Metal
RSS
ARTICLES
Mort, Death’s Apprentice: Brutal Death Metal Riffs
February 16, 2019
Bands like Suffocation, Gorgasm, and Deeds of Flesh created riffs full of forearm-punishing picking at warp speeds. Here’s a look at how you can level up your down-tuned riffing.
Read More
Mort, Death’s Apprentice: Gothenburg Metal Riffs
November 10, 2018
Bands like In Flames, At the Gates, and Dark Tranquility created a subgenre of death metal that combined low-tuned riffs, harmonized leads, and plenty of chunk.
Read More
Riff Rundown: Mastodon's "Roots Remain"
August 5, 2018
Bill Kelliher elaborates on how he uses open notes, bends, and hammer-ons for this Emperor of Sand track.
Read More
Obsessive Progressive: Periphery
January 13, 2018
What do you get when you combine three fiercely unique metalheads with a love for down-tuned guitars, crushing rhythms, and a passion for odd-meter time signatures?
Read More
Obsessive Progressive: How to Decode Advanced Polymeters
August 26, 2017
Bands like Opeth and Meshuggah are known for their warped take on ear-bending rhythms. Here are a few ways to break through the theory and learn how they do it.
Read More
Obsessive Progressive: Get a Grip on Odd-Meter Time Signatures
July 29, 2017
Not all riffs need to live in a comfortable space. Some of the most iconic jams rely on adding or subtracting a few beats to create that perfect, yet uneasy feel.
Read More
Cram Session: Thrash-Metal Rhythms
January 7, 2017
Learn how to conquer forearm-punishing riffs of the sort found in everything from early Metallica to Slayer and Megadeth.
Read More
Divide and Conquer: Asking Alexandria’s Ben Bruce and Cameron Liddell
June 3, 2016
To channel their metalcore angst, the guitarists divvy up 6-string duties onstage and in the studio.
Read More
Iron Maiden: Out of Thin Air
October 19, 2015
Adrian Smith, Dave Murray, and Janick Gers discuss finding magic in the moment on their latest album, The Book of Souls.
Read More
Lamb Chops: The Tools and Techniques Behind Lamb of God’s Crushing Comeback Album
June 12, 2015
John Campbell, Mark Morton, and Willie Adler discuss their first release since the tragedy that nearly destroyed their band.
Read More
Shredmental: Hell-Bent for Rhythm!
December 20, 2014
A brutal primer on heavy metal rhythm guitar.
Read More
Electric Etudes: “Dimebag” Darrell
June 28, 2014
Dig into the rhythm and lead styles of the legendary Texas shredder.
Read More
Future Rock: Two-Handed Tapping and How to Play the Intro to “Atlas Novus”
June 14, 2013
Scale the Summit's Chris Letchford takes you through the basics of two-hand tapping and demonstrates the into to "Atlas Novus."
Read More
Rig Rundown - Dillinger Escape Plan's Ben Weinman
June 12, 2013
Dillinger Escape Plan guitarist Ben Weinman talks in depth about his upcoming signature model and love for Mesa/Boogie amps.
Album Review: Black Sabbath - "13"
June 6, 2013
Ozzy & Co.'s latest relies heavily on the sounds of their past, with flickers of hope for the future.
Read More
Interview: Children of Bodom’s Alexi Laiho - Fast and Slow
May 15, 2013
Caption--> Children of Bodom’s eighth release, Halo of Blood, marks the first time the band has recorded an album in their Helsinki, Finland, rehearsal studio. “We got this hall
Read More
Album Review: The Dillinger Escape Plan - "One of Us is the Killer"
May 8, 2013
DEP’s fifth outing incorporates elements of atmospheric prog-rock and ear-relieving jazz fills to buck the musical constraints and genre rigidness rampant in the metal genre.
Read More
Remembering Jeff Hanneman: 1964 - 2013
May 6, 2013
What separated Jeff from the rest of the metal pack was his rhythm technique, his songwriting, and that for which he will be most remembered—his riffs.
Read More
Drop Dead Shred: Sweep City
May 1, 2013
Learn the ins and outs, ups and downs of sweep picking with this lesson by uber-shredder Nita Strauss.
Read More
Interview: Early Graves - Thrash in the Saddle Again
April 15, 2013
After a series of tragic setbacks—including the death of founding
vocalist Makh Daniels—Chris Brock
and Early Graves charge back into the
metal fray and emerge triumphant
with a thundering masterpiece.
Read More
