Any teenage metal guitarist has already been exposed dozens of times to magazines exploring the theory behind Randy Rhoads' solo in "Crazy Train" and how awesome "Eruption" is ... you know, the same stuff these magazines have been featuring for years (in some cases, decades). Yes, Guitar World, I am well aware that Dimebag Darrell's death was a fucked up tragedy, but is there really anything left to learn from tabbing the same Pantera songs that have been tabbed everywhere in the last seven years? If a teenage guitarist is interested in anything besides someone from the '70s who has a new album out, a band from the '90s that just reunited, or a dead guy, he/she is kinda shit outta luck.
But there's room for new voices to be heard. A youth movement is happening in heavy metal guitar, and a damn good one too. There are some amazing guitarists rising up through the heavy metal circles that are evolving the genre and technique of heavy metal guitar. No, kids, you don't need to have gray hair or be six feet under to be a killer guitarist. Put the mainstream guitar magazines down and search out The Top Five Metal Guitarists Under The Age of 30 on YouTube and learn yaself some knowledge from someone you actually identify with and relate to:
5. Michael Keene (The Faceless)
The Faceless have spent the past few years progressing into one of the leading lights of the "tech-death" movement. While their early work was more forgettable, Michael Keene's guitar work on their most recent album Planetary Duality has helped propel the band beyond being one of thousands of cookie-cutter cookie-monster death metal bands, and has allowed them to be heavy enough for the gore crowd, while offering musical depth that has made them stand out on tour bills that are stacked with like-minded bands.
4. Luke Hoskin (Protest The Hero)
Canadian quintet Protest The Hero have won over metal, hardcore, and punk rock audiences equally, blending elements of all of those genres into a tasty concoction that is musically flashy while also remaining very accessible and just plain fun. On their newest album Scurrilous, Luke Hoskin's leads are a very nice compliment to the over-the-top (in a good way) gravitas of vocalist Rody Walker, lending riffs to the proceedings that can be best defined as "glorious."
3. Chris Letchford (Scale The Summit)
If you went to a prog-rock show ten years ago, there's a very strong chance there would not have been anyone under the age of 30 there. Thanks to bands like Scale The Summit though, progressive rock is becoming cool again with a younger crowd. Though it probably helps that the band are all in their mid-to-late 20s, Scale The Summit has an instrumental prog-metal sound that is updated for the current era, with equal emphasis on technicality, warmth, and compositions that sound like actual songs. Anchored by the guitar wizardry of Chris Letchford, Scale The Summit will give Los Angeles audiences a chance to watch them match the greatness of their 2011 album The Collective (and every time we've seen them live, they do) tomorrow night at the Key Club as part of the "Slaughter Survivors" tour with Conducting From The Grave, The Contortionist, and more.
Where is Misha? Or Minette? Or Dave Davidson??? Dude not only is responsible for all guitar tracks but all vocals too. 12 strings does not make that tool the best in the world. The other guys (even the ones you did include) make 6 and 7 strings sound way better than his 12...
There are several lists of the best guitarists in certain music genres lately due to the end of the year 2011. Some agree with the list, others don't, but we are all entitled to our own opinion. These metal guitarists sure are talented and without a doubt can still outplay and outlast each other, but if one thing is certain, they play from their soul.
Hey this is a real interesting post, I think it's great that youngies are finally get recognition, but seriously, there are so many guitarists out there that aren't even signed that show great technique and ability. It's astonishing what some of these kids can do. Just watch the two clips below I found searching for christmas metal:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... - Found scrolling through newly uploaded. Great technique, sweeping and vibrato considering the kid looks about 15. Awesome tone as well. Plus very raw production, which I really love! Sounds like most of it was probably done in one take, which is how I like guitar playing really!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... - Apparently this guy has a bit of a reputation for being somewhat a superstar but he's pretty young. Bit overproduced for my liking, sounds like a lot of computer enhancement, but skills wise, he's top stuff!  The arpeggios he's throwing in part way through are mind blowing.
ive never heard of the number 1 guy but after listenin to the video i can get where its coming from haha. i expected michael keene and tosin to be on here, but A. J. minette too. digital veil was a complete masterpiece, but thats really the only album i like by them, maybe hell get more recognition in the future.
Wow.....thanks for this article. As a 31 year-old (too old, i know) guitarist who starting playing guitar 19 years ago to learn metal songs but doesn't really listen to much metal these days, I'm very happy to have found out about these five bands, none of which I've ever heard before, but all of which had some very cool stuff about them, and a couple of which I'm definitely going to keep listening to. And as a half-black guy it gives me an overwhelming feeling of joy that the best guy on this list (though not according to the writer) is a black guy that dresses like he's in an R&B band. That's WAY more surprising than his guitar skills! Now we just need some ladies on the list. Thanks.
tosin should be first. besides, a warrguitar is not a guitar, is played in a complete different way, Â it's more related to a chapman stick than to a guitar... completely unfair
Where's Dave Davidson from Revocation??????? Dude shreds!!!
As far as super technical, crazy rhythmic stuff goes, Colin is probably #1 but his soloing doesn't really knock me off my ass.Â
Tosin is insanely talented and probably has the best technique out of any of the young metal guitar virtuosos right now, but his sound doesn't have quite the variation I think he's capable of.
Dave incorporates so many different sounds and influences.. plus he sings while he does it. My top 3: Dave, Tosin, Colin. Then I'd probably include the guy from Necrophagist b/c he's also ridiculously talented - not sure if he's under 30 though. And then maybe the dude from Born of Osiris??
There is no better guitarist than another today... all metal guitarists just blow all and can do anything on a guitar. So I'll say that these are good but not a top 5 cause you can have maybe 30 others in a top 5
A solid list to be sure (and let's face it, it could easily be expanded to 10).
That being said, there's a just-turned-17 year-old guitarist playing for a local tech/prog/deathband here in Denver (Dissonance in Design) that is a candidate to join this list in a few years.Check-out their new single "Dionysiac"...the band has an upcoming show at the Summit in September, as well as their EP/CD release in late September at The Gothic...
Micheal keene are you kidding me lucas mann from rings of saturn is better but im glad luke hoskin made the list he is my favorite guitar player but misha monsoor didnt make the list what the fuck man
The sheer amount of work that Colin has done at his age is incredible. I was a bit surprised, honestly, to see him at number one simply for the fact that he and his work isn't that well known. Good choice, though.
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