10 Greatest Hard Rock Guitarists Of The '80s
2. James Hetfield - Metallica
It feels a bit strange putting James Hetfield so high on this list considering the amount of talent that has come before. For as many great riffs that Metallica has at their disposal, Hetfield’s style doesn’t really encroach upon the all-time greats in terms of fast fretboard runs. On the other hand, Hetfield’s rhythm playing goes beyond just being able to play a riff correctly.
Throughout Metallica’s run, James was the one who really gave the band life, with some of the fastest riffs that the metal world had ever seen. While a lot of bands were getting by doing the typical classical runs of the day, Hetfield’s close attention to rhythm led to some of the most difficult licks in metal history, like the syncopated intro of “Fight Fire with Fire” or the smack in the mouth of “Battery.”
When Hetfield did eventually solo, his leads were always clearly thought out, with a song like “Nothing Else Matters” having one of the most lyrical guitar breaks in metal. The solos may have been on the simpler side, but James also found his voice in using guitar harmony, where he would perform in lock step with Kirk Hammett for some of metal’s most epic moments. James Hetfield might not be as highly regarded in the realm of guitar gods, but his solid right hand has kept the frenetic spirit of metal alive for generations.