The Top Five Metal Guitarists Under The Age of 30: The Kids Are More Than Alright

michael-keene-modern-metal-guitarists.jpg
Michael Keene
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.


2. Tosin Abasi (Animals As Leaders)


Seriously, do we really need to provide another explanation about why Tosin is awesome? The diverse crowd of M.I.-nerds and hardcore kids that comprised the crowd at the Key Club a couple of weeks ago for the Animals As Leaders gig certainly don't need one, and by now you shouldn't either.

And finally ...

My Voice Nation Help
93 comments
promotions24
promotions24

Sheridan Dolan of Malice is the greatest guitarist of his generation there is no one better under the age of 30.

baDAVE
baDAVE

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...

Mikeyblueeyes3
Mikeyblueeyes3

How does metalcore chug chug skillless breakdowns count as "good"?

guitar picks
guitar picks

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.

Trevor
Trevor

#1 can play fast sure, but his music sounds like diaper.

Jonnybroberg
Jonnybroberg

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.

Guest
Guest

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.

Davin
Davin

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.

home remedies for acne
home remedies for acne

uh... Where is Misha Mansoor.. he's just as good as Tosin, if not better in certain aspects.

perdjentery
perdjentery

Tosin should've been #1. And Misha Mansoor should've been on here somewhere.

Shaun
Shaun

The Arctopus sounds like Craptopus.

Dejube
Dejube

Chris Arp - Psyopus.... Chris bradley - Beneath the Massacre ??

Gkv1992
Gkv1992

Luke Hoskin well done =)

Gkv1992
Gkv1992

Dimebag Darrell, R.I.P.

Asdf
Asdf

uh... Where is Misha Mansoor.. he's just as good as Tosin, if not better in certain aspects.

Ainalik Dupuis
Ainalik Dupuis

wheres AJ Harvey from Last Chance To Reason and Colin McDonnel from White Arms of Athena :)

patricio
patricio

tosin should be first. besides, a warrguitar is not a guitar, is played in a complete different way,  it's more related to a chapman stick than to a guitar... completely unfair

Immascurryburr
Immascurryburr

The guy in the number one is really talented, but the music sucks, there's no flow to it.

Lstennispr0
Lstennispr0

Where the heck is Misha Mansoor? Colin Marston is just noise.

Grundel Nuzzler
Grundel Nuzzler

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. 

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??

thepilgrim
thepilgrim

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

thetruth
thetruth

Jason:

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...

Sater
Sater

Colin Marston is damn good but with the Warr he seems more like a bass player than a guitarist...

Mike Gagnon
Mike Gagnon

Behold the arctapuss? really? sounds like a reviewer trying to be "cool"

Yankeesfan72003
Yankeesfan72003

Yo what about Joshua Travis from The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza?

Luke Walsh
Luke Walsh

The faceless' early work is forgettable? Come on dude.

Poop
Poop

I HAVE AN OPINION AND STUFFS!

Guest
Guest

Where the fuck is A.J. Minette??

Guest
Guest

the human abstract!!

Dustin
Dustin

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

Dylan Dazo
Dylan Dazo

you should look into jason richardson from born of osiris. and francesco artusato from all shall perish. just sayin

Dylan Dazo
Dylan Dazo

francesco might be over 30 thou whoops

Gernan
Gernan

Scale the Summit fuck yeah lml

Savaeurself A
Savaeurself A

tosin should've definitely no.1 but you left out the guys from periphery definitely deserved a spot here

Ethan
Ethan

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.

Necro
Necro

if Muhammed Suicmez was still in his 20s, no one on this list would come close

Asdfsdfsad
Asdfsdfsad

why isnt tosin number 1? no one knows or cares who bta is.  fucking fail. 

Imv283
Imv283

People saying to forget about dimebag have no right calling themselves metal.

lolwut123
lolwut123

 lol, he was good, but people STILL keep fuckin praising him. he wasnt the best, mate.

From the Vault

 

Los Angeles Event Tickets
Browse Voice Nation
  • Voice Places Los Angeles

    Voice Places

    Find everything you're looking for in your city

  • Happy Hour App

    Happy Hour App

    Find the best happy hour deals in your city

  • Daily Deals

    Daily Deals

    Get today's exclusive deals at savings of anywhere from 50-90%

  • Best Of

    Best Of...

    Check out the hottest list of places and things to do around your city