Best metal guitarists of the year?

Calvin Phillips · Dec 19, 2019

I personally dont see why they were picked.

SLIPKNOT's JIM ROOT And MICK THOMSON Named Best Metal Guitarists In The World Right Now

Music Radar has named SLIPKNOT's Jim Root and Mick Thomson as the best metal guitarists in the world right now, following a massive readers' poll. "SLIPKNOT's pair won over 17,000 votes from you, leaving no doubt that 2019 was their year. We Are Not Your Kind proved no matter what…

metaladdicts.com

I also didnt listen to their album.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Calvin Phillips said:
I also didnt listen to their album.

Maybe, just maybe that's why you don't see why they were picked? Lol.

Anyway, that's a fan voted poll, so it's whatever. I'd personally give it to Adam Jones.

Calvin Phillips · Dec 19, 2019

The issue i have is slipknot has so many cliche riffs. I've never been a fan. Some bands I get out of. Some I'm out of til i realize why they are amazing. Slipknot i just cant get into. There are way better guitarist then them. But in all of metal right now? Everyone in general? This wasnt an album release vote it was a straight fan vote I think. The bands popular so it makes sense.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Calvin Phillips said:
The issue i have is slipknot has so many cliche riffs. I've never been a fan. Some bands I get out of. Some I'm out of til i realize why they are amazing. Slipknot i just cant get into. There are way better guitarist then them. But in all of metal right now? Everyone in general? This wasnt an album release vote it was a straight fan vote I think. The bands popular so it makes sense.

To be fair, the reason why their riifs may seem cliche is because all the bands that started copying them after they came out, which is half the modern metal scene. Plus, Slipknot is more about the whole vibe of the songs, not just riffs you pick apart. No one manages to do that sound as good as them, and the new album is a testament to that.

Calvin Phillips · Dec 19, 2019

I'm not saying they arent popular. Not taking their respect away but I do agree with you. You stand out people will copy you.

I agree on the vibe thing too. I always thought of them as the r n b or metal so to speak. Having 9 members in the band kind of also made me point in that route. It's definitely more a show then anything for them.

Manvir B · Dec 19, 2019

Man I love Mick and Jim, good for them I guess.

idssdi · Dec 19, 2019

In metal I would probably go for Tremonti and Myles Kennedy this year. Overall it's Syn for me.

Ed Seith · Dec 19, 2019

Mick and Jim are certainly great players, but I feel like they peaked on Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses. Most of what they do since is... Different. Which, I suppose is good, but I just really don't consider Slipknot to be a "guitar band," outside of Vol 3. Most of what I find appealing in Slipknot (again, outside of Vol 3) is the vocals and especially the percussion/drumming. The guitars really don't stand out or interest me much.

I do think Mark Tremonti has probably delivered the most original material this decade, and a LOT of it is really engaging and enjoyable, so I can see that choice. Of course, Syn goes without saying, and the influence this school could have on the future of heavy guitar can't be understated, either, as a bonus to all of his great writing, playing and soloing this decade.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Ed Seith said:
Mick and Jim are certainly great players, but I feel like they peaked on Volume 3: The Subliminal Verses. Most of what they do since is... Different. Which, I suppose is good, but I just really don't consider Slipknot to be a "guitar band," outside of Vol 3. Most of what I find appealing in Slipknot (again, outside of Vol 3) is the vocals and especially the percussion/drumming. The guitars really don't stand out or interest me much.

I do think Mark Tremonti has probably delivered the most original material this decade, and a LOT of it is really engaging and enjoyable, so I can see that choice. Of course, Syn goes without saying, and the influence this school could have on the future of heavy guitar can't be understated, either, as a bonus to all of his great writing, playing and soloing this decade.

I disagree about Slipknot... Vol. 3 is great, but Iowa is next level. But man, talk about pure fucking hatred and venom being spilled all over a record. It's more of an art piece than a collection of songs to listen to for fun, you really have to be into that kind of stuff to fully appreciate it (similarly to black metal). It's not for everyone, but people that do get it absolutely love it.

As for Syn, this poll was about guitarists that were musically active in 2019, so that's why he wasn't in the poll. Otherwise he (and Zacky too) would get this, as they did few years back already.

Edward John · Dec 19, 2019

I can give you a list of power metal guitarists that destroy those guys, heck, I've heard better riffs from the guy playing on Ozzy's new album.

Edward John · Dec 19, 2019

Daniel Sobota said:
I disagree about Slipknot... Vol. 3 is great, but Iowa is next level. Since you don't dig the vocals and percussion, I guess that's why you probably aren't into that record, but man, talk about pure fucking hatred and venom being spilled all over a record. It's more of an art piece than a collection of songs to listen to for fun, you really have to be into that kind of stuff to fully appreciate it (similarly to black metal). It's not for everyone, but people that do get it absolutely love it.

As for Syn, this poll was about guitarists that were musically active in 2019, so that's why he wasn't in the poll. Otherwise he (and Zacky too) would get this, as they did few years back already.

Hey, Dan, are you into Power Metal by any chance? Just wondering.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Edward John said:
Hey, Dan, are you into Power Metal by any chance? Just wondering.

I like some of it. Helloween, Blind Guardian, Running Wild, Sabaton and DragonForce mostly. A lot of it is too cheesy and happy-sounding for me, but I can dig it from time to time.

Edward John · Dec 19, 2019

Daniel Sobota said:
I like some of it. Helloween, Blind Guardian, Running Wild, Sabaton and DragonForce mostly. A lot of it is too cheesy and happy-sounding for me, but I can dig it from tiem to time.

Hell yeah!

Ed Seith · Dec 19, 2019

Daniel Sobota said:
I disagree about Slipknot... Vol. 3 is great, but Iowa is next level. But man, talk about pure fucking hatred and venom being spilled all over a record. It's more of an art piece than a collection of songs to listen to for fun, you really have to be into that kind of stuff to fully appreciate it (similarly to black metal). It's not for everyone, but people that do get it absolutely love it.

As for Syn, this poll was about guitarists that were musically active in 2019, so that's why he wasn't in the poll. Otherwise he (and Zacky too) would get this, as they did few years back already.

I should say they peaked from a GUITAR perspective on Vol 3. As I said, I do like a lot of the Knot from across their career, but I don't look at it as "guitar music." From your comments, I don't think you do either. That's not a BAD THING - Billy Joel is GOD and he's a piano player.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Ed Seith said:
I should say they peaked from a GUITAR perspective on Vol 3. As I said, I do like a lot of the Knot from across their career, but I don't look at it as "guitar music." From your comments, I don't think you do either. That's not a BAD THING - Billy Joel is GOD and he's a piano player.

Yeah, I kinda misread your comment and got the idea that you appreciate Vol. 3 more than the other albums because it's more guitar oriented. I should have read it more carefully before replying lol.

Calvin Phillips · Dec 19, 2019

Daniel Sobota said:
I disagree about Slipknot... Vol. 3 is great, but Iowa is next level. But man, talk about pure fucking hatred and venom being spilled all over a record. It's more of an art piece than a collection of songs to listen to for fun, you really have to be into that kind of stuff to fully appreciate it (similarly to black metal). It's not for everyone, but people that do get it absolutely love it.

As for Syn, this poll was about guitarists that were musically active in 2019, so that's why he wasn't in the poll. Otherwise he (and Zacky too) would get this, as they did few years back already.

I didnt see where it said it was the active for 2019. I just read it was a fan vote. Either way it's the fans right.

Daniel Sobota · Dec 19, 2019

Calvin Phillips said:
I didnt see where it said it was the active for 2019. I just read it was a fan vote. Either way it's the fans right.

The ones they put in the poll to choose from were all the ones who released music in 2019, that's why it's titled Best Metal Guitarist of 2019.

Edward John · Dec 19, 2019

You couldn't really say Syn could you, because A7X has not really done anything this year.

Dominik Gräber · Dec 19, 2019

I think it's also important what the criteria are. I mean come on, Jim and Mick just can't be any MORE metal than they are. They certainly are not the best guitarists when talking about skill and shredding (at least not on the Slipknot record) but when it comes to show and image they might be way up there.

Totally agree with @Ed Seith about the guitars in Slipknot songs. They are there, but especially in later records really not as important.
@Daniel Sobota I personally don't like much off Iowa, or early Slipknot in general. I sometimes can listen to them but not always. It's like you said - not for everyone. And while they excell at recording pure aggression I think they lack good rhythm and musicality in their early work.

Edward John · Dec 19, 2019

Hey, Ed, got an opinion on Power Metal?

Join the A7X Discord!

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