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  1. News

The 20 Greatest Metal Guitarists Ever

By Matthew Parker
last updated 14 August 2020

As voted by you, the TG reader

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)
(Image credit: Micke Sandström)

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Over 68,000 of you voted and the results of our Greatest Metal Guitarist Ever Poll are now in. There are a few surprises in here to say the least, but the public have spoken and, in this case at least, the public gets what the public wants!

  • Embrace the heavy with our guide to the best metal guitars

Fredrik Thordendal (Meshuggah)

Proportion of vote: 0.48%

Essential listening: 'Bleed'

Next: Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind) >>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 1 of 20
Page 1 of 20
Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)
(Image credit: Billy Tompkins ./Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)

Gus G (Ozzy Osbourne, Firewind)

Proportion of vote: 0.51%

Essential listening: 'Let Me Hear You Scream'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 2 of 20
Page 2 of 20
Kerry King (Slayer)
(Image credit: Kirsty Umback/Corbis)

Kerry King (Slayer)

Kerry King (Slayer)

Proportion of vote: 0.66%

Essential listening: 'Raining Blood'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 3 of 20
Page 3 of 20
Marty Friedman (Megadeth)
(Image credit: Neal Preston/Corbis)

Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Marty Friedman (Megadeth)

Proportion of vote: 1.41%

Essential listening: 'Hangar 18'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 4 of 20
Page 4 of 20
Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)
(Image credit: Andrew Goetz/Corbis)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Tom Morello (Rage Against The Machine)

Proportion of vote: 1.44%

Essential listening: 'Killing In The Name'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 5 of 20
Page 5 of 20
Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Michael Amott (Arch Enemy, Carcass)

Proportion of vote: 1.52%

Essential listening: 'Nemesis'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 6 of 20
Page 6 of 20
Yngwie Malmsteen
(Image credit: Larry Marano /Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Yngwie Malmsteen

Yngwie Malmsteen

Proportion of vote: 1.81%

Essential listening: 'Far Beyond The Sun'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 7 of 20
Page 7 of 20
Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)
(Image credit: Gene Ambo ./Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)

Zakk Wylde (Black Label Society, Ozzy Osbourne)

Proportion of vote: 2.14%

Essential listening: 'Miracle Man'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 8 of 20
Page 8 of 20
Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)
(Image credit: Katy Winn/Corbis)

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

Proportion of vote: 2.26%

Essential listening: 'The Trooper'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 9 of 20
Page 9 of 20
Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)
(Image credit: Jared Milgrim/Corbis)

Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)

Daron Malakian (System Of A Down)

Proportion of vote: 2.43%

Essential listening: 'Toxicity'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 10 of 20
Page 10 of 20
Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)
(Image credit: Neal Preston/Corbis)

Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

Randy Rhoads (Ozzy Osbourne)

Proportion of vote: 2.77%

Essential listening: 'Crazy Train'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 11 of 20
Page 11 of 20
Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)
(Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis)

Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)

Glenn Tipton (Judas Priest)

Proportion of vote: 3.77%

Essential listening: 'Painkiller'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 12 of 20
Page 12 of 20
Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)
(Image credit: David Atlas /Retna Ltd./Corbis)

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

Proportion of vote: 4.13%

Essential listening: 'Iron Man', 'War Pigs', 'Paranoid'... We could go on...

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 13 of 20
Page 13 of 20
James Hetfield (Metallica)
(Image credit: Leon T Switzer/Icon SMI/Corbis)

James Hetfield (Metallica)

James Hetfield (Metallica)

Proportion of vote: 4.16%

Essential listening: 'Enter Sandman'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 14 of 20
Page 14 of 20
Mikael kerfeldt (Opeth)

Mikael kerfeldt (Opeth)

Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth)

Proportion of vote: 4.59%

Essential listening: 'Porcelain Heart'

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 15 of 20
Page 15 of 20
Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)
(Image credit: Joe Giron/Corbis)

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

Dimebag Darrell (Pantera)

Proportion of vote: 5.90%Link

Essential listening: 'Walk'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 16 of 20
Page 16 of 20
Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)
(Image credit: Sayre Berman/Corbis)

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)

Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge)

Proportion of vote: 7.26%

Essential listening: 'Blackbird'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 17 of 20
Page 17 of 20
Mick Thomson (Slipknot)
(Image credit: Jared Milgrim/Corbis)

Mick Thomson (Slipknot)

Mick Thomson (Slipknot)

Proportion of vote: 10.11%

Essential listening: 'Spit It Out'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 18 of 20
Page 18 of 20
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
(Image credit: Tim Mosenfelder/Corbis)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

Proportion of vote: 20.94%

Essential listening: 'Pull Me Under'

>

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 19 of 20
Page 19 of 20
Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Alexi Laiho (Children Of Bodom)

Proportion of vote: 21.73%

Essential listening: 'Needled 24/7'

For those of you not in the know, in celebration of our forthcoming new-look magazine, TG asked our readers and MusicRadar visitors to vote for their favourite player from a shortlist of 20 metal guitarists. It was a closely fought battle… click through to see the final order and hear them in action.

The new-look Total Guitar magazine goes on sale 18 March and with an extra 32 pages it’s our biggest ever issue! The first issue is a thrash special, celebrating 1986 – the year that thrash broke – featuring Metallica’s ‘Master Of Puppets’, Slayer’s ‘Reign In Blood’ and Megadeth’s ‘Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?’

Page 20 of 20
Page 20 of 20
Matthew Parker
Matthew Parker
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Matt is a freelance journalist who has spent the last decade interviewing musicians for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

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