Top 5 Metal Guitarists of this Generation?

Hmmmm.

John Petrucci (Dream Theater)

Jeff Loomis (Nevermore)

Paul Masvidal (Cynic)

Michael Romeo (Symphony X)

Teemu Mantysaari (Imperanon)

Yes, I'm aware Teemu also played with Wintersun, but I feel his work on guitar isn't as proficient, and he doesn't show it off as much.

Matt/Ol Drake (Evile), because it's new wave of thrash done right. A guitarist has to be pretty damn talented to channel the energy of old Metallica, Megadeth, Testament, and Slayer so perfectly

Christian Muenzner, because Omnivium is the only album I've been hyped for this year

Tosin Abasi, because AAL is the most unique "new" band I've heard in a while

John 5. Although he's been on the circuit for a while, he didn't release a solo album until 2004.

And finally, Matt Heafy/Corey Beaulieu of Trivium fame... Now, before the TD's come, I want you to hear this

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdNi0K2FLek

Yes, Trivium is a piss excuse for a band and metalcore is a piss excuse for a genre, but they actually have huge potential as legitimate metal guitarists... If that potential is to be reached remains a mystery.

Jeff Loomis is kind of old for your list, and personally I prefer Muenzner's playing over Suicmez, but both are pretty talented... Good list though

BQ: Jeff Loomis, Dave Mustaine, Marty Friedman, Alex Skolnick, Chuck Schuldiner

Kurt Ballou

Colin Marston

Mikael Åkerfeldt

Mark Morton

Willie Adler

BQ: Dave Mustaine, Tony Iommi, Trey Azagthoth, Chuck Schuldiner, Jeff Hanneman

I even have the sinking feeling there are not particularly that many. actually all of my prominent guitarists are quite previous, regardless of if some play in fairly cutting-edge bands. numerous the greater youthful guitarists human beings would point out indexed right here are purely extraordinarily "technically experienced" and can imitate lots of the greats quite properly. that they had probable could get, properly... older till now they advance a different sort of their very very own and flow from being particularly technical and spinoff to being greater musical and expressive. it particularly is basically organic. i'm useful there are some pretty damn candy cutting-edge guitarists that i don't very own information of yet what I defined right here seems a minimum of to be the final sort. whats up, that Andy McKee guy is pretty cool... :P he's 31 now yet replaced into under 30 while he recorded "Drifting", pretty damn different. i replaced into attempting to place a link right here yet Y!A won't permit me precise now, oh properly it quite is a pretty in call for vid, in case you have not seen it i'd recommend looking actual rapid it quite is a cool piece.

Gus Drax (Biomechanical, solo)

Ville Friman (Insomnium)

Jorn Viggo Lofstad (Pagan's Mind, Jorn)

Mike Scalzi (The Lord Weird Slough Feg)

Tommi Sartanen (Twilightning)

Hmmmmm.... gonna focus only on guys who have amazed me since 2000, instead of living in the past. Sorry Mustaine, Chuck and many others, but it's time for others to shine.

Ol Drake - Evile

-Simply stunning Thrash Metal lead guitarist. Might not have the Tech and Prog chops of some, but my goodness the guy shreds like the genetic love child of Mustaine AND Friedman.

Mike Amott - Arch Enemy

- Been amazing us with his stuff since back in the early 90s, but the last 3-4 albums has had some of his most blazing guitar work EVER, and he really shows his chops when he plays sweet blues laced hard Rock with Spiritual Beggars.

Tosin Abasi - Animals as Leaders

-Still a pup, but he takes all the wankery of Malmsteen and Petrucci and melds it with djent aesthetics and soul. Instead of empty noodling his guitar work actually tells a story.

Dave Murray / Adrian Smith /Janik Gers - Iron Maiden

-Some would claim their glory days are behind them, but they would just be showing their ignorance of actual guitar playing. Unfortunately, IMO they have to be mentioned together, particularly Murray and Smith, as they are like conjoined siblings, they way they trade off leads and riffs and solos is uncanny, and the progressiveness of Maiden's last 4 albums, stunning. If I had to pick one, Adrian, because when he was gone from Maiden in the 90s, you could really feel it in their sound.

John "J. D." Cronise - The Sword

- A throwback. Will never "Shred" at the level of most listed here, but who amongst them can produce so many fat juicy riffs that hearken back to Iommi in early Sabbath, and yet not come across as derivative? For me, it is always about the songwriting not the speed, and his stuff rocks my socks.

Honorable mention to Christian Muenzner. Need to hear more, but Omnivium is magic.

BQ-

Tony Iommi (Black Sabbath)

- When you invent Metal, you head the list, lol.

Adrian Smith / Dave Murray (Iron Maiden)

- Best tandem to EVER play in Metal.

Chuck Schuldiner -Death

- Gave us Death Metal.. then upped the ante by giving us Progressive Death Metal.

Alex Skolnick -Testament

- All the chops in Metal of Mustaine, but with way more soul and more to say, musically. Only made better by his jazz ability.

tie between James Hetfield / Dave Mustaine - Metallica / Megadeth

- So much of my youth and tastes was informed by these guys. Dave is a slightly better lead, but IMO, James was a more "expressive" Rhythm player. Both have left so many riffs laying around and gave so much countless hours of enjoyment I cannot pick between them.

*Sorry, no wankers like Malmsteen impress me enough to make my list. Shredding is fine.. but too few actually know how to SAY anything with their guitar work.

no order

Jb Brubanker - August Burns Red

All three guitarists for Iron Maiden (sorry About it being three)

Nick Hipa-As I Lay Dying

James Hetfield-Metallica

Eric Johnson