The ability to like and understand metal comes from being an active music listener. Most people have music in the background of their lives—to pass the time while driving, at work, or during dinner. Persons that listen to metal place music at the forefront of their lives as the sheer intensity and intricacies of all the instruments command intense listening and analysis.
For those of us that love metal music, it becomes more than a choice – it becomes an obsession. There’s a lifelong love for our beloved art from. Now, tone is something very important. It shapes our perception of music whether or not we even realize it. So, I wanted to focus on that in this week’s Kendrick’s Corner.
Today, I wanted to share with you my top ten rhythm guitar tones. It must be remembered that the ear itself is also an instrument which requires intense development and care. Not only for writing music and conceptualizing your sound, but to be able to cultivate the correct tones and sounds to present your music accurately.
The following tones are not only my favorite metal/hard rock guitar tones, but were essential to developing my abilities as a composer and musician.
10. A Perfect Circle “Mer De Noms”
What a dark and ethereal album! Although it’s more on the “hard rock” side, I still consider the guitar tone fantastic. Billy Howerdel is an absolute monster of a player. The riffs are crushing while the leads and accompanying parts are perfectly constructed and have all the right effects.
9. Slayer “Divine Intervention”
Kerry King and Jeff Hanneman’s guitar tones on this album are the best of any Slayer records. Not only am I partial to most of these songs, but the tones are brilliant and so aggressive. Songs like “Dittohead” and “Killing Fields” showcase the polished but raw tones. Love this album!
8. Carcass “Heartwork”
This is Colin Richardson brilliance right here. I doubt there is any metalhead that does not revere this album – at least not from my generation, anyway. The tuning was pretty low (standard-B, if I am correct) but yet is punchy and cuts through the mix perfectly.
7. Meshuggah “Destroy Erase Improve”
They’re one of the first bands I got into that played 7-string guitars, and this record just has some massive sounds. Forget even the polyrhythmic menagerie of the arrangements, the guitar tone is my favorite aspect of this album.
6. Korn “Korn”
Talk about a tone with a vibe, it was so dirty and grimy and full of heaviness and was no doubt an influence on bands like Sepultura. Ibanez Universe 7-strings also became one of the most popular guitars thanks to Brian “Head” Welch and James “Munky” Shaffer.
5. Machine Head “Burn My Eyes”
This is one of the defining records that hyper-focused the 90’s metal movement. When I heard this record, I immediately found out they used a Peavey 5150 on it, traded in my Marshall Valvestate amp, and purchased that bad boy. The unique tone of this particular album is one that’s found nowhere else.
4. Pantera “Far Beyond Driven”
This is the pinnacle of production from Pantera. Everything about the album is insane, and Darrell’s finest guitar tone. It’s bitey, thick, and screams through the speakers. I have heard rumors about a ridiculous amount of layering on this album. Whatever it may be, it is awesome!
3. Iron Maiden “Somewhere In Time”
This is my favorite Iron Maiden album and also my favorite guitar tone from them. This sound in particular embodies the 80’s so well—reverb, chorus, delay on the main rhythm tracks. You really don’t hear many metal records with this tone anymore – it was a sound from a particular time, and no one did it better than Maiden.
2. Megadeth “Countdown To Extinction”
Megadeth really knocked this one out of the park. I have always loved their albums but the production and guitar tone varies significantly across their slew of records. From the moment “Skin O’ My Teeth” comes searing out of the speakers, the guitar sound is just simply amazing. All frequencies are represented so well here and definitely the best from Mustaine and company. I have recently dialed a comparable tone using the Custom Audio Electronics CAE 3 Plus amp mod in my fractal Axe Fx 2.
1. Metallica “Metallica”
This is the holy grail of production for metal albums. Say what you want about the songwriting or whatever, but the guitar tone is unfucking-beatable. Granted you have James Hetfield playing all the rhythms (probably the greatest of all-time) but conjoined with mega-producer Bob Rock who was able to twist the knobs and capture this monster of a sound. Considering this record is mostly in standard tuning (A440) it destroys records tuned down far lower. This is the best ever in my opinion and shall never be topped.
So those are mine. Would these make your list? Let me know in the comments section below!