Top 10 Thrash Metal Rhythm Guitarists
Most metal fans would agree that thrash metal's got one of the best metal riffs, if not the best. Thrash riffs are great for handbanging.This list is about the thrashers who make many of us happy - the rhythm guitarists.
David Scott "Dave" Mustaine (born September 13, 1961) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, actor and author. Mustaine is best known as a pioneer in Thrash Metal, being the former lead guitarist of Metallica before his dismissal in 1983, leading to finding and becoming the front man of his own ...read more.
James Alan Hetfield was born on August 3, 1963. He is an American musician, singer and songwriter known for being the co-founder, lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and main songwriter for the American heavy metal band Metallica. The King of Down Picking. Unbelievable stamina.
He still can play like a boss. I love his downpicking technique.
Jeffrey John "Jeff" Hanneman was an American musician, best known as a founding member of the American thrash metal band Slayer. He isn't just a guitarist - he wrote the music AND lyrics to the best Slayer songs, including the most iconic metal riff of all time - Raining Blood.
R.I.P. Jeff.
Jeff Waters (born February 13, 1966) is a Canadian metal musician and founder of the metal band Annihilator. He's best known as the guitarist for Annihilator, appreciated for his fast riffs and solos. Waters is also the primary songwriter in the band. Very often he has taken on the role of lead singer, bass player, engineer and producer.
He has owned Watersound Studios Inc. since 1994.
At a young age he took some classical and jazz guitar lessons.
Notable songs include Alison Hell, Human Insecticide, The Trend, Ultra-Motion, Detonation. Rhythm + Lead guitars for Annihilator.
His picking speed in Human Insecticide is incredible. In general, he plays more intricate thrash riffs than most of the thrash guitarists.
Songs with my favorite rhythm guitar:
Phantasmagoria, Human Insecticide, Alison Hell, Schizos (Are Never Alone, parts I and II), Sixes and Sevens
Miland "Mille" Petrozza is a German metal guitarist and singer of Italian descent, who has been the lead vocalist and guitarist for the German thrash metal band Kreator since 1984.
Rhythm + Lead guitars for Coroner (technical/prog thrash).
An underrated and unnoticed thrash guitarist. Very technical, very skillful.
My favorite riffs: Masked Jackal, Absorbed, Semtex Revolution, R.I.P., Why It Hurts
Gary Wayne Holt is an American guitarist from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is a guitarist, the bandleader, and the main songwriter for the American thrash metal band Exodus and is also a guitarist for the American thrash metal band Slayer.
Massimiliano Antonio "Max" Cavalera is a Brazillian singer, guitarist, and songwriter who currently plays in heavy metal bands Soulfly, Cavalera Conspiracy, and Killer Be Killed.
Eric Peterson of Testament
Kerry Ray King is an American musician, best known as a guitarist for the American thrash metal band Slayer.He's been playing rhythm guitars for Overkill since 2001
Scott Ian is an American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, backing and additional lead vocalist, and the only remaining original founding member of the thrash metal band Anthrax. He also writes the lyrics on all their albums.
David James Padden, is a Canadian musician, best known as the former vocalist and rhythm guitarist for Canadian thrash metal band Annihilator from 2003 to 2014.
Darrell Lance Abbott, also known as Diamond Darrell and Dimebag Darrell, was an American guitarist and songwriter best known as a founding member of two bands, Pantera and Damageplan, alongside his brother, Vinnie Paul. Abbott died in 2004 after he was shot by a mentally unstable fan.