10 Greatest Ever Metallica Solos

1. The Unforgiven

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUHFfR8hWcA Did you guess it would be this one? If so, it is probably because you know how brilliantly profound this guitar solo is. When it came time to write the solo for what is the centre piece of the 'Black Album', Hammett himself said it had to be something truly special. What he ended up coming up with remains, in this writers opinion, the single most, perfect and inspired piece of lead guitar playing, ever! Yes, I truly mean that. With the Morricone inspired, Spanish guitar build up, you're led in to where every element of the track is hugely epic and deserving of a guitar solo of such magnitude. Listen to the rhythm guitar lick underneath and tell me it doesn't stir something inside you. It is further heightened by the synth-string arrangement that just lifts everything up to the heavens. Again, footage of this solo being laid down has been documented in the 'A Year And A Half part 1' home video. It is amusing and gratifying as Hammett, being berated by producer, Bob Rock, and drummer, Lars Ulrich (who sees himself as an editor of Hammett's solo's), rips this out and shows them what he is made of.