Top Metal Guitar Riffs Of The Past 30 + Years

1. “Painkiller” – Judas Priest (1990)

• Album: Painkiller
• The title track’s riff is iconic in metal history, featuring blistering speed, precision, and an unforgettable melody. It remains a staple in their live sets and the wider metal world.

2. “Enter Sandman” – Metallica (1991)

• Album: Metallica (The Black Album)
• One of the most recognizable riffs in metal, “Enter Sandman” became a worldwide hit. Its heavy, catchy riff is a signature of Metallica’s shift to a more mainstream sound in the ’90s, but it still packs a punch.

3. “Symphony of Destruction” – Megadeth (1992)

• Album: Countdown to Extinction
• This riff helped define the thrash metal genre in the ’90s. Dave Mustaine’s aggressive riffing and the political themes in the song made it one of Megadeth’s most memorable tracks.

4. “Toxicity” – System of a Down (2001)

• Album: Toxicity
• The opening riff to “Toxicity” is a signature of System of a Down’s style—melodic yet heavy, unconventional, and instantly recognizable. The band blends metal with unique rhythms and vocals.

5. “Down with the Sickness” – Disturbed (2000)

• Album: The Sickness
• The chugging, rhythmic riff at the start of “Down with the Sickness” became an anthem in the nu-metal era. The song’s heaviness and aggressive vibe helped Disturbed rise to the top of the genre.

6. “The Call of Ktulu” – Metallica (1984)

• Album: Ride the Lightning (though a bit older, it remains a critical influence in modern metal)
• This instrumental riff, especially live, is a masterclass in creating atmosphere and tension. It’s one of the earlier examples of Metallica pushing technical boundaries.

7. “Holy Wars… The Punishment Due” – Megadeth (1990)

• Album: Rust in Peace
• This two-part epic includes one of the most technically impressive riffs in metal history. Dave Mustaine’s intricate riffing and solos have made it a classic.

8. “Chop Suey!” – System of a Down (2001)

• Album: Toxicity
• Another iconic riff from System of a Down, this one is aggressive, dissonant, and full of unique time signatures, helping them become a huge influence on the metalcore and alternative scenes.

9. “Electric Eye” – Judas Priest (1982)

• Album: Screaming for Vengeance (Influential across the 90s and 2000s)
• Although it’s from the ’80s, its influence on metal through the 90s and beyond remains profound. The riff is fast, clean, and quintessentially Priest, representing speed metal at its finest.

10. “Sad But True” – Metallica (1991)

• Album: Metallica (The Black Album)
• The heavy, doomy riff of “Sad But True” helped define Metallica’s sound in the ’90s, contributing to their transition from thrash to more groove-oriented heavy metal.

11. “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!” – Megadeth (1985)

• Album: Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!
• The title track features some of Dave Mustaine’s most intricate and aggressive riffs. It became a defining moment for Megadeth in the thrash metal scene.

12. “The Pretender” – Foo Fighters (2007)

• Album: Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace (Although they’re mostly alt-rock, this riff has had an impact on metal fans, especially in crossover moments)

13. “Stupify” – Disturbed (2000)

• Album: The Sickness
• This riff is a signature piece of the nu-metal era with its infectious groove and heavy rhythm. It helped Disturbed solidify their place in the metal scene during the early 2000s.

14. “Laid to Rest” – Lamb of God (2004)

• Album: Ashes of the Wake
• A defining riff in the groove metal and metalcore scenes. The intricate chugging and powerful delivery made it a standout in the mid-2000s metal movement.

15. “Duality” – Slipknot (2004)

• Album: Vol. 3: (The Subliminal Verses)
• One of Slipknot’s most accessible tracks, its riff is powerful, and melodic, and captures the raw intensity of the band’s sound during the height of their popularity.

16. “Unholy Confessions” – Avenged Sevenfold (2003)

• Album: Waking the Fallen
• This track brought A7X into the limelight, with its intense, fast riffs and breakdowns that mixed metalcore with traditional metal elements.

17. “Bulls on Parade” – Rage Against the Machine (1996)

• Album: Evil Empire
• Although more on the alternative metal/rap-metal side, the riff in “Bulls on Parade” is undeniable in its power and influence on metal, bringing a heavy groove that resonated with metal fans.

18. “Hail to the King” – Avenged Sevenfold (2013)

• Album: Hail to the King
• This riff pays homage to classic heavy metal, drawing comparisons to bands like Metallica and Iron Maiden. Its anthemic quality has made it one of the band’s signature tracks.

19. “Psychosocial” – Slipknot (2008)

• Album: All Hope Is Gone
• A massive, heavy riff that became an anthem for Slipknot’s sound, blending groove and aggression with a memorable hook.

20. “Vicarious” – Tool (2006)

• Album: 10,000 Days
• Tool’s riffing is known for its complexity, and “Vicarious” combines intricate time signatures with a powerful, brooding riff that made it one of their standout tracks in the 2000s.