Dude Kirk is the best in all Heavy Metal and I say it 'cause I´m a guitarists, and Thrash is my favorite music, so don't bring shit that I don't listen to Thrash and that a guitarist (Alex Skolnick) that plays like every othet guitarist is better than Kirk, I bet you're tinking "OMG this idiot is a Metallica fanboy and over rates Kirk" And I will tell you that I'm not, and Kirk is not over rated, only 'cause on 2 list he was spoted on 11th and 9th, everyone says he's over rated.

[nyy4life313]

All right dude its ur opinion and i did not think u were a metallica fanboy! ha i just wanted to know if u knew testament, to see if u think skolnick is better.

[Guitareye90]

Kirk best heavy metal guitarist? you're a guitarist? HAHAha ha. Go learn some "metal"

[Memodoky]

I bet you're one of those guys that only says what everyone says, only 'cause Kirk was ranked on 11th and 9th in 2 lists everyone says he's over rated, only 'cause he's on Metallica they also say he's over rated, only 'cause everyone says he sucks you also say that, so stop saying what everyone says, I also bet that you think Lars sucks.

[Guitareye90]

dude . . . DIMEBAG , JEFF LOOMIS , STEVE VAI , Mark morton and so on and on , i'm not watching at the list , or i could believe that kurt cobain was among the best guitarist , which of course is not

[Memodoky]

Yes I know, in fact Steve Vai is my favorite guitarist and his one of the best, but the best in Heavy Metal is Kirk, and I think that Steve Vai Is right behind him (in all the guitarists, not only Heavy Metal).

[jiggerXLR8]

@Memodoky

I dont know what ur talking about, but Lars does suck, and Kirk cant even play rythym guitar so yes he sucks as well. Check out some Nile, or the Faceless or any of a million bands with artists in the death metal genre and forget about Metallica. As long as you leave yourself in a tiny box with the limited abilities of Metallica, u just leave yourself blind to a world of truely talented musicians.

[bloodpleez]

@jiggerXLR8 Well The Faceless use triggers for the drums, and Nile is boring as fuck in my opinion. Sure they have Derek Roddy who's fucking insane. But Metallica were good for there time. I admit I dont listen because Kirk is fucking terrible. But Lars, is actually okay.

[musicman204]

@Memodoky Dude Metallica is the most over-rated, most over-liked band in the world. Wtf are you smoking? EVERYONE IN THE FUCKING WORLD LIKES METALLICA SOMEHOW!Lars does suck, makes mistakes in his own already easy songs, and just like jigger said, Kirk can't even play rythm

[hammettful]

@Memodoky kirk now sucks, i like metallica but i went to see them live and now he doesnt play the full songs like in 80s(mean solos) and if you say that might be the age well Dave, Janick and Adrian still playing the solos and the full songs like always thats why i love IRON MAIDEN . UP THE IRONS FOREVER!

[CTUKeyes]

lso I realize this comment is a year old and I appologize for replying to it now...)

[CTUKeyes]

But kirk hammet plays mediocre easy to play crap and covers up his sloppiness with the wawa effect and lars loses time live all the time.

[8xXOctavariumXx8]

@Memodoky He does

[Racso88e]

AGREED!

i dont know what is so wrong with liking MEtallica.

[Headbanger9000]

Though Kirk Hammett is great, Dimebag Darrel, Alex Skolnick, Marty Friedman, and Jeff Waters are leagues above Kirk in the thrash genre. And Alex Skolnick doesnt play like every other thrash guitarist, he is faster, CLEANER, and has more feel and technique than Kirk Hammett does. Im not rankin on Kirk cause like i said he's awesome too, but not better than the other guitarists i mentioned

[Root2Octave]

Tony Iommi was good and all, just doesn't have a whole lot in him anymore.

[CiRcAsk8xTyrant]

@Root2Octave kuzz hes getting old as fuck aha but he is one of my favorites

[AlexThePowerslave]

Anyway DAVE MURRAY is the #1

[AlexThePowerslave]

EHY! The #6 is a DAVE MURRAY's solo and not ADRIAN's solo...

[CARDNALFAN7]

exuse me but where the fuck is alexi laiho!

[uu9999uu]

Oh C'mon Dude...

No Tony Lommi!?

This is Bullshit!!

[nollawow]

Alexi Laiho from children of bodin guitar hero magainze he was voted for the best guitar solo.

[Root2Octave]

Exactly. They're cool and all once in a while, but...not too much to say afterwards. Not a very memorable band by any means.

[Root2Octave]

Alexi has boring solos in my opinion. He has skill, I'll give him that, but there's much more than just shredding.

[Sk3tch22]

i agree the melodic scene is soo 2000

if anyone is actually becomin a COB fan as of now... should really kick themselfs in the dick and get in the now

[penguinsrock56]

@Root2Octave Alexi Laiho Boring? ****ing serious? HOW in the HELL did you come to that conclusion? he's awesome because he shreds with melody! a mix of the two!

[gordon24champ]

You put Adrian up there....but not Davey.....Davey is twice the guitarist Adrian is. This is all new metal, wheres your roots man!

(in my opinion)

1. Davey Murray of Iron Maiden

2. Kai Hansen of Helloween

3. Adrian Smith of Iron Maiden

4. Chris Chammberlin of Sevent King

5. Les Hunt of Demon

I'm kinda of an old metal fan ^^

[Psyco430404]

agreed but put Dave mustain in 3 (dave for peace sells)

[gordon24champ]

Totally :)

[haarukkamestari]

Dave Murray is twice the guitarist Adrian Smith is? Haha! You know, just because Adrian doesn't beat the fuck out of his guitar all the time by shredding aimlessly doesn't mean he's not as good as Murray. While Adrian does have notable technical skill just like Murray, he can also compose some really good and melodic solos. I think that Adrian's solos and the songs he has composed are WAY better than Dave's, although I love Dave, too.

1. Adrian Smith

2. Glenn Tipton

3. Dave Murray

[nirvanafreakdsj]

All hail Michael Amott!!!! \,,/

[guitarkid6342]

ok man you dont now FUCK about heavy metal guitarist

where THE FUCK IS ALEXI!!!!!

not to you guy under me

[IronMaidensGonnaGetY]

im sorry theres adrian but anyway there should be like 5 iron maiden songs

[IronMaidensGonnaGetY]

some of these are good but man where are your roots, the roots of heavy metal, wheres dave? adrian? janick?

[Agghasi]

Suiqmez Is good :D

[RHCPfanNo1]

My pals band have gigged with Cryptopsy, what a night that was

[Root2Octave]

I just lurk different message metal boards and ask for recommendations.

[DaviswKing]

holy shit i thought i had heard of alot heavy metal bands but i haven't heard of most of these bands other then nile and arch enemy how did you discover most of these bands

[Root2Octave]

That would be Laying Fire Upon Apep. Fantastic piece of music they make.

[Leeches93]

what is the song that is played there by Nile

[Sk3tch22]

chuck is the legend..muhammad i think is better .wheres BRAINDRILL lol u havent heard guitar playin til u heard that

luke from sleep terror?even all shall perish is sick

[incangold]

Dude, that nintendo-tapping shit is not good at all. Lord Marco (Drummer) moved on to a band called Anomalous. Their guitarist is loads better than Dylan Ruskin.

[Sk3tch22]

no way . hes covered the Anomalous songs but has never "joined" with them just like he covered with vital remains,vile,vornagar?? find somthing else as reserach besides only the popular videos on youtube all these bands are boderline mainstream .its all old move on...

[incangold]

Ah, you're right, I apologize. I feel pretty stupid, now... I still think that Dylan Ruskin's guitarwork is shoddy, though.

[Bzong]

isn't he still in vornagar? or am i wrong?

[Sk3tch22]

he just recorded that one album with that band..but i dont think he was ever an actual member of vornagar..just like vile and vital remains he just recorded with them and did some tours..the only bands i know of him being in is Numa and then Braindrill which hes now replaced with Joe Bondra

[Bzong]

he's like a nomad, it kinda sucks. but encyclopaediea metallum states that he's still the drummer of vornagar? and is vile any good? vital remains' dechristianize is amazing and brain drill is um...not so spectacular imo.

[Sk3tch22]

u got it mixed up lol vile is pretty good vital remains aint nothing special just glenn from deicide...and braindril is fucking rediculous out of this world finger pickin solos gravity blast bass tab solos thier pure sheek of skill blinds me sadly it'l never be what it once was cuz hes gone

[Bzong]

deicide is quality. and i don't know man, brain drill reminds me a bit of necrophagist, robotic, triggered, and grindcore is not for me (besides carcass, great band). haha their technicality is insane though. and pitruzzella needs to stay in some bands. :(

[Sk3tch22]

ahh deicide and carcass are primitive fossils..might as well consider them slayer type material..its all in the now ..even phagist is gettin old .. u just listen around..sleep terror,Cephlatripsy

Beneath the Massacre,Disfiguring the goddess...no one listens to dying fetus and Arsis anymore maybe thats just your style ..but bigger badder louder blasts 400bpm is what gets my blood pumpin

[Bzong]

yea they're like classics though. sleep terror is pretty good, i just hate how their songs are so short :( beneath the massacre is alright. is disfiguring the goddess the one with big chocolate or whatever on vox? i don't like dying fetus, arsis is good though. i'm digging some devourment right now. psycroptic and skinless are also other bands i'm listening to especially right now. any suggestions on other bands? lol

[typefunnynamehere]

Were The Fuck IS Adrain, Dave Or Janick FRom IRON MAIDEN The Best HEavy Metal BAnd EVER

[cky1066]

SQUID SUCKS

[Root2Octave]

Oh I know. Definitely listen to some of these bands though, they are worth it. Especially Death.

[tdkdgh]

I don't know a lot of these guys. A great list. Impossible to get best metal guitarists down to ten. There are so many.

[Root2Octave]

That would be We Are the Nightmare, title track on the newest album.

[descendancy8]

what song is that by arsis