Atlas, Rise!
Metallica, 2016. Solo by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield.
A late-career thrash track with a twin-guitar harmony passage that nods to the NWOBHM.
Atlas, Rise! is a late-career thrash track that looks back to the band's roots, and its twin-guitar harmony section is a clear nod to the New Wave of British Heavy Metal. Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield play harmonised melodic lines that recall Iron Maiden and Diamond Head, bands Metallica have always admired. Hammett's solos are fast and energetic, with wah-driven bends and quick runs. The song shows the band reconnecting with the influences that shaped them. Listen for the harmony lines in the middle section, and notice how they bring a melodic, galloping feel that contrasts with the aggressive riffing elsewhere in the track.
Atlas, Rise! by Metallica is featured in our Thrash (#24) list. The solo is played by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and the song was released in 2016.
In our lists
- The 25 Greatest Thrash Guitar Solos — #24
- 2010 to Now — #22
Sources
- Guitar World: The 20 best guitar solos of the decade (2010s) — #19
- Guitar World: The greatest guitar solos of the 21st century... so far — #37
Who played the guitar solo on Atlas, Rise!?
Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield played the solo on Metallica's Atlas, Rise! (2016).