Heavy metal had been slowly growing in popularity for decades by the time it hit its commercial peak. The ’80s are considered mainly the heyday of heavy metal in its official definition. That being ...

Replacing Dave Mustaine as Metallica’s lead guitarist in 1983, Kirk Hammett cut his teeth on Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. So it’s unsurprising that he lists Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys and Zeppelin’s ...

Metallica's Kirk Hammett named one particular guitar riff that he believes "shifted heavy metal." "The first three Black Sabbath albums are like gospel. Everyone kind of universally agrees. They ...

From downpicking endurance to 8-string chugging, metal guitar riffs are the heartbeat of heavy music. Players from legends like Meshuggah to Avenged Sevenfold have refined their tone, technique, and ...