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10. Adrian Jones – Nine Stones Close

Adrian is an underrated guitarist. On the new NSC album, he brings Floydian solos and grungy drive, and has such a remarkable effect. His playing is pretty epic.

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9. Sean Thompson – Triton Project

You should know Sean from Odd Logic, and his outing with Triton Project, while having some weaknesses, still displayed the raw power and technique of his guitar work. With searing riffs and deeply complicated licks, Sean powers his way through the album with highlight after highlight in his wake.

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8. Simone Mularoni – DGM

On DGM’s latest, which seems like a real break-through for the band, Simone lays down some rock solid riffs, but it is his soloing that really caught my ear. Again and again, he reminded me of the soulfulness of Guthrie Govan’s work with Steven Wilson.

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7. Jens Nicolai Gräs and Jesper Gräs

– Iotunn

Jens and Jasper provide such a powerful element to Iotunn. I love how melodic and hopeful their guitars sound, even while being heavy and dark. They tend to include a shoegaze sound, too, which I really like.

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6. Steve Hackett

I mean, Hackett is a legend, right? On his latest solo record, he still manages to impress with reeling, surging, powerful guitarwork; it’s been a while since he’s brought it with this level of intensity.

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5. Jari Mäenpää and Teemu Mäntysaari

– Wintersun

What can I say? These two are amazing guitarists, and the sheer wall of notes they provide on Time II is only slightly less impressive than the musicality and powerful atmosphere they also maintain. Their performances are truly striking.

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4. Gus Drax – Sunburst

I just love the way Gus plays. His riffs are hotblooded and intense, and you often feel like he’s going to play right off the edge of his fretboard, but he doesn’t. He creates controlled chaos, and it’s so beautiful.

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3. Tom Englund and Henrik Danhage

– Evergrey

Tom and Henrik are legends in their own right, and the twin guitar attack they provide is basically second to none for me, career-wise. On Theories of Emptiness, they continue to impress with lumbering, rhythmic playing that feels like a fresh take on their classic sound.

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2. Colin Masson

I’ve been a fan of Colin’s music for over a decade, and he released one of his best albums ever in 2024. His Mike Oldfield-inspired playing is a big part of that, both in his epic electric offerings and in his precise and gorgeous acoustic style. Layers upon layers of guitars inhabit his work, and I was taken by them.

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** 1. Paul Riedl and Morris Kolontyrsky

– Blood Incantation **

I know I wasn’t the only one blown away by Blood Incantation’s Absolute Elsewhere. A big part of that is the contrast between the heavy darkness of the guitars and the bright spaciousness of the keys and electronica. These two know how to lay down some truly wicked riffs, true, but their soloing abilities evoked Gilmour, and that combination isn’t common. I can’t get enough of their guitar work.

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