The world of metal guitar is constantly evolving, with new talents emerging and established players pushing the boundaries of their craft. In this list, we dive into the realm of six-string mastery to highlight 20 of the most impressive metal guitarists making waves in 2024.
From technical virtuosos to innovative riff-makers, these artists represent the cutting edge of modern metal guitar playing. Our list spans various subgenres and styles within the metal universe, showcasing players who have made significant impacts through their solo work, band projects, or both.
Whether they’re shredding at lightning speeds, crafting intricate melodies, or pioneering new techniques, these guitarists are helping to shape the sound of metal for years to come. Join us as we explore the skills, styles, and contributions of these 20 remarkable musicians who are keeping the flame of metal guitar burning bright in 2024.
Josh Fore: Tetrarch
An erupting volcano or a hallucinating hurricane, Tetrarch guitarist Josh Fore is known for his heavy, aggressive style, which combines nu-metal and metalcore influences like no other, believe it or not.
Scott Holiday – Rival Sons
The guy with the most beautiful guitar for every song, who mixes blues rock with psychedelic elements like few others.
Cohesive, retro and full of identity and style, it’s not easy to copy the vices of the seventies while maintaining a certain modernity, congratulations to him.
John Petrucci – Dream Theater
No self-respecting list of guitarists can leave this man out, impeccable technique, fast, precise and frighteningly clean solos, exquisite rhythmic and melodic complexity.
this is John Petrucci, what a privilege to be born at the same time as this monster!
Brent Hinds – Mastodon
He sings, plays and mixes heavy metal with southern rock, psychedelic and country influences. This alone defines the tireless innovation of Brent Hinds, one of today’s greats.
Paul Waggoner – Between The Buried and Me
Paul Waggoner is one of the founding members of the progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me. He’s a deep well when it comes to blending elements of various genres ranging from extreme metal to jazz, creating complex solos and innovative riffs.
He is largely responsible for Between The Buried’s sonic identity.
Nuno Bettencourt – Extreme
Known for his virtuoso technique and extremely fast solos, Bettencourt became known worldwide for mixing elements of funk and rock into his style, standing out for his creativity and musicality creating a unique identity.
Fredrik Thordendal – Meshuggah
A pioneer of the djent sound, Thordendal is famous for his innovative use of complex rhythms and eight-string guitars, creating a perfect blend of weight and technique full of identity.
Richie Kotzen – Winery Dogs
Versatile and talented, Kotzen is known as much for his technical skills on the guitar as for his vocal ability, managing to exquisitely insert blues and soul into hard rock.
Adrian Smith – Iron Maiden
A key part of Iron Maiden’s classic sound, Smith is known for his melodic solos and complex harmonies, he’s on the list not only for being a living legend, but for
for continuing to deliver impressive new material such as the Smith/Kotzen project
Acle Kahney – Tesseract
Founder and lead guitarist of Tesseract, Kahney is one of the masters when it comes to djent, with a style characterised by polyrhythms and deep atmospheric textures.
Lee Mckinney – Born of Osiris
Watching Born of Osiris guitarist Lee Mckinney play has an immediate paralysing effect, such is the virtuosity embedded in his riffs and solos, so much melody allied to an astonishing technique.
Mark Tremonti – Alter Bridge
The American guitarist is like a midas, everything he touches turns to gold – just look at the success of Creed, Alter Bridge and his solo band Tremonti. This is due to the fact that he is one of the great guitarists of his generation, blending feeling and technique in an exquisite way.
Synyster Gates – Avenged Sevenfold
Synyster Gates has already been voted one of the fastest guitarists of all time. As well as being a great mix of speed and technique, he still manages to deliver spectacular compositions and striking riffs to this day, one of today’s greats without a doubt.
Tosin Abasi – Animals as Leaders
Arguably one of the most impressive, technical and savage guitarists of our time, Tosin Abasi has played alongside Satriani in G4, joined guitarists Nuno Bettencourt, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai and Zakk Wylde as part of the Generation Axe tour.
Teemu Mäntysaari – Megadeth
Finnish guitarist Teemu Mäntysaari had a thorny mission to replace Kiko Loureiro in Megadeth, and from Mustaine’s shows and words he succeeded relentlessly, known for playing in metal bands Wintersun and Imperanon, Induction,
The guitarist has impressive skills.
Wolfgang Van Halen – Mammoth WVH
Wolfgang not only inherited a fat savings account, he also inherited an abysmal talent from his father. He even played bass in Van Halen and has proved to be an excellent guitarist, both in terms of compositions and brilliant technical quality.
Jason Richardson – Ex Born Of Osiris, ex Chelsea Grin
An icon of modern metal, with an enviable CV he has played in bands such as Born Of Ositis ex Chelsea Grin and is currently honing his guitar in All That Remains.
Tim Henson & Scott LePage – Polyphia
Tim Henson is an American guitarist and composer, founding member of Polyphia alongside Scott LePage, and like inseparable duos such as Jordan and Pipen, Xavi and Iniesta , Tim and Scott work together in an exquisite and absolute way.
Erja Lyytinen
Finland’s Erja Lyytinen has a long-standing solo career, with 10 albums released in two decades.
In addition to her enormous popularity in her homeland, she has a brutal identity and can move from blues to metal in the blink of an eye.
Nina Strauss
The musician is known for her work with Alice Cooper and Iron Maiden, as well as her solo career. It’s impressive how she’s already influenced thousands of girls to take up music, combined with her ability to add weight and melody to her riffs.
Artists: Alter Bridge, Animal as Leaders, Avenged Sevenfold, Between the Buried and Me, Born of Osiris, Dream Theater, Extreme, Iron Maiden, mastodon, megadeth, Messhugah, polyphia, Richie Kotzen, Rival Sons, Tesseract, Tetrarch