10 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos Of The 90s

The story behind thrash metal's rise wasn't something that happened overnight. Though someone like Metallica may have gotten the rest of the world used to the sounds of punishing riffs and heavy as hell drums, they weren't necessarily the most technically crafted songs in history. If you're looking for something with more of a challenge, you have to look no further than the man who was kicked out of Metallica.

From day one, Dave Mustaine tried to use Megadeth to become the biggest rival to Metallica in the mainstream, and Holy Wars is the moment where the purest thrash metal hit the charts. Having another brilliant guitarist like Marty Friedman in tow, this entire song could be considered some of the most intense riffing ever made, from the triplet style riff before the verses to Marty taking your head off with scales that feel like somewhere between metal, gypsy jazz, and absolute chaos.

What's even crazier is just how much they're able to cram into just 6 minutes. By the time the main solos are over and the Punishment Due concludes, those harmonics from Dave tell you we're just getting started, going for long bends before eventually doing some insane stretches and climbing further and further up the neck until you very nearly run out of notes to actually play. Metallica may have one the battle for thrash metal success, but in terms of pure guitar playing, Dave and Marty may have won the war with this song alone.