5 Greatest Metallica Guitar Solos
In honor of the metal mavens of Metallica, Audio Ink Radio is naming five of the best Metallica guitar solos of all time. – Author: Anne Erickson, Photo via Ken Settle
The heavy metal genre of music is packed with fantastic guitar solos, and Metallica has plenty of them. The San Francisco metal band started out as a pure thrash metal band and has evolved over the years, working in more melody, but one thing that has remained consistent is the group’s pummeling guitar solos. It would be difficult to envision Metallica without the guitar power of Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield and their exciting musical chemistry.
Even Metallica’s most recent release, 2023’s “72 Seasons,” is choc full of wild guitar soloing and riffing, with “Chasing Light” being a standout. So, let’s get into Metallica’s guitar work over the years with Audio Ink Radio’s tally of five of the best Metallica guitar solos of all time.
The Best Metallica Guitar Solos of All Time
“Enter Sandman”
When it comes to a classic example of Hammett and Hetfield both contributing remarkable guitar work to a song, 1991’s “Enter Sandman” is right up there. From Hammett’s famously towering guitar solo, which utilizes a wah-wah like no other, to Hetfield’s intricate rhythm guitar work, this song is pure guitar bliss.
“Fade to Black”
Metallica poured their hearts and souls into 1984’s “Fade to Black,” and it’s easy to hear that passion in the emotive outro to the song. Here, Hammett starts the solo understated, which makes for a surprise when it kicks in and gets extra fiery. Hammett also shows off his 1970s guitar influences in this solo, paying tribute to the likes of UFO and Thin Lizzy with a nostalgic-sounding solo. This entire song is packed with beauty, and the guitars are no exception.
“Master of Puppets”
Sure, people like to say that 1986’s “Master of Puppets” is overrated, but it really isn’t. If anything, it may be overplayed, but that’s different than overrated. Both Hammett and Hetfield show off their guitar skills on here, with Hammett’s soloing showing off his fast-paced playing and perfect timing and Hetfield’s soloing displaying lots of melody. When Hammett harmonizes with Hetfield, it’s pure metal bliss.
“Ride the Lightning”
Hammett’s solo on 1984’s “Ride the Lightning” is absolutely chill-inducing. It’s not just this song, either. All of his “Ride the Lightning” album solos are among the finest in metal history. While the most famous guitar solo in “Ride the Lightning” belongs to Hammett, Hetfield does some great work, too, displaying a strong energy and rhythm that perfectly compliments Hammett’s sounds.
“Wherever I May Roam”
Hammett’s solo in “Wherever I May Roam” is famous for its inventive wah-wah and whammy bar sounds, and the 1991 song also features phrygian scales, which were rarely used in metal music at the time. Even though phrygian scales were mostly used in flamenco, that didn’t stop Hammett from throwing them into “Wherever I May Roam,” and it’s a great example of how Hammett incorporated unique sounds into Metallica’s music that helped set them apart from other metal bands.
For more Metallica mayhem, find Audio Ink Radio’s tally of the most underrated Metallica songs of all time.
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