Ege Özgün (PHYS/PhD)
ozgun@fen.bilkent.edu.tr

I am not a big fan of “top 10” lists. Most of the time, when I encounter one, I immediately start complaining. But of course such lists reflect the personal tastes of different people, so let me give you mine for guitar solos.

10-Testament – So Many Lies (Alex Skolnick)

Alex Skolnick opens our list with his solo in the song “So Many Lies.” Many of his solos could easily enter this list, but for me this is his most melodic one—well, actually his solos generally are melodic, but for reasons I am not aware of, this one gets my attention more than any of the others.

9-Megadeth – Youthanasia (Marty Friedman)

Marty Friedman is an extremely talented guitarist. His work with Cacophony, Megadeth and Tourniquet, as well as his independent work, has yielded many stunning guitar solos. Most people will get angry when they see I have included his solo from “Youthanasia” instead of one from “Hangar 18” or “Tornado of Souls,” but as you will see as the list continues, I have a specific taste in solos, which focuses on work that reflects creativity, emotion and a genuine spirit, and does not take technique and speed into consideration.

8-Forbidden – Chalice of Blood (Glen Alvelais/Craig Locicero)

For number eight, we have two consecutive solos by Glen Alvelais and Craig Locicero. I cannot consider them separately because they work as a unit, which means I also cannot decide which one is better. Many solos from their first two records could make it into this list, but their genuine work in “Chalice of Blood” is unmissable.

7-Nuclear Assault – Fight to Be Free (John Connelly)

John Connelly is among the most creative guitarists/vocalists in thrash metal. His solo at the beginning of this song is not very complicated, nor does it demonstrate extreme technique. Instead, from the moment you hear the first note, you find yourself dragged into the song’s post-apocalyptic atmosphere, which is a Nuclear Assault hallmark.

6-Opeth – Leper Affinity (Mikael Åkerfeldt)

This solo consists of pure melody and just a little bit of technique. Åkerfeldt really knows how to write extremely melodic solos, which give goosebumps to the listener.

5-Cynic – Veil of Maya (Paul Masvidal)

For number five, we have a classic. Although Jason Gobel’s clean-toned solo is also noteworthy, Masvidal’s work of genius, the main solo in “Veil of Maya,” deserves its ranking on this list. Masvidal’s solo is highly technical and combines various techniques such as sweep picking, tapping and whammy bar tricks. But the key point here is that his technique does not reach a point of unnecessary shredding, which in my opinion is something that kills the atmosphere of a solo.

4-Iron Maiden – Caught Somewhere in Time (Dave Murray/Adrian Smith)

Again, we have two solos merging into one. In fact, they fit into each other so beautifully that it is nearly impossible to even tell they are two different solos. Murray and Smith frequently demonstrate such unity, but their work in “Caught Somewhere in Time” is at a level beyond all their other efforts.

3-Mekong Delta – Imagination (Uwe Baltrusch)

Techno-thrash pioneers Mekong Delta are a great example of a band that is extremely technical but at the same time very melodic, and thus not boringly technical. The solo in “Imagination” is both technical and melodic, and it enters our list at number three.

2-Enslaved – Api-vat (Arve Isdal)

Arve Isdal, aka Ice Dale, is the master of the melodic solo; his solo in “Api-vat” is like the dictionary definition of the phrase “melodic solo.” He creates a tense atmosphere by playing some dissonant-sounding notes here and there and then suddenly morphs them into perfectly harmonic structures. Such a beautiful solo—I could listen to both the solo and the song dozens of times consecutively.

1-Coroner – Serpent Moves (Thomas Vetterli)

Usually known by his stage name, Tommy T. Baron, Vetterli is one of the most underrated guitarists of all time. His playing technique, his compositions and more importantly his ability to demonstrate these live on stage make him one of the most talented guitarists of the entire metal genre. His solo in “Serpent Moves” combines technique, melody, unexpected signature changes and much more….

As you can see, my list of top 10 guitar solos does not contain high-speed solos or solos featuring extreme shredding. I am into melody and atmosphere. This is just my personal taste. Hope you enjoyed the list, and stay connected to music.

N.B. Jeff Waters definitely deserves to be on the list, but I cannot choose any single one of his solos, so he really merits a special mention for his solos in general.