12 Greatest Hard Rock Riffs Of The 1990s

If you're looking for any great hard rock lick from the era of flannel, you can't really go wrong with any of the Big 4 of grunge. No matter which of the heavy hitters you found yourself playing, chances are you'd stumble upon a riff that felt like the pure embodiment of angst and anarchy. While many would single out Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" as the best, there's something about "Heart Shaped Box" that is a bit more on edge.

That's not to disparage "Teen Spirit" though, whose power chords and indelible hook brought grunge to the masses. After the band made their millions though, this song feels like their state of mind, as if Kurt Cobain is already world weary after his first taste of fame. Given the more downtempo material, the riff plods along and feels somewhat mournful as it goes through the verses.

Once we reach the chorus though, the riff transforms into a juggernaut once Cobain hits his distortion pedal. With slight bends to add even more craziness to the riff, this track is one of the most infectious guitar performances that Cobain had ever laid to tape. There may have been more classic songs on Nevermind, but "Heart Shaped Box" showed that after conquering the masses, Nirvana was still a band worth paying attention to.