# Orion guitar solo

> Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield's guitar solo on Orion by Metallica (1986). From the album Master of Puppets. Ranked #424 of all time across 80 lists.

Canonical URL: <https://greatestsolos.com/song/metallica-orion/>

Metallica, 1986, from *Master of Puppets*. Solo by *Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield*.

A heavy instrumental with a slow, harmonised middle section written around Cliff Burton's bass melody.

Orion is a heavy instrumental from Master of Puppets, and its heart is a slow, harmonised middle section written around Cliff Burton's bass melody. Kirk Hammett and James Hetfield layer guitar harmonies over the bass, creating a rich, almost orchestral sound that contrasts with the crushing riffs on either side. Hammett's lead lines in that section are unusually patient and lyrical, closer to a melody than a thrash solo. The piece remains a fan favourite, partly as a showcase for Burton's musicality. Listen for how the harmonised guitars rise and fall together over the bass line, then how the whole band gathers itself before tumbling back into the heavy riff.

Orion by Metallica is ranked #424 in our consensus of 80 guitar-solo lists. The solo is played by Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield and the song was released in 1986. It appears on 2 lists, placing as high as #26 (DigitalDreamDoor).

## In our lists

- [The 25 Greatest Guitar Instrumentals](https://greatestsolos.com/list/instrumental/) — #20
- [The 25 Greatest Thrash Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/thrash/) — #10
- [The Best Metallica Guitar Solos](https://greatestsolos.com/list/metallica-guitar-solos/) — #4
- [Top 20 Guitar Solos of 1986](https://greatestsolos.com/list/best-guitar-solos-1986/) — #8

## Sources

- [DigitalDreamDoor: 200 Greatest Metal Guitar Solos](https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_metal-guitar-solos.html) — #26
- [Guitar Solo Legends: The 100 Greatest Guitar Solos of All Time — Ranked (2026)](https://guitarsololegends.com/) — #84
- [Digital Dream Door: 250 Greatest Rock Guitar Solos](https://digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/best_guitarsolo.html) — #167

### Who played the guitar solo on Orion?

Kirk Hammett, James Hetfield played the solo on Metallica's Orion (1986).

### Where does Orion rank among the greatest guitar solos?

#424 in the GreatestSolos consensus of 80 published lists; it appears on 2 of them.

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