Peace Sells

Megadeth, 1986, from Peace Sells... but Who's Buying?. Solo by Chris Poland, Dave Mustaine.

Poland's jazz-rooted phrasing gives the solo an unusual loose feel over Mustaine's sharp rhythm guitar.

Peace Sells is famous for its bass intro, but Chris Poland's solo is the song's hidden gem. Poland came from a jazz-fusion background, and his phrasing is looser and more unusual than most thrash players, full of unexpected note choices and smooth, legato runs. His lines slide around the beat rather than hammering it, giving the solo a slippery, unpredictable feel. Over Dave Mustaine's sharp, tightly picked rhythm guitar, the contrast is striking. Listen for the jazzy chromatic runs that set Poland apart, and notice how his relaxed timing gives the solo a sense of floating over the aggressive, precise riffing beneath it, a combination that made the song stand out.

Peace Sells by Megadeth is featured in our Thrash (#17) list. The solo is played by Chris Poland, Dave Mustaine and the song was released in 1986.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Thrash Guitar Solos — #17
• The Best Dave Mustaine Guitar Solos — #3
• The Best Megadeth Guitar Solos — #7

Sources