Anathema - Anathema
The Liverpool prog rockers have been going for over two decades now and still seem to be getting better and better.
2014's Distant Sattelites was an emotional gut-puncher and this self-titled epic, with it's huge and evolving guitar solo, proved a most worthy centre-piece.
Arch Enemy - War Eternal
Ninth album War Eternal saw Arch Enemy return refreshed and reinvigorated with new singer Alissa White-Gluz.
The title track - released ahead of the album - is one of the record's most potent. It silenced doubters, proving that White-Gluz had the goods vocally, and gave Michael Amott and Nick Cordle (since replaced by Jeff Loomis) the chance to trade lead licks.
Opeth - River
Mikael Åkerfeldt and co continued to add more strings to their, frankly, already sizeable bow with this year's Communion.
River is one of the album's stand-out tracks due to its Crosby, Stills and Nash-influenced opening and classic rocking solo section - just to show they can, it seems. Then, of course, things only progress from there...
Marty Friedman - Inferno
One thing you might say about Marty Friedman, is that he can play guitar...
The former Megadeth man has been plying his trade as an inspirational instrumentalist since the early 00s and this year's Inferno sees him, err, firing on all cylinders.
Animals As Leaders - Nephele
Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes get name-checked by just about every other guitarist we speak with, and for good reason: Animals As Leaders are leading the way when it comes to progressive metal playing.
Nephele, is a meandering, symphonic track that peaks with an incredible solo mid-way before giving way to a pummeling outro.
Black Label Society - My Dying Time
Our viking guitar lord Zakk Wylde returned this year with the ninth album from Black Label Society, Catacombs Of The Black Vatican.
Wah-laden and punctuated by Zakk's trademark pinch harmonics, the solo from My Dying Time is one of the record's best.
Steel Panther - Party Like Tomorrow Is The End Of The World
'Panther's ode to a party with no consquences - due to the impending apocalypse - contains an appropriately indulgent and (characteristically impressive) shred solo from Satchel.
The video, on the other hand contains Ron Jeremy, scenes of graphic drug taking and a large amount of ladies exposing their upper bodies.
