Top 10 Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs

you’ll only find this kind of shredding

you’ll only find this kind of shredding in heavy metal welcome to watchmojo.com

in heavy metal welcome to watchmojo.com

in heavy metal welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down the top 10

and today we’re counting down the top 10

and today we’re counting down the top 10 heavy metal guitar riffs for this list

heavy metal guitar riffs for this list

heavy metal guitar riffs for this list we’ve chosen one song for artists and

we’ve chosen one song for artists and

we’ve chosen one song for artists and stuck to what we felt were their most

stuck to what we felt were their most

stuck to what we felt were their most signature guitar riffs we’ve also

signature guitar riffs we’ve also

signature guitar riffs we’ve also excluded instrumentals number 10

excluded instrumentals number 10

excluded instrumentals number 10 Holy Diver idea

Holy Diver idea

Holy Diver idea [Music]

the slow intro may contrast starkly with

the slow intro may contrast starkly with the rest of the song but it perfectly

the rest of the song but it perfectly

the rest of the song but it perfectly sets the mood and pace for holy divers

sets the mood and pace for holy divers

sets the mood and pace for holy divers hard-hitting and heavy rip the title

hard-hitting and heavy rip the title

hard-hitting and heavy rip the title track and lead single from Dios debut

track and lead single from Dios debut

track and lead single from Dios debut also introduced the world to ax man

also introduced the world to ax man

also introduced the world to ax man Vivian Campbell whose guitar skills

Vivian Campbell whose guitar skills

Vivian Campbell whose guitar skills spawned other popular riffs on Dios

spawned other popular riffs on Dios

spawned other popular riffs on Dios later albums like on the last in line

later albums like on the last in line

later albums like on the last in line [Applause]

[Music]

[Music] number nine ace of spades by Motorhead

number nine ace of spades by Motorhead

number nine ace of spades by Motorhead [Music]

[Music]

[Music] we need proof that Motorhead are the

we need proof that Motorhead are the

we need proof that Motorhead are the originators of speed medals look no

originators of speed medals look no

originators of speed medals look no further from the band’s definitive

further from the band’s definitive

further from the band’s definitive anthem

after Lemmy starts things off with his

after Lemmy starts things off with his distorted bass lines were catapulted

distorted bass lines were catapulted

distorted bass lines were catapulted into a hard-and-fast ride that ends

into a hard-and-fast ride that ends

into a hard-and-fast ride that ends almost as abruptly as it begins

[Music]

[Music] thanks to an unforgettable intro and its

thanks to an unforgettable intro and its

thanks to an unforgettable intro and its sheer power Ace of Spades also planted

sheer power Ace of Spades also planted

sheer power Ace of Spades also planted the seed for the foundations of thrash

the seed for the foundations of thrash

the seed for the foundations of thrash metal

metal

metal [Music]

[Music]

[Music] bringing the law number 8 breaking the

bringing the law number 8 breaking the

bringing the law number 8 breaking the law by Judas Priest by combining the

law by Judas Priest by combining the

law by Judas Priest by combining the double guitar style of KK downing and

double guitar style of KK downing and

double guitar style of KK downing and Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford theatrical

Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford theatrical

Glenn Tipton with Rob Halford theatrical vocals these metal gods make us want to

vocals these metal gods make us want to

vocals these metal gods make us want to break the law with them

the British steal songs opening riff

the British steal songs opening riff draws you in and doesn’t let go till the

draws you in and doesn’t let go till the

draws you in and doesn’t let go till the end its energy and pulsing chorus make

end its energy and pulsing chorus make

end its energy and pulsing chorus make this song classic Judas Priest though

this song classic Judas Priest though

this song classic Judas Priest though the band also got us hooked with their

the band also got us hooked with their

the band also got us hooked with their guitar work on painkillers

with a parent album called Vulgar

with a parent album called Vulgar Display of power it’s no under mouth of

Display of power it’s no under mouth of

Display of power it’s no under mouth of war is so intense

the groove metal track comes out you

the groove metal track comes out you full-force and showcases the guitar

full-force and showcases the guitar

full-force and showcases the guitar talent of Dimebag Darrell and the rest

talent of Dimebag Darrell and the rest

talent of Dimebag Darrell and the rest of Pantera in the process

these pioneers of the new wave of

these pioneers of the new wave of American heavy metal are also known for

American heavy metal are also known for

American heavy metal are also known for riffs and songs like walk and Cowboys

riffs and songs like walk and Cowboys

riffs and songs like walk and Cowboys from Hell

featuring a big bad intro and a riff

featuring a big bad intro and a riff every metalhead knows raining blood

every metalhead knows raining blood

every metalhead knows raining blood helps slayer define thrash metal for

helps slayer define thrash metal for

helps slayer define thrash metal for decades to come

thanks to Jeff Hanuman’s and Kerry Kings

thanks to Jeff Hanuman’s and Kerry Kings dual guitar sound the track is a fiery

dual guitar sound the track is a fiery

dual guitar sound the track is a fiery but appropriate conclusion to rain and

but appropriate conclusion to rain and

but appropriate conclusion to rain and blood

blood

blood [Music]

it’s speed and aggression have also made

it’s speed and aggression have also made it a live staple those seasons in the

it a live staple those seasons in the

it a live staple those seasons in the abyss also produced several complex

abyss also produced several complex

abyss also produced several complex lyrics

lyrics

lyrics [Music]

number five Master of Puppets by

number five Master of Puppets by Metallica

Metallica

Metallica [Music]

[Music]

[Music] Enter Sandman instigated their

Enter Sandman instigated their

Enter Sandman instigated their mainstream popularity but it was the

mainstream popularity but it was the

mainstream popularity but it was the fast-paced and intricate compositions on

fast-paced and intricate compositions on

fast-paced and intricate compositions on Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets

Master of Puppets that positioned Metallica as one of

that positioned Metallica as one of

that positioned Metallica as one of thrash metals big for

this was due in large part to the

this was due in large part to the album’s only single and title track

album’s only single and title track

album’s only single and title track enhanced by James Hetfield’s and Kirk

enhanced by James Hetfield’s and Kirk

enhanced by James Hetfield’s and Kirk Hammett guitar abilities this song

Hammett guitar abilities this song

Hammett guitar abilities this song features the quintessential Metallica

features the quintessential Metallica

features the quintessential Metallica riff and is often considered one of

riff and is often considered one of

riff and is often considered one of heavy metals finest tunes

heavy metals finest tunes

heavy metals finest tunes [Music]

number four holy wars the punishment due

number four holy wars the punishment due by Megadeth

despite multiple lineup changes Megadeth

despite multiple lineup changes Megadeth has ensured it’s still a force in metal

has ensured it’s still a force in metal

has ensured it’s still a force in metal today because of Dave Mustaine’s

today because of Dave Mustaine’s

today because of Dave Mustaine’s characteristic vocals and the band’s

characteristic vocals and the band’s

characteristic vocals and the band’s complex instrumentals

their knack for guitar is particularly

their knack for guitar is particularly evident in holy wars frantic opening

evident in holy wars frantic opening

evident in holy wars frantic opening riff though the tempo slows down the

riff though the tempo slows down the

riff though the tempo slows down the song ultimately distinguishes itself

song ultimately distinguishes itself

song ultimately distinguishes itself with its speed and intensity other

with its speed and intensity other

with its speed and intensity other standout Megadeth riffs include symphony

standout Megadeth riffs include symphony

standout Megadeth riffs include symphony of destruction and tornado of souls

of destruction and tornado of souls

of destruction and tornado of souls [Music]

number three trooper by Iron Maiden

number three trooper by Iron Maiden [Music]

[Music]

[Music] Dave Murray and Adrian Smith joined

Dave Murray and Adrian Smith joined

Dave Murray and Adrian Smith joined forces for the unparalleled grip that

forces for the unparalleled grip that

forces for the unparalleled grip that keeps this song marching along

keeps this song marching along

keeps this song marching along [Music]

[Music]

[Music] while they harmonize their guitars Bruce

while they harmonize their guitars Bruce

while they harmonize their guitars Bruce Dickinson Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain

Dickinson Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain

Dickinson Steve Harris and Nicko McBrain bring the rest of the track to life and

bring the rest of the track to life and

bring the rest of the track to life and produce a heavy-metal classic

[Music]

[Music] with the riffs and hard-rocking sound

with the riffs and hard-rocking sound

with the riffs and hard-rocking sound have run to the hills’ and wasted years

have run to the hills’ and wasted years

have run to the hills’ and wasted years Iron Maiden also spearheaded the new

Iron Maiden also spearheaded the new

Iron Maiden also spearheaded the new wave of British metal

wave of British metal

wave of British metal [Music]

[Music]

[Music] number two paranoid by Black Sabbath

number two paranoid by Black Sabbath

number two paranoid by Black Sabbath [Music]

[Music]

[Music] iron men may have the cult status and

iron men may have the cult status and

iron men may have the cult status and association with a popular Marvel

association with a popular Marvel

association with a popular Marvel superhero

but it’s paranoid that sighted time and

but it’s paranoid that sighted time and time again is essential to heavy-metal

[Music]

[Music] Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld

Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld

Tony Iommi’s dynamic riffs meld flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals

flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals

flawlessly with Ozzy’s trademark vocals and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics to

and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics to

and geezer Butler’s tormented lyrics to create a dark and heavy blues rock sound

create a dark and heavy blues rock sound

create a dark and heavy blues rock sound unlike anything heard before with work

unlike anything heard before with work

unlike anything heard before with work like that black sabbath’s set the

like that black sabbath’s set the

like that black sabbath’s set the blueprint for the genre and countless

blueprint for the genre and countless

blueprint for the genre and countless subgenres with their music

subgenres with their music

subgenres with their music [Music]

number one crazy train by Ozzy Osbourne

number one crazy train by Ozzy Osbourne [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] we’d be hard-pressed to find a metal fan

we’d be hard-pressed to find a metal fan

we’d be hard-pressed to find a metal fan that doesn’t recognize the Prince of

that doesn’t recognize the Prince of

that doesn’t recognize the Prince of Darkness first solo single

Darkness first solo single

Darkness first solo single [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

[Music]

[Music] [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] what makes it so memorable as randy

what makes it so memorable as randy

what makes it so memorable as randy rhoads incomparable guitar technique as

rhoads incomparable guitar technique as

rhoads incomparable guitar technique as shown by his use of the full minor scale

shown by his use of the full minor scale

shown by his use of the full minor scale in the main riff but let’s not forget

in the main riff but let’s not forget

in the main riff but let’s not forget his mean guitar so

though he’s contributed several other

though he’s contributed several other notable riffs to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy

notable riffs to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy

notable riffs to Ozzy’s repertoire crazy train remains The Godfather of heavy

train remains The Godfather of heavy

train remains The Godfather of heavy metals signature anthem

metals signature anthem

metals signature anthem [Applause]

[Applause]

[Applause] [Music]

you agree with our list what’s your

you agree with our list what’s your favorite heavy metal rip you didn’t find

Top 10 Heavy Metal Guitar Riffs

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