10 Guitarists Who Inspired The Sound Of Modern Rock & Metal Music

Before becoming one the biggest bands in the world of any genre, Metallica helped pioneer the thrash metal sound when they released their first three albums, Kill Em All (1983), Ride The Lightning (1984) and Master of Puppets (1986). As the frontman of the group, James Hetfield sang, played guitar and was their principal writer of riffs.

Although he has always had a lead guitarist playing alongside him - first Dave Mustaine who they sacked in 1983 (and would go on to form Megadeth), followed by Kirk Hammett (who they took from rival west coast thrashers Exodus) - it is the unprecedented rhythm guitar playing of Hetfield that has always remained so influential. Speed was a key ingredient in the style of thrash metal and it is the super-fast down picking of Hetfield that makes him stand out as a player.

His superb playing is evident on those early tracks such as Whiplash, Fight Fire With Fire and Battery, and his riffs on tracks such For Whom The Bell Tolls and Master of Puppets are legendary. Metallica, with Hetfield at the helm, would then go on to progress beyond their early thrash roots producing the Black album in 1991, which would go onto sell in excess of 30 million copies. The record features classic tracks such as Enter Sandman, The Unforgiven and Nothing Else Matters, which cemented Metallica's legacy as a band, and Hetfield’s impressive songwriting and guitar playing capabilities as they experimented with new styles.