What guitarists from these days do you consider innovative?

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

I'm into heavy music. I started playing guitar in 1998 when Pantera, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, were all big. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the guitarists from all of those bands. I'm wanting to listen to some "new" innovative guitarists. I think the guys from Underoath and Lamb of God are fairly innovative but I need some other stuff. My music collection is getting played out. Who out there has the sickest and most fresh riffs these days?

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

riklite wrote:

I'm into heavy music. I started playing guitar in 1998 when Pantera, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, were all big. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the guitarists from all of those bands. I'm wanting to listen to some "new" innovative guitarists. I think the guys from Underoath and Lamb of God are fairly innovative but I need some other stuff. My music collection is getting played out. Who out there has the sickest and most fresh riffs these days?

From the last few years? I'd say Marc Rizzo from Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. I saw him live last year on his solo tour. My friend books him on his solo dates. He is beyond amazingly talented. I got to meet him and he is super nice.

Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 11990 Location: Louisiana

inovative is a tricky word.

idk, i'd just check out bands by seing how they related to the bands i like,

you mention pantera,

i'd then check out Down and Superjoint Ritual cus they both had Phil singing, (Down has Rex on bass)

then from Down you get Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein on guitar so check out their other bands. Corrosion of conformity (Pepper), Crowbar and Kingdom of Sorrow (Kirk).

to go a bit further, Crowbar has had a fair few line up changes. so look at those guys other bands. Sammy played for Crowbar, used to play for Acid bath (broke up because the Bassist Died)

this is sort of framing out a particular style. these are all bands based in the south. in generas described as Stoner/Doom/southern metal. alot of old school sabbath and blues influences. here i want to throw in Clutch, as an excentric band with this style, tho they are actually from Maryland. their vocals are often strange, and their riffs sarcastic. but it as groovy as s#%t!

now if this Sabbath/blues side of things doesnt suit. there are other avenues.

fro acid bath who had a 50/50 mix of bluesy sludge and death metalesque things. you can take Sammy's current band "goatwhore" which is much more of a death metal band.

not a bad idea would be to go to wikipedia and look up any of these guys and read about related acts and anyone they claim as influences. Phil anselmo, has a million side projects. Pantera, Down, SJR, being most promenant, then ton of Deathmetal bands. also he produced Crowbars self titled and lended backing vocals. SJR was hevily influenced by old first wave hardcore, aka punk desissified by crazy americans... idk how else to put it. look up Black flag, and related bands. see where it takes you.

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

Canadian_F_H wrote:

inovative is a tricky word.

idk, i'd just check out bands by seing how they related to the bands i like,

you mention pantera,

i'd then check out Down and Superjoint Ritual cus they both had Phil singing, (Down has Rex on bass)

then from Down you get Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein on guitar so check out their other bands. Corrosion of conformity (Pepper), Crowbar and Kingdom of Sorrow (Kirk).

to go a bit further, Crowbar has had a fair few line up changes. so look at those guys other bands. Sammy played for Crowbar, used to play for Acid bath (broke up because the Bassist Died)

this is sort of framing out a particular style. these are all bands based in the south. in generas described as Stoner/Doom/southern metal. alot of old school sabbath and blues influences. here i want to throw in Clutch, as an excentric band with this style, tho they are actually from Maryland. their vocals are often strange, and their riffs sarcastic. but it as groovy as s#%t!

now if this Sabbath/blues side of things doesnt suit. there are other avenues.

fro acid bath who had a 50/50 mix of bluesy sludge and death metalesque things. you can take Sammy's current band "goatwhore" which is much more of a death metal band.

not a bad idea would be to go to wikipedia and look up any of these guys and read about related acts and anyone they claim as influences. Phil anselmo, has a million side projects. Pantera, Down, SJR, being most promenant, then ton of Deathmetal bands. also he produced Crowbars self titled and lended backing vocals. SJR was hevily influenced by old first wave hardcore, aka punk desissified by crazy americans... idk how else to put it. look up Black flag, and related bands. see where it takes you.

Thanks man but I already listen to most of those bands. Especially, Clutch! I was looking for bands that have come out or started getting big in the last 5 years or so. By innovative, I'm talking about riffs mainly. Wes Borland, Dime, Tom Morrello, the Korn guys, and anyone that has some kind of sick ass twist to heavy riffs.

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

riklite wrote:

I'm into heavy music. I started playing guitar in 1998 when Pantera, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, were all big. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the guitarists from all of those bands. I'm wanting to listen to some "new" innovative guitarists. I think the guys from Underoath and Lamb of God are fairly innovative but I need some other stuff. My music collection is getting played out. Who out there has the sickest and most fresh riffs these days?

From the last few years? I'd say Mark Rizzo from Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. I saw him live last year on his solo tour. My friend books him on his solo dates. He is beyond amazingly talented. I got to meet him and he is super nice.

I'm listening to some of his stuff now. He's badass but I don't really hear a lot of originality in it.

Joined: 08 May 2008 Posts: 136 Location: Norway

As for heavy riffs I'd say Lamb of God or maybe something by Opeth...
But if you want to listen to something a bit different but very innovative, you should listen to some of Guthrie Govan's work! He's simply amazing!

Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 11990 Location: Louisiana

riklite wrote:

Canadian_F_H wrote:

inovative is a tricky word.

idk, i'd just check out bands by seing how they related to the bands i like,

you mention pantera,

i'd then check out Down and Superjoint Ritual cus they both had Phil singing, (Down has Rex on bass)

then from Down you get Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein on guitar so check out their other bands. Corrosion of conformity (Pepper), Crowbar and Kingdom of Sorrow (Kirk).

to go a bit further, Crowbar has had a fair few line up changes. so look at those guys other bands. Sammy played for Crowbar, used to play for Acid bath (broke up because the Bassist Died)

this is sort of framing out a particular style. these are all bands based in the south. in generas described as Stoner/Doom/southern metal. alot of old school sabbath and blues influences. here i want to throw in Clutch, as an excentric band with this style, tho they are actually from Maryland. their vocals are often strange, and their riffs sarcastic. but it as groovy as s#%t!

now if this Sabbath/blues side of things doesnt suit. there are other avenues.

fro acid bath who had a 50/50 mix of bluesy sludge and death metalesque things. you can take Sammy's current band "goatwhore" which is much more of a death metal band.

not a bad idea would be to go to wikipedia and look up any of these guys and read about related acts and anyone they claim as influences. Phil anselmo, has a million side projects. Pantera, Down, SJR, being most promenant, then ton of Deathmetal bands. also he produced Crowbars self titled and lended backing vocals. SJR was hevily influenced by old first wave hardcore, aka punk desissified by crazy americans... idk how else to put it. look up Black flag, and related bands. see where it takes you.

Thanks man but I already listen to most of those bands. Especially, Clutch! I was looking for bands that have come out or started getting big in the last 5 years or so. By innovative, I'm talking about riffs mainly. Wes Borland, Dime, Tom Morrello, the Korn guys, and anyone that has some kind of sick ass twist to heavy riffs.

ah. ok well sorry then. nobody worth a crap has shown up in the last... 10-15 years... at least not that i've heard of...

if you find anyone please let me know.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

riklite wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

riklite wrote:

I'm into heavy music. I started playing guitar in 1998 when Pantera, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, were all big. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the guitarists from all of those bands. I'm wanting to listen to some "new" innovative guitarists. I think the guys from Underoath and Lamb of God are fairly innovative but I need some other stuff. My music collection is getting played out. Who out there has the sickest and most fresh riffs these days?

From the last few years? I'd say Mark Rizzo from Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. I saw him live last year on his solo tour. My friend books him on his solo dates. He is beyond amazingly talented. I got to meet him and he is super nice.

I'm listening to some of his stuff now. He's badass but I don't really hear a lot of originality in it.

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:21 am

The guys from Mastodon are pretty innovative, as are Opeth, Ihsahn & Devin Townsend

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Also the term innovative is a super gray area. What you may think is innovative may not be to the next person.

I consider Andy McKee to be super innovative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
But some people may think I am nuts. My taste in music and what I consider innovative is only in my head.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 6:36 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Also the term innovative is a super gray area. What you may think is innovative may not be to the next person.

I consider Andy McKee to be super innovative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
But some people may think I am nuts. My taste in music and what I consider innovative is only in my head.

that is defonatly in innovative way of playing, never seen it done like that before, & even better, it works & sounds good, i like it

Guest

Chimaira is my main innovative. There new cd kicks ass specially the song "Impending Doom" Twisted Evil

Joined: 11 May 2008 Posts: 354 Location: FL

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Also the term innovative is a super gray area. What you may think is innovative may not be to the next person.

+1

for me I would have to go with Frederik Thordendal, Marc Rizzo and Jeff Loomis.

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I consider Andy McKee to be super innovative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
But some people may think I am nuts. My taste in music and what I consider innovative is only in my head.

I love Andy McKee. He is very innovative. I can listen to his stuff all day.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:07 pm

I think Dino from Fear Factory is the innovator from my POV

He can definitely whup some ass.

Joined: 12 Jun 2008 Posts: 696 Location: earth of course!!!

Guthrie Govan!!! Laughing

Guest

Baroness... Check them out... They're not the most innovative thing in the world, but they have some pretty cool riffs.

Mastodon has the most innovative sound at the moment. Innovative for the time, considering they took a lot from the past.

Opeth is very interesting, lots of cool riffs there.

Devin Townsend has been in the CD player for the past week, lots of really cool harmony riffs between the keyboards and the guitar. Definitely inspiring.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 2:57 pm

Who was that guy who plays in NST that's insanely talented? I always like watching him play, he's very animated and very creative.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:48 pm

I think John 5 is an excellent player, and he's brought a new style of country-influenced shred to the table that works really well.
As well as that, Jim Davies, the guitarist from The Prodigy and Pitchshifter in my opinion is one of the greatest guitar innovators of recent years. He's not a strictly rock or metal-orientated guitarist, he uses samples of guitar playing in a dance music-style context, but he's a brilliant, brilliant player. He has a new CD out just a few weeks ago, I'd strongly recommend you take a look into his stuff.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

i'd also throw a vote down for listening to some opeth. it wasn't long before they became my favorite band. great mix of brutal, melodic riffing, and beautiful acoustic.

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 3:54 pm

lamb of god! mark morton and willie adler come up with some stupidly fast and exciting riffs that are just SICK!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOWB6rmSd4I

I got the tab books from them, and since then have NOT put the geets down.
My fingers hurt! Smile

Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 5:28 pm

You want innovative heavy music.
I am totally digging Hatesphere's songwriting. check out their tunes on youtube (myspace is only streaming their latest album).

and try more then one, they've done various genres. So don't make your decision with the first song you hear.

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 13235 Location: MA

Canadian_F_H wrote:

riklite wrote:

Canadian_F_H wrote:

inovative is a tricky word.

idk, i'd just check out bands by seing how they related to the bands i like,

you mention pantera,

i'd then check out Down and Superjoint Ritual cus they both had Phil singing, (Down has Rex on bass)

then from Down you get Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein on guitar so check out their other bands. Corrosion of conformity (Pepper), Crowbar and Kingdom of Sorrow (Kirk).

to go a bit further, Crowbar has had a fair few line up changes. so look at those guys other bands. Sammy played for Crowbar, used to play for Acid bath (broke up because the Bassist Died)

this is sort of framing out a particular style. these are all bands based in the south. in generas described as Stoner/Doom/southern metal. alot of old school sabbath and blues influences. here i want to throw in Clutch, as an excentric band with this style, tho they are actually from Maryland. their vocals are often strange, and their riffs sarcastic. but it as groovy as s#%t!

now if this Sabbath/blues side of things doesnt suit. there are other avenues.

fro acid bath who had a 50/50 mix of bluesy sludge and death metalesque things. you can take Sammy's current band "goatwhore" which is much more of a death metal band.

not a bad idea would be to go to wikipedia and look up any of these guys and read about related acts and anyone they claim as influences. Phil anselmo, has a million side projects. Pantera, Down, SJR, being most promenant, then ton of Deathmetal bands. also he produced Crowbars self titled and lended backing vocals. SJR was hevily influenced by old first wave hardcore, aka punk desissified by crazy americans... idk how else to put it. look up Black flag, and related bands. see where it takes you.

Thanks man but I already listen to most of those bands. Especially, Clutch! I was looking for bands that have come out or started getting big in the last 5 years or so. By innovative, I'm talking about riffs mainly. Wes Borland, Dime, Tom Morrello, the Korn guys, and anyone that has some kind of sick ass twist to heavy riffs.

ah. ok well sorry then. nobody worth a crap has shown up in the last... 10-15 years... at least not that i've heard of...

if you find anyone please let me know.

PAUL WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!

http://uk.youtube.com/user/Scorn920 · Joined: 23 May 2007 Posts: 95 Location: UK.

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Also the term innovative is a super gray area. What you may think is innovative may not be to the next person.

I consider Andy McKee to be super innovative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
But some people may think I am nuts. My taste in music and what I consider innovative is only in my head.

Andy Mckee is amazing! I love pretty much all of his stuff...

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I still vote Marc Rizzo. You said "New" guitarists and most of the choices I have seen above are dudes who have been around forever. Marc's riffs are bad ass. His solo career didn't start till 06'.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8054va126A

He was in Ill Nino from 01-03
Soulfly from 04-till present
and Cavalera Conspiracy 08-till present

I call that rather new. Especially his solo offerings.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I still vote Marc Rizzo. You said "New" guitarists and most of the choices I have seen above are dudes who have been around forever. Marc's riffs are bad ass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8054va126A

does it really make a difference if they're new to you? if they're still making music, and i just found out about them, they're new to me. then again, that is awful logic. Laughing

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

cgibsong002 wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I still vote Marc Rizzo. You said "New" guitarists and most of the choices I have seen above are dudes who have been around forever. Marc's riffs are bad ass
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8054va126A

does it really make a difference if they're new to you? if they're still making music, and i just found out about them, they're new to me. then again, that is awful logic. Laughing

I would say it does make a difference. lol If you just heard about Steve Vai you could pick him. lol Yeah bad logic. New means just that. Wink

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

I was just asking about guys in the last 5-10 years or so. I've listened to a ton of stuff and am looking for some newer stuff to be up with the times. I don't want to listen to any emo s#%t though although I like Underoath and I think they kind of fall into that category.

Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Posts: 12284 Location: Twin Cities

mastodon

Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 994 Location: The Office

Ramón Ortiz - Good all around guitar player, and his writing is pretty good too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQ0DtT2OTLQ

One of many.

Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 270 Location: P-Town, AZ

the band you are looking for is GOJIRA

Joined: 11 Dec 2007 Posts: 668

I really like what dragonforce did with their whole "Nintendo metal" concept. How everyone treats them after they put a song in guitar hero is #$%^ing obnoxious but It has inspired me a bit.

I really can hardly think of any metal that has come out in the last 20 years I have really liked at all.

Joined: 15 Dec 2008 Posts: 684 Location: Woodinville

Joe Satriani's work in Chickenfoot might be very innovative. I know he has been a solo artist for years but working with a complete band will probably bring out new aspects of his playing.

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

like most have said, innovated is rather tough to say.

however, interesting, and or up and coming, or deserve more light upon would be these

Mattias "IA" Eklundh: the guitarist from Freak Kitchen. this is a really strange band, as they sound popish at times, but then they come up with the most technical solos and random yet heavy riffs thrown at you. very unpredictable. think what would happen if you mix bands like Nirvana, chilli peppers mixed in with pantera...well...i dont know who is equal to their heavy and technical stuff...but very interesting!

Neil Zaza: hes a melodic guitarist that takes a lot from guitarists like Vai, Satch, MAB, and a few of the blues kings. interesting

John 5: best way to describe him is a strange mixture of buckethead, nine inch nails, and some sadistic serial killers. i prefer his earlier stuff, mainly from his 'songs of sanity' or whatever that album is called. most prefer his later stuff...

you're prolly familiar with them, but Nevermore, and Arch Enemy are really interesting when it comes to heavy riffs and insane solos

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

Joined: 05 Nov 2008 Posts: 769 Location: NY

Ron Thal AKA Bumblefoot is the man, his stuff is all over the place but its all really amazing

Joined: 22 Aug 2008 Posts: 2370 Location: Montana

Adam Jones
Mattias Eklundh
Wes Borland
Buzz Mcgrath
Dan Donegan
the boys from lamb of god are good riffers.

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

Awesome guys! I think I've got some stuff to check out tonight now. I'm staying at the house and drinking some beer tonight so this should keep me occupied. Very Happy

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

my friends band. they are just ok band but the guitarist is inovative in a sence. he plays everything with his fingers and slap guitar. I know buckethead has done something similar but not the same way as this guy. everything is fingered or slap guitar.
http://www.myspace.com/shadowsincorperated

Joined: 02 Mar 2009 Posts: 811

BLOODROOT wrote:

my friends band. they are just ok band but the guitarist is inovative in a sence. he plays everything with his fingers and slap guitar. I know buckethead has done something similar but not the same way as this guy. everything is fingered or slap guitar.
http://www.myspace.com/shadowsincorperated

I'm diggin that! "The 18th Day" sounds really good.

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 1:40 am

Jeff Loomis

Marty Friedman (not new but ALWAYS innovative)

Lamb of God

Trivium (I love how they blend lots of aspects of metal), listen to the instrumental, "The Crusade"

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

i've heard everything by them up until their latest album. in the latest album, i've only heard songs and bits from here and there.

and by heavy, i'm comparing them to heavy riffers such as BLS, pantera, loomis, arch enemy, lamb of god, and tons of other bands that force you to head bang from the first song of the album to the very last. sure, their song 'Blackwater Park' and 'Master's Apprentices' and a few other songs scattered around are heavy, but still, by no means are all that. having one song in the album that has a riff lasting one minute out of a 10 minute song shouldnt really define the band.

also, i dont really understand the doom gloomy atmosphere that the band has surrounded themselves around. its the same atmosphere i've seen a lot of doom or gothic metal bands have around them, and it works for em. but opeth...not really.

sure, metal has its place for soft, mellow ballades with emotional solos, or vocals, or just the entire song being depressing...but opeth is not a band i'd go for to get my fix on that. go onto youtube, and other metal forums(not guitar forums), and you'll see people saying stupid stuff like 'opeth is a brilliant band that i only listen to when it rains and yada yada yada...'. they're making em into something emo.

and at the same time, they, as of late, have been considered the gods of metal. again...i really dont see it. if you wanna call steven wilson the god of production in music...then, sure, i will follow that and not argue with that.

speaking of steven wilson, his band, porcupine tree, is also another band, whos hype i just dont understand. sure, good lyricist, and he has some really interesting theories...but thats about it. with that said, i still think, that their song called 'trains' is absolutely brilliant! and their tone is just phenomenal! but thats about it...

but, in the end...whatever works for people...

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

i've heard everything by them up until their latest album. in the latest album, i've only heard songs and bits from here and there.

and by heavy, i'm comparing them to heavy riffers such as BLS, pantera, loomis, arch enemy, lamb of god, and tons of other bands that force you to head bang from the first song of the album to the very last. sure, their song 'Blackwater Park' and 'Master's Apprentices' and a few other songs scattered around are heavy, but still, by no means are all that. having one song in the album that has a riff lasting one minute out of a 10 minute song shouldnt really define the band.

also, i dont really understand the doom gloomy atmosphere that the band has surrounded themselves around. its the same atmosphere i've seen a lot of doom or gothic metal bands have around them, and it works for em. but opeth...not really.

sure, metal has its place for soft, mellow ballades with emotional solos, or vocals, or just the entire song being depressing...but opeth is not a band i'd go for to get my fix on that. go onto youtube, and other metal forums(not guitar forums), and you'll see people saying stupid stuff like 'opeth is a brilliant band that i only listen to when it rains and yada yada yada...'. they're making em into something emo.

and at the same time, they, as of late, have been considered the gods of metal. again...i really dont see it. if you wanna call steven wilson the god of production in music...then, sure, i will follow that and not argue with that.

speaking of steven wilson, his band, porcupine tree, is also another band, whos hype i just dont understand. sure, good lyricist, and he has some really interesting theories...but thats about it. with that said, i still think, that their song called 'trains' is absolutely brilliant! and their tone is just phenomenal! but thats about it...

but, in the end...whatever works for people...

exactly. its all opinion. i can't blame you for that. also, you've heard a lot of their stuff, so i can't fault you there. i completely agree with you when you're talking about heavy riffs though. opeth doesn't have heavy riffs. they have melodic riffs with heavy vocals. i prefer that. but it isn't like pantera type riffs.

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

i've heard everything by them up until their latest album. in the latest album, i've only heard songs and bits from here and there.

and by heavy, i'm comparing them to heavy riffers such as BLS, pantera, loomis, arch enemy, lamb of god, and tons of other bands that force you to head bang from the first song of the album to the very last. sure, their song 'Blackwater Park' and 'Master's Apprentices' and a few other songs scattered around are heavy, but still, by no means are all that. having one song in the album that has a riff lasting one minute out of a 10 minute song shouldnt really define the band.

also, i dont really understand the doom gloomy atmosphere that the band has surrounded themselves around. its the same atmosphere i've seen a lot of doom or gothic metal bands have around them, and it works for em. but opeth...not really.

sure, metal has its place for soft, mellow ballades with emotional solos, or vocals, or just the entire song being depressing...but opeth is not a band i'd go for to get my fix on that. go onto youtube, and other metal forums(not guitar forums), and you'll see people saying stupid stuff like 'opeth is a brilliant band that i only listen to when it rains and yada yada yada...'. they're making em into something emo.

and at the same time, they, as of late, have been considered the gods of metal. again...i really dont see it. if you wanna call steven wilson the god of production in music...then, sure, i will follow that and not argue with that.

speaking of steven wilson, his band, porcupine tree, is also another band, whos hype i just dont understand. sure, good lyricist, and he has some really interesting theories...but thats about it. with that said, i still think, that their song called 'trains' is absolutely brilliant! and their tone is just phenomenal! but thats about it...

but, in the end...whatever works for people...

exactly. its all opinion. i can't blame you for that. also, you've heard a lot of their stuff, so i can't fault you there. i completely agree with you when you're talking about heavy riffs though. opeth doesn't have heavy riffs. they have melodic riffs with heavy vocals. i prefer that. but it isn't like pantera type riffs.

yeah, however, i'm not some crazy metal junkie that only listens to heavy stuff. i mean, some of my favorite bands are bands like The Gathering, Therion, Sirenia, Draconian, Aesma Daeva and what not.

but, whenever i get ignorant metalheads that say that opeth is the heaviest band out there...i kinda get annoyed and start a fist fight with em.

and i wont really call opeth melodic, simply becuase if you compare em to melodic/symphonic metal, opeth just doesn't fit in. not that thats a bad thing, but i wouldn't call em melodic metal. maybe melodic death metal with some '*' Astrix around it. either that...or i dont really know what i'd consider opeth, they certainly are rather different...

you may also enjoy their side project called bloodbath. they are considerably heavy. not really my cup of tea, but if you enjoy it, then more power to you.

Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 249 Location: Aiken, SC

Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring from Between the Buried and Me. You can thank me later Very Happy

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 6:53 am

-Sighs.

Everyone mentioned has been around for some time.....
What happened to the "Art Of Shredding"Hmmm?We SERIOUSLY need some new "Guitar Heroes".

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:13 am

But whatever,have no fear Riot has something to melt faces away-CHEA!!!
Check out two of the main reasons why I grind the axe.

First up is a beast by the name of "Syu" now I try not to listen to his stuff to often because being that we share a lot of the same influences I'm always worrying that I might bite off some of his phrasing and both have huge hand spans so it would make my life a lot easier but I can't help it this guy is the friggin' MAN!
The Awakening

And ofcourse you all know(well SHOULD know)Gentaro Satomuraand it's funny how he's a huge influence on me when he's way more passive then the type of a guitarist I hope to be.
Broham here is just sick.Arrow of time

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:16 am

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

riklite wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

riklite wrote:

I'm into heavy music. I started playing guitar in 1998 when Pantera, Korn, Limp Bizkit, and Deftones, were all big. Needless to say, I'm a big fan of the guitarists from all of those bands. I'm wanting to listen to some "new" innovative guitarists. I think the guys from Underoath and Lamb of God are fairly innovative but I need some other stuff. My music collection is getting played out. Who out there has the sickest and most fresh riffs these days?

From the last few years? I'd say Mark Rizzo from Soulfly and Cavalera Conspiracy. I saw him live last year on his solo tour. My friend books him on his solo dates. He is beyond amazingly talented. I got to meet him and he is super nice.

I'm listening to some of his stuff now. He's badass but I don't really hear a lot of originality in it.

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

Dude...EVERYONE endorsed by Caparison scares me.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:16 am

RIOT wrote:

-Sighs.

Everyone mentioned has been around for some time.....
What happened to the "Art Of Shredding"Hmmm?We SERIOUSLY need some new "Guitar Heroes".

Ol' Drake from Evile is a good guitarist, nothing that new, but still very good imo

http://www.myspace.com/oldrake

Joined: 25 Jun 2008 Posts: 4860 Location: Pennsylvania

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

i've heard everything by them up until their latest album. in the latest album, i've only heard songs and bits from here and there.

and by heavy, i'm comparing them to heavy riffers such as BLS, pantera, loomis, arch enemy, lamb of god, and tons of other bands that force you to head bang from the first song of the album to the very last. sure, their song 'Blackwater Park' and 'Master's Apprentices' and a few other songs scattered around are heavy, but still, by no means are all that. having one song in the album that has a riff lasting one minute out of a 10 minute song shouldnt really define the band.

also, i dont really understand the doom gloomy atmosphere that the band has surrounded themselves around. its the same atmosphere i've seen a lot of doom or gothic metal bands have around them, and it works for em. but opeth...not really.

sure, metal has its place for soft, mellow ballades with emotional solos, or vocals, or just the entire song being depressing...but opeth is not a band i'd go for to get my fix on that. go onto youtube, and other metal forums(not guitar forums), and you'll see people saying stupid stuff like 'opeth is a brilliant band that i only listen to when it rains and yada yada yada...'. they're making em into something emo.

and at the same time, they, as of late, have been considered the gods of metal. again...i really dont see it. if you wanna call steven wilson the god of production in music...then, sure, i will follow that and not argue with that.

speaking of steven wilson, his band, porcupine tree, is also another band, whos hype i just dont understand. sure, good lyricist, and he has some really interesting theories...but thats about it. with that said, i still think, that their song called 'trains' is absolutely brilliant! and their tone is just phenomenal! but thats about it...

but, in the end...whatever works for people...

exactly. its all opinion. i can't blame you for that. also, you've heard a lot of their stuff, so i can't fault you there. i completely agree with you when you're talking about heavy riffs though. opeth doesn't have heavy riffs. they have melodic riffs with heavy vocals. i prefer that. but it isn't like pantera type riffs.

yeah, however, i'm not some crazy metal junkie that only listens to heavy stuff. i mean, some of my favorite bands are bands like The Gathering, Therion, Sirenia, Draconian, Aesma Daeva and what not.

but, whenever i get ignorant metalheads that say that opeth is the heaviest band out there...i kinda get annoyed and start a fist fight with em.

and i wont really call opeth melodic, simply becuase if you compare em to melodic/symphonic metal, opeth just doesn't fit in. not that thats a bad thing, but i wouldn't call em melodic metal. maybe melodic death metal with some '*' Astrix around it. either that...or i dont really know what i'd consider opeth, they certainly are rather different...

you may also enjoy their side project called bloodbath. they are considerably heavy. not really my cup of tea, but if you enjoy it, then more power to you.

i did not know they had a side project. i love mikael's vocals, so i'll certainly look into it tomorrow. thanks for that.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 7:43 am

what-a-cool-username wrote:

I think John 5 is an excellent player, and he's brought a new style of country-influenced shred to the table that works really well.
As well as that, Jim Davies, the guitarist from The Prodigy and Pitchshifter in my opinion is one of the greatest guitar innovators of recent years. He's not a strictly rock or metal-orientated guitarist, he uses samples of guitar playing in a dance music-style context, but he's a brilliant, brilliant player. He has a new CD out just a few weeks ago, I'd strongly recommend you take a look into his stuff.

+1
John 5 is the MAN,I want that piercing tone he has,but in no way shape or form am I trying to rock a fender.

Joined: 03 Mar 2009 Posts: 870 Location: Gulfport,FL

Check out Lazarus A.D.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14460

Tommy Shaw and James "J.Y." Young from Styx

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

cgibsong002 wrote:

soliloquy wrote:

and on contradictory to what most others have said...opeth is not heavy. i really dont understand the hype behind this band. their riffs, in my opinion arent heavy, their solos aren't technical nor emotional, nor 'meh'...just a boring band for the most part. their production quality however, i have to say, is maybe one of the greatest in the metal genre. everything is super clear, and crisp and just phenomenal in every aspect!

i guess you just understand them, or you don't. what have you heard of from them? they've got a few ballad songs, as well as some slower and more melodic songs. i kind of understand what you mean... their earlier work was more of just harmonized stuff with the death vocals, not traditional power chord stuff.. but they get heavy. i don't know how you wouldn't consider ghost of perdition as 'heavy'. (go to grooveshark.com and listen to it... no actual song on youtube)

i'm going to go out and say they're the most talented band i've listened to. i'm mad at myself for not liking them when i first heard them a few years ago. i just didn't understand it at first.

again, i guess you either get them, or you don't.

i've heard everything by them up until their latest album. in the latest album, i've only heard songs and bits from here and there.

and by heavy, i'm comparing them to heavy riffers such as BLS, pantera, loomis, arch enemy, lamb of god, and tons of other bands that force you to head bang from the first song of the album to the very last. sure, their song 'Blackwater Park' and 'Master's Apprentices' and a few other songs scattered around are heavy, but still, by no means are all that. having one song in the album that has a riff lasting one minute out of a 10 minute song shouldnt really define the band.

also, i dont really understand the doom gloomy atmosphere that the band has surrounded themselves around. its the same atmosphere i've seen a lot of doom or gothic metal bands have around them, and it works for em. but opeth...not really.

sure, metal has its place for soft, mellow ballades with emotional solos, or vocals, or just the entire song being depressing...but opeth is not a band i'd go for to get my fix on that. go onto youtube, and other metal forums(not guitar forums), and you'll see people saying stupid stuff like 'opeth is a brilliant band that i only listen to when it rains and yada yada yada...'. they're making em into something emo.

and at the same time, they, as of late, have been considered the gods of metal. again...i really dont see it. if you wanna call steven wilson the god of production in music...then, sure, i will follow that and not argue with that.

speaking of steven wilson, his band, porcupine tree, is also another band, whos hype i just dont understand. sure, good lyricist, and he has some really interesting theories...but thats about it. with that said, i still think, that their song called 'trains' is absolutely brilliant! and their tone is just phenomenal! but thats about it...

but, in the end...whatever works for people...

exactly. its all opinion. i can't blame you for that. also, you've heard a lot of their stuff, so i can't fault you there. i completely agree with you when you're talking about heavy riffs though. opeth doesn't have heavy riffs. they have melodic riffs with heavy vocals. i prefer that. but it isn't like pantera type riffs.

yeah, however, i'm not some crazy metal junkie that only listens to heavy stuff. i mean, some of my favorite bands are bands like The Gathering, Therion, Sirenia, Draconian, Aesma Daeva and what not.

but, whenever i get ignorant metalheads that say that opeth is the heaviest band out there...i kinda get annoyed and start a fist fight with em.

and i wont really call opeth melodic, simply becuase if you compare em to melodic/symphonic metal, opeth just doesn't fit in. not that thats a bad thing, but i wouldn't call em melodic metal. maybe melodic death metal with some '*' Astrix around it. either that...or i dont really know what i'd consider opeth, they certainly are rather different...

you may also enjoy their side project called bloodbath. they are considerably heavy. not really my cup of tea, but if you enjoy it, then more power to you.

i did not know they had a side project. i love mikael's vocals, so i'll certainly look into it tomorrow. thanks for that.

its mainly a mixture of Opeth and Katatonia. here's the lineup for it. call it a 'super group' if you will. it sounds kinda like death metal from the early 90's.

Mikael Åkerfeldt - Vocals (2000-2003, 2008-present) (Opeth, Steel (Swe), Katatonia (Swe), Eruption)
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström - Guitars (Katatonia (Swe), Diabolical Masquerade, Bewitched (Swe))
Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson - Guitars (21 Lucifers, Genocrush Ferox, Komotio)
Jonas Renkse - Bass (Katatonia (Swe), October Tide)
Martin "Axe" Axenrot - Drums (Witchery (Swe), Nephenzy Chaos Order, Nifelheim (Swe), Triumphator (Swe), Morgue (Swe), Satanic Slaughter, Opeth)

and their albums have gotten some great reviews as well. and they band has been around since 1999 or something, so they have these:
Breeding Death EP, 2000 [6 reviews, average 94%]
Resurrection Through Carnage Full-length, 2002[13 reviews, average 72%]
Nightmares Made Flesh Full-length, 2004 [11 reviews, average 88%]
Unblessing the Purity EP, 2008 [14 reviews, average 79%]
The Wacken Carnage Live album, 2008 [3 reviews, average 83%]
The Fathomless Mastery Full-length, 2008 [9 reviews, average 71%]

Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 1538

Muhammad Suicmez of Necrophagist.

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 671 Location: Sweden

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

+1
He can be super heavy if he wants to, or super jazzy, or super freaky!
Whatever he's playing, you can bet your ass it's awesome!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

RobbyRockbag wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

+1
He can be super heavy if he wants to, or super jazzy, or super freaky!
Whatever he's playing, you can bet your ass it's awesome!

WOW
forgive my ignorance but who is this dood. He is amazing. Has a great knowledge of modes . I havent heard a 5150 sound that amazing in years.

Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:14 pm

Andy Timmons

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

BLOODROOT wrote:

RobbyRockbag wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

+1
He can be super heavy if he wants to, or super jazzy, or super freaky!
Whatever he's playing, you can bet your ass it's awesome!

WOW
forgive my ignorance but who is this dood. He is amazing. Has a great knowledge of modes . I havent heard a 5150 sound that amazing in years.

the guitarist of freak kitchen. he's a really special guitarist. he can make his guitar sound like absolutely bizare, yet interesting things. from someone having a convo over the phone, to god knows what...

here is some of his heavier stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk-IzZ6Zu7A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRpBeHY1c4

and this is what happens when he mixes a dildo with his guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_OV9tDICEs

and if i'm not mistaken, he used to, or still uses laney amps. actually, i'm pretty sure he uses laney. in that video, its prolly not his 5150...

Joined: 25 Nov 2007 Posts: 154

Check out In Flames their early stuff is really good. Check out the jester race album.

Here is a track off it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kUBbBta8qc

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 671 Location: Sweden

soliloquy wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

RobbyRockbag wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Look at Mattias Eklundh if you want innovative. That dude will scare you with his riffs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x7YLO5GRyBs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYCt1POrkQE

+1
He can be super heavy if he wants to, or super jazzy, or super freaky!
Whatever he's playing, you can bet your ass it's awesome!

WOW
forgive my ignorance but who is this dood. He is amazing. Has a great knowledge of modes . I havent heard a 5150 sound that amazing in years.

the guitarist of freak kitchen. he's a really special guitarist. he can make his guitar sound like absolutely bizare, yet interesting things. from someone having a convo over the phone, to god knows what...

here is some of his heavier stuff
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uk-IzZ6Zu7A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfRpBeHY1c4

and this is what happens when he mixes a dildo with his guitar
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_OV9tDICEs

and if i'm not mistaken, he used to, or still uses laney amps. actually, i'm pretty sure he uses laney. in that video, its prolly not his 5150...

He's totally badass and a really funny guy as well. I was at a clinic with him a couple of years ago, and he was insanely funny!
Also saw Freak Kitchen live some time ago, those guys can really play!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

i lost all respect for him as soon as I heard his aweful band. its like jeff loomis. love his playing dont like his band but I like them alot more than this guys band.

Joined: 28 Jan 2007 Posts: 671 Location: Sweden

BLOODROOT wrote:

i lost all respect for him as soon as I heard his aweful band. its like jeff loomis. love his playing dont like his band but I like them alot more than this guys band.

It's a bit tongue in cheek, but they have some great tunes.
Like this one!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vc329X_8bFo

Joined: 28 Nov 2007 Posts: 2106

BLOODROOT wrote:

i lost all respect for him as soon as I heard his aweful band. its like jeff loomis. love his playing dont like his band but I like them alot more than this guys band.

whats wrong with freak kitchen or nevermore?

i find freak kitchen really interesting. they are almost a parody band, yet actually really interesting at the same time. their lyrics are so different from majority of things that are out there. their music is unheard of before. and bunch of other things that the band is just really unique in...

Joined: 08 Oct 2007 Posts: 1555

Innovative guitarists in terms of the riff styles well.

Brent Hinds & Bill Kelliher are awesome at what they do. So are Mark Morton & Willie Adler.

Like someone mentioned, Pepper Keenan & Kirk Windstein are frippin awesome together as well.

Joined: 02 Sep 2008 Posts: 2249

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBTUAHGpQqE&fmt=18

Joined: 06 Jan 2006 Posts: 270 Location: P-Town, AZ

no seriously.....the band you're looking for is gojira

if you're up for something not too metal check out Fair to Midland.

Joined: 19 Oct 2006 Posts: 2897 Location: Anahiem, CA

i dont think you can get more innovative than guthrie govan or paul gilbert. but they are fusion players

you could also throw scott henderson in there as well. hes a fusion blues player

also, derek trucks is unreal if you like slide bles.

for metal, id say chris broaderick or alexi lahio

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 3:57 am

check this out!! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAnG7WD5sBk&feature=related

Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Posts: 11990 Location: Louisiana

MZDA wrote:

Canadian_F_H wrote:

riklite wrote:

Canadian_F_H wrote:

inovative is a tricky word.

idk, i'd just check out bands by seing how they related to the bands i like,

you mention pantera,

i'd then check out Down and Superjoint Ritual cus they both had Phil singing, (Down has Rex on bass)

then from Down you get Pepper Keenan and Kirk Windstein on guitar so check out their other bands. Corrosion of conformity (Pepper), Crowbar and Kingdom of Sorrow (Kirk).

to go a bit further, Crowbar has had a fair few line up changes. so look at those guys other bands. Sammy played for Crowbar, used to play for Acid bath (broke up because the Bassist Died)

this is sort of framing out a particular style. these are all bands based in the south. in generas described as Stoner/Doom/southern metal. alot of old school sabbath and blues influences. here i want to throw in Clutch, as an excentric band with this style, tho they are actually from Maryland. their vocals are often strange, and their riffs sarcastic. but it as groovy as s#%t!

now if this Sabbath/blues side of things doesnt suit. there are other avenues.

fro acid bath who had a 50/50 mix of bluesy sludge and death metalesque things. you can take Sammy's current band "goatwhore" which is much more of a death metal band.

not a bad idea would be to go to wikipedia and look up any of these guys and read about related acts and anyone they claim as influences. Phil anselmo, has a million side projects. Pantera, Down, SJR, being most promenant, then ton of Deathmetal bands. also he produced Crowbars self titled and lended backing vocals. SJR was hevily influenced by old first wave hardcore, aka punk desissified by crazy americans... idk how else to put it. look up Black flag, and related bands. see where it takes you.

Thanks man but I already listen to most of those bands. Especially, Clutch! I was looking for bands that have come out or started getting big in the last 5 years or so. By innovative, I'm talking about riffs mainly. Wes Borland, Dime, Tom Morrello, the Korn guys, and anyone that has some kind of sick ass twist to heavy riffs.

ah. ok well sorry then. nobody worth a crap has shown up in the last... 10-15 years... at least not that i've heard of...

if you find anyone please let me know.

PAUL WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN?!

man, busy. work/music/girlfriend. life is hectic, but very good. how's everyone?

Joined: 30 Mar 2006 Posts: 1043 Location: NOVA

So what exactly makes someone "innovative" versus just bad/good?

Example: I've listened to Mastadon several times, picked up a couple albums, friends recommendations... And while some say it's innovative, it just doesn't appeal to me at all. I realize the players have skill and talent, but I don't dig it. It does sound different, but not in a good way IMHO. So, is it that I just don't get it, like I'm missing something, or is it that just I have bad/good taste? What exactly is innovative about them?

Posted: Sun May 10, 2009 10:09 am

soliloquy wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

i lost all respect for him as soon as I heard his aweful band. its like jeff loomis. love his playing dont like his band but I like them alot more than this guys band.

whats wrong with freak kitchen or nevermore?

i find freak kitchen really interesting. they are almost a parody band, yet actually really interesting at the same time. their lyrics are so different from majority of things that are out there. their music is unheard of before. and bunch of other things that the band is just really unique in...

Hell yes! Freak Kitchen are brilliant!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

soliloquy wrote:

BLOODROOT wrote:

i lost all respect for him as soon as I heard his aweful band. its like jeff loomis. love his playing dont like his band but I like them alot more than this guys band.

whats wrong with freak kitchen or nevermore?

i find freak kitchen really interesting. they are almost a parody band, yet actually really interesting at the same time. their lyrics are so different from majority of things that are out there. their music is unheard of before. and bunch of other things that the band is just really unique in...

i personally have no room in my music for parody or jokes or whatever. its just not my thing. It always seems to be just a schtick or an excuse to cover up bad song writing. The guy is more than capable or destroying the guitar, I would rather see that is a real song context thats all.

as far as nevermore. Id like to hear them nevermore. They songs do nothing for me as far as commercial songs. there is no hook, nothing to keep me wanting to listen again. I dont remember the riffs after hearing their songs or any of their melodys. Jeffs guitar playing is the spotlight. Loomis is one of my top 10 players but I dont like his band.

daVidious wrote:

So what exactly makes someone "innovative" versus just bad/good?

Example: I've listened to Mastadon several times, picked up a couple albums, friends recommendations... And while some say it's innovative, it just doesn't appeal to me at all. I realize the players have skill and talent, but I don't dig it. It does sound different, but not in a good way IMHO. So, is it that I just don't get it, like I'm missing something, or is it that just I have bad/good taste? What exactly is innovative about them?

I'd agree 100%. most the bands mentioned on this thread arent inovative. Just cause you like a band doesnt make them innovative.
Mastadouche are like a stoner hippie college band saying they are metal. they dont do anything innovative. Innovative is to do something that no one else is doing or bring something to the table fresh in playing or changing music and the music biz.

Innovative
Les Paul
Leo Fender
Jim Marshall
Jimi Hendrix
The Beatles
Mutt Lange (pioneer of digital recording, samples, autotune, drum sample replacements)
Yngwie Malmsteen
Paul Gilbert
Eddie Vanhalen
Kiss
tap and pop guitar(been done but not really used all the time as a style in a commercial way)
those acoustic guys on youtube who do delay with the basslines and then play melody over the top of the repeat delays
NIN
Meshuggah

again just cause you like a band doesnt mean they are innovative people. Put your thinking caps on guys.

Joined: 06 Dec 2003 Posts: 994 Location: The Office

BLOODROOT wrote:

again just cause you like a band doesnt mean they are innovative people.

I picked Ramon because he pulls a lot of different influences together into a pretty tight package. His guitar playing is clean, if not highly proficient and the songs jam.

Of the Ill Nino/Puya/numetalbandswithheavylatininfluanceandpercussionistsandwhathaveyou, Anklas guitar work and riffing stands out.

Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 192

raifo wrote:

Adam Jones
Mattias Eklundh
Wes Borland
Buzz Mcgrath
Dan Donegan
the boys from lamb of god are good riffers.

i have buz in my contacts list. Very Happy

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 7:17 pm

Joined: 09 Apr 2012 Posts: 192

ok ill get on that right away Smile

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14460

I am going to listen to Freak Kitchen's "Spanking Hour" on the iPod, though. Track titled "Haw Haw Haw" is killer.

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:26 pm

ChadMang wrote:

I think Dino from Fear Factory is the innovator from my POV

He can definitely whup some ass.

lololololol. What was I thinking?

CHUG CHUG

Joined: 19 Oct 2009 Posts: 2902 Location: Norway

Meshuggah

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

I think Guthrie Goven is the most dangerous man with an axe right now...

A little impromptu blues jam anyone?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TmofRKpekA&feature=related Laughing

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 14460

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I think Guthrie Goven is the most dangerous man with an axe right now...

http://the-aristocrats-band.com/

Posted: Thu Apr 12, 2012 10:49 pm

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I think Guthrie Goven is the most dangerous man with an axe right now...

+100%

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Grim Reaper wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

I think Guthrie Goven is the most dangerous man with an axe right now...

+100%

A little impromptu blues jam anyone Laughing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6TmofRKpekA&feature=related Laughing

HATE YOUR FACE GUTHRIE!!!!! Twisted Evil

Joined: 02 Aug 2010 Posts: 1002 Location: Virginia

none of them.

Joined: 29 May 2008 Posts: 1538

Tosin Abasi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt-RoSzsEKA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pg6d2kxkJrQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMjI-Vsv0o8

No one else like him

Joined: 13 Feb 2004 Posts: 5601 Location: phoenix az.

Scorn wrote:

Lanning is Killdozer wrote:

Also the term innovative is a super gray area. What you may think is innovative may not be to the next person.

I consider Andy McKee to be super innovative
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ddn4MGaS3N4
But some people may think I am nuts. My taste in music and what I consider innovative is only in my head.

Andy Mckee is amazing! I love pretty much all of his stuff...

definetly frickin amazing!Rizzo is bad ass,tom morello,buckethead but the most inovative guitarists ive seen are bedroom players on youtube some of the best guitarists ive ever seen are sitting on their beds playin on home videos on youtube!Surf youtube for amazing guitarists!

Joined: 19 Dec 2011 Posts: 421 Location: Northern Arizona

HELLYEAH

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 2:23 am

I am so glad that no one has posted anything about Synyster Gates and Zacky V from Avenged Sevenfold. Smile

It seems thats whats "popular" now, I see them everywhere! They're ok, but theyre NOT NEAR as good as theyre cracked up to be.

Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 1474 Location: Helsinki, Finland

Jon Gomm anybody?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY7GnAq6Znw
I have seen those techiniques used before in random videos but never really seen a song that uses them so well...

Joined: 09 Jun 2008 Posts: 1528 Location: PAris, France

No love for Tosin Abasi ?
Although I'm not into the djentmania at all, that guy is just baffing. Very strong jazz influences applied to 8 strings metal.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:16 pm

I still agree with what I posted 3 years previously.

However, I would like to add Seasick Steve to that list.

My Last.FM · Joined: 03 Feb 2009 Posts: 2813 Location: Cumbria,UK

Tosin Abasi is fucking brilliant, anybody who says otherwise is braindead.

Joined: 28 May 2008 Posts: 80

John 5 is pretty innovative. He can play metal to country and everything in between. I actually think he started his career playing guitar for Salt n Peppa.

For newer bands:
Karnivool, Dead Letter Circus, and Alter Bridge.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:57 pm

here's some stuff you could check out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h5mRKA2kdXY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=36G3tR3VTgs&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ORNkSu6915g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hf33fytW0AY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z94jxTKmuNw&feature=related

Joined: 20 Jan 2009 Posts: 76 Location: Belly Of The Whale

Periphery are pretty innovative... Cracking guitarists. Their first album (excluding vocals) was done through an AxeFX in his one bedroom apartment. And it sounds killer.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BIaYwI_h8g

Joined: 18 Dec 2006 Posts: 1189

Sorry Lanning, hate to rain on your parade, by McKee is not really that new. I mean, I definitely appreciate what he does and I couldn't do it better, but "innovative" I'm not so sure about. Michael Hedges was doing a lot of that stuff, and then Kaki King to me was one of the innovators of using that body slapping technique way before McKee came out.

Same goes for Guthrie Govan. He is really damned good, probably the best all around guitar player that can play shred and fusion. But I don't know how innovative he is.

I would put Guthrie Govan and Chris Broderick as two of the best rock players out right now - definitely state of the art metal playing.

I think Mike Einzinger from Incubus is pretty innovative. He combines the weird fast regen chorus lines from Korn, with some textural Andy Summers type playing, and even some pseudo shreding guitar. Before him there was Tom Morello.

But to me, I haven't heard any guitar players in the past decade that caught my ear as being really different. I guess Tosin has been pretty different. Maybe the guys from Meshuggah.

At the same time, these days I'm not really looking for "innovative". I like guys like Michael Ammott, Cap'n Kirk Douglas from the Roots, Paul Gilbert, Frank Gambale, Allan Holdsworth...... I also really like Joe Bonamassa (a bluesy Eric Johnson copy), Doug Rappaport, Eric Gales, Justin Derrico from Pink's band....... oh and Phil X is a badass.

Posted: Fri Apr 13, 2012 9:39 pm

Jon Schaffer.

Yeah yeah he's old school but in the last 5-10 years he's written/ played things that literally stopped me in my tracks to rewind and listen again

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

flah wrote:

Sorry Lanning, hate to rain on your parade, by McKee is not really that new.

Hey did you look at the date of my post?

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 12250 Location: PEORIA ILLINOIS

this thread is irritating. i suspect the guy who posted it didnt mean for you to post your favorite bands. Liking a band doesnt make them innovative.

innovative these days are the things I hate
Tool
djent
dubstep