Speed Metal Symphony

Cacophony, 1987, from Speed Metal Symphony. Solo by Marty Friedman, Jason Becker.

A nearly ten-minute instrumental of harmonised runs from two players then in their teens and early twenties.

Speed Metal Symphony is a long, ambitious instrumental that showcases the young talents of Marty Friedman and Jason Becker. The two guitarists play fast harmonised runs, intricate neoclassical passages and tight unison lines, moving through many different sections over the course of nearly ten minutes. Their playing is precise and inventive, mixing exotic scales with heavy riffs. The track helped establish both players as major figures in the shred scene, and it remains a favourite among fans of technical guitar. Listen for the harmony lines where the two guitars move in parallel, and notice the shifts in mood and tempo that keep the long piece moving from one section to the next.

Speed Metal Symphony by Cacophony is ranked #365 in our consensus of 79 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Marty Friedman, Jason Becker and the song was released in 1987. It appears on 1 lists, placing as high as #183 (DigitalDreamDoor).

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Shred Guitar Solos — #22
• The Best Marty Friedman Guitar Solos — #14
• The Best Jason Becker Guitar Solos — #5

Sources

• DigitalDreamDoor: 200 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos — #183
• Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos — #217