Guitar Solo

GUITAR SOLOS: METALLICA- ALL NIGHTMARE LONG

Back in 2008, Metallica released their “return to form album, Death Magnetic. This album marked a return to their “thrashier” days as well as more epic notes. Across the ten songs and seventy five minutes, there’s always been one song that from day one, has had my attention. Ever since I heard Metallica’s “All Nightmare Long, I’ve been mildly obsessed with it. Even the music video, directed by, RoboShodo, is stellar.

“All Nightmare Long” is an absolute banger of a song as well as one of my all time favorite Metallica songs. There’s heavy intensity of this song feels like it could have come out on …And Justice For All. In a fun way too there’s a little bit of a Slayer homage to the intro part. James Hetfield sounds masterful on this song both lyrically and vocally. Lars and Robert really gel on this song too, as they hit endless thrash and groove. The real treat though is Kirk Hammett. There’s not one but TWO absolutely killer guitar solos on “All Nightmare Long.” Personally, I don’t know what one is best, though I tend to gravitate toward the second one. This is one of those songs too, that needs to be played live a lot more by Metallica.

If it’s been a minute since you’ve listened to Death Magnetic, you should fix that. It’s quite the album. Plus right smack dab in the middle is this absolute masterpiece of a Metallica song! Enjoy “All Nightmare Long.”

Metallica- All Nightmare Long (Live):

Metallica- All Nightmare Long (Music Video):

BEST GUITAR SOLOS: JANE’S ADDICTION- THREE DAYS

Jane’s Addiction was one of the most influential and volatile bands of all time. Their undeniable influence is still heard in bands today. The enigmatic foursome created music that was groundbreaking and genre defining. In a way alternative music wouldn’t be what it is without Jane’s Addiction.

The bands second album, Ritual De Lo Habitual is highly regarded as a masterpiece and a classic for many great reasons. While the album spawned two massive radio hits in “Stop” and “Been Caught Stealing,” it’s the albums deeper tracks that really solidified this as a groundbreaking album. In particular the song “Three Days.” The subject matter of the song deals greatly with addiction and the mortality of it, the music is what truly makes this song so special. Rather than rely on making a hard rock song, the band created an epic that is almost eleven minutes long. Surprisingly, “Three Days” was released as the second single from the album. The guitar work on this song by Dave Navarro reaches near stratospheric heights. The layers and textures Dave creates and plays with stretches the bounds of unpredictability and artistry. The guitar solo on “Three Days” is one of those that is as intriguing as it is intense. The mood and vibe it gives off matches perfectly with the lyrics and vocals. Then you add in the rhythm portion and it all clicks on levels untouched since. Dave Navarro is a pioneer of alternative rock guitar and rightfully so!

Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Album Version):

Jane’s Addiction- Three Days (Live Version):

Best Guitar Solos: The Pretty Reckless- Only Love Can Save Me Now

If you haven’t heard The Pretty Reckless’s album, Death By Rock N Roll, you are missing out on one hell of a good rock album. It’s seriously one of those albums that proves rock sure as hell isn’t dead. There is one song in particular on the album that I constantly have stuck in my head and that is “Only Love Can Save Me Now.” My daughter loves this songs and the video and every chance she gets to sing this song at the top of her lungs is so great. The song itself is superb. It’s not just a well written song but, one of those that has teeth and depth. Having Soundgarden’s Matt Cameron and Kim Thayil on the song doesn’t hurt either, especially with the solo by Kim, which shows he’s still a badass with that axe. Check out this song and album!

The Pretty Reckless- Only Love Can Save Me Now:

Death By Rock N Roll (ALBUM):

Best Guitar Solos: Stone Temple Pilots- Silvergun Superman

There are always albums in a bands career and catalog that will define them but there are certain ones that will always stand out among the rest. Stone Temple Pilots have that type of catalog. Their debut album, Core is a quintessential rock album every rock music fan should own but, the one that should really be in every collection is their second album and their masterpiece, Purple. We all now about the year 1994 and all the great albums that came out and Purple is most definitely on that list. Through the years as I’ve listened more and more to this album, there are always specific songs and moments I always go back to. For example my favorite song on the album “Lounge Fly” is such an amazing song. And the other song that has been a close second favorite “Silvergun Superman” has one of the best guitar solos on an STP album. Guitarist Dean DeLeo is not only underrated as a player but his style of play looks so flawless. When you hear him play it’s distinctly him. You can tell the difference especially if you listen to Velvet Revolver try to play STP songs, the guitar tones and styles don’t match Dean (and that’s not a knock on Slash, he just doesn’t have the same “feel” as Dean, especially for these songs. Solo wise on “Silvergun Superman” it’s got this really cool late 60’s early 70’s psychedelic rock vibe to it with a bit of a southern charm a la The Allman Brothers and a dash of Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin. After you are done with delving into the greatness that is “Silvergun Superman” go back and listen to Purple, and you’ll hear why it’s a true masterpiece.

Stone Temple Pilots- Silvergun Superman (Album Version):


Stone Temple Pilots- Silvergun Superman (Live 1994):

Deep Cuts: The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding the Orchid

The deep cut is something that I feel has become a lost element of music today. Everything is so focused on singles and the “hit” that so much of the time, there are songs that get left out and bypassed. As you’ve noticed the past couple years that my level of postings about The Smashing Pumpkins has gone up over that time and that’s because I’ve really delved deep in their catalog. One of the albums that I’ve truly come to love is 2007’s, Zeitgeist. Not only does this album foreshadow a lot of what our society has become but, it’s also one hell of a great album start to finish. There is a particular song on Zeitgeist that I keep going back to and that is track 3, “Bleeding The Orchid.” This song is quite interesting and profound. The song is indirectly inspired by the death of Alice In Chains singer Layne Staley and it also features a bit of an homage to the band with the harmonies you hear in the song. Also the guitar solo on this track by Billy Corgan further proves my point that he is truly an underrated guitarist. This song is one that I really wish would make it’s way into upcoming set lists as it’s an absolutely great and touching song.


The Smashing Pumpkins- Bleeding The Orchid (Live at The Viper Room, 2010):

Best Guitar Solos: The Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock
Smashing Pumpkins recreate 'Siamese Dream' album cover with original models | EW.com

Billy Corgan is truly one of the best songwriters of all time (you can argue with me if you want but, you will lose). One thing I do want to point out is what an underrated guitar player he is. In the past few years I’ve done a huge deep dive into every Smashing Pumpkins album and b-side and it’s astounding that he’s never been truly recognized for his playing. From Gish all the way to CYR, there’s a choice solo on each album and then some. One of the ones I’ve always loved is the solo on “Cherub Rock” from Siamese Dream. It’s a simple solo but it is so perfect with the song. The guitar tone and the effects on the song is another bit that makes it great. Interestingly, “Cherub Rock” was one of the last songs written for Siamese Dream. The prominent effect part of the solo was by recorded to two different tapes which were then run simultaneously, with the speed of one tape slightly altered. It’s such a fitting part of the song and live, it’s even better! Take moment and appreciate this great song and tremendous playing!

The Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock:


The Smashing Pumpkins- Cherub Rock (Live/1993):

Best Guitar Solos: Mad Season- Wake Up
Mike McCready Drafting Singers for Unreleased Mad Season Album | Mad season, Grunge music, Seattle music

Mad Season was an extraordinary group. On paper alone, having Layne Staley, Mike McCready and Barrett Martin in your band was substantial enough. Then when you put it all together, and the end result is the album, Above, you know it was all meant to be. This album is one of my all time favorites. “Wake Up” is one hell of a heart wrenching song. Lyrically it’s beyond dark and deep and the accompanying music really creates the right vibe. Then when Mike McCready’s guitar solo kicks in, it’s on a whole other level. Mad Season as much as it was a side project, really was able to showcase how truly underrated Mike is as a player but, more specifically as a writer. The music for “Wake Up” was actually written before Layne joined Mike, Barrett and the late John Baker Saunders. The solo though, is on a whole other level. And when you hear live versions of the song, it’s even more euphoric.


Mad Season- Wake Up (Live At The Moore, 1995):

Best Guitar Solos: Coheed and Cambria- Welcome Home
Coheed And Cambria - Good Apollo I'm Burning Star IV Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness (Vinyl) : Target

Coheed and Cambria is one of those bands that takes a bit of time to get into. There’s so much under the surface to the band, music, and lyrics. One thing though is the musicianship and songwriting in the group is stellar. On the band’s third album, Good Apollo, I’m Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through The Eyes Of Madness, there is a song called “Welcome Home.” This track is epic and fantastic. The band fought hard to make this the first single from the record and it was well worth it. The guitar solo alone in this song is something awesome and live it’s even better. I really have to acknowledge how talented Claudio Sanchez and Travis Stever compliment each other with their playing and as a guitar duo. “Welcome Home” is a perfect example of why Coheed is a very underrated band.


Coheed And Cambria- Welcome Home (Album Version):


Coheed And Cambria- Welcome Home (Live Version):

Best Guitar Solos: Nine Inch Nails- Ruiner
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral - Amazon.com Music

When you think of guitar solos, Nine Inch Nails is probably not very high on the first ones that come to mind. That is about to change though. On the epic masterpiece of an album that is The Downward Spiral, there is a song on there that has a guitar solo that oozes the pain and anguish that perfectly coincides with the thematic nature of the record. That song is “Ruiner” and it’s one of the most underrated songs on the album. The solo on the song is actually inspired by Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb.” Trent was interviewed by Guitar World magazine years ago and this is what he had to say about the solo, “Ah yes, the great, Pink Floyd-esque, Seventies-sounding section of the song. That’s just a preset on the Zoom. I think I accidentally called up the wrong patch. I’m not a soloist. I was just laughing when I was playing with this ridiculous sound, recording into the computer saying like, “This is so cheesy,” you know? I later realized that I basically tried to play a “Comfortably Numb”-type solo with this sound. I played the song for Chris, our drummer, and I was thinking, “He’s going to start laughing. It’s silly.” But he goes, “Man, that guitar section was fucking great.” Anyways, this solo when “Ruiner” is played live is stunning.


Nine Inch Nails- Ruiner:


Nine Inch Nails- Ruiner (Live at The Wiltern 2009- FINAL Wave Goodbye Show):


Best Guitar Solos: Machine Head- Halo
Machine Head - Halo (solo) - Dallas, TX - 1/30/18 - YouTube

Back in 2007, Machine Head released their epic masterpiece, The Blackening. When this album came out, it was on constant rotation for me for quite some time. I’ll never forget putting the album on and when it got to the song “Halo,” I was compelled to play it again and again and again. Not only was this song a stand out and totally monumental in the bands catalog but, the guitar solo is totally hypnotic. The dueling guitars and harmonies by Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel are astounding. When this album was released, I found myself needing to go see Machine Head live so I could hear this song live. “Halo” live is not only a staple live, it’s one of those songs that when it’s played live, it absolutely gets the crowd going. So, take a few moments and let this song take over and the guitar solo hit you hard.

Halo (Album Version):


Halo (Live Version/2008):