1984 Rock Hit Named Among Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time – And It Still Rocks

The rock and metal genres own a bevy of high-octane guitar solos that make you feel like picking up a six-stringer and trying to make magic. The '80s are especially known as a decade brimming with guitar talent, since it was the decade of the Sunset Strip and hair metal, a genre celebrated for its untamable guitar solos. Bands such as Poison and Warrant weren't short on sky-high guitar solos.

But, the metal genre has different subgenres and forms. Amid the hair metal of the '80s, there was also a heavier, less commercial form of heavy metal brewing. The Bay Area was home to the thrash metal scene, and bands such as Metallica, Testament and Exodus began building an audience that was much different from the hair metal movement. These bands, instead of having slicked looks and flashy stage shows, won over crowds with their heavy, hard-hitting sound, pure speed and instrumentation.

Now, a guitar solo from one song out of 1984 is being recognized as one of the best in the genre. It's a classic guitar solo that any metalhead knows and likely loves.

This 1984 Metal Solo Pays Tribute to the '70s Legends in Style and Sound

That solo is from Kirk Hammett of Metallica, and it's his line in "Fade to Black." In a feature on the best guitar solos of all time, Guitar World names the solo from Hammett one of the greatest ever. "'Fade to Black' features acoustic guitars, melodic solos and a non-standard structure more akin to the 'Stairway to Heaven' school of songcraft," the magazine's staff of editors notes in the piece.

In a piece for Metal Hammer, the publication names the guitar solo in "Fade to Black" one of the greatest from Metallica. "For the epic outro to this, Kirk shows a brilliant awareness of how to build excitement," the outlet states.

They add: "His entrance is restrained, a melodic theme that builds anticipation for the fireworks to come. He pays homage to the '70s masters of the outro solo, channeling first UFO's Michael Schenker and then Thin Lizzy's Scott Gorham."

"Fade to Black" is a classic and absolutely deserves to be named among the best. I'm a musician, a bass player and vocalist, and have even written a book about metal music, so I know a great solo when I hear one. Frankly, though, any of Hammett's solos could be recognized as the best.

This story was originally published by Men's Journal on Jun 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

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This story was originally published June 9, 2026 at 3:59 AM.