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 ...

The unforgettable riff belongs to one of the band's most iconic songs.

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 ...

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 ...

Guitar World takes you into the studio with Castle Rat for a mesmerizing display of guitar wizardry. Watch as they build a ...

Here are the 10 most metal My Chemical Romance riffs! Guitarist Ray Toro grew up on heavy metal, vocalist Gerard Way has cited Iron Maiden as a key influence ...

For a guy whose riffs have influenced generations of musicians and helped spawn several genres, namely grunge and sludge metal, King Buzzo aka Buzz Osborne doesn’t spend too much time thinking about ...

Tony Iommi is the undisputed champion of the heavy metal riff. He earned that title in the early ’70s, as his memorable guitar riffs — short, repeated chord progressions that help form the rhythmic ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Quentin Singer is music journalist who covers rock and heavy music. As it relates to who should be considered heavy metal’s ...