ROCKTOBER: The Hundred Greatest Metal Guitarists by Joel McIver

From its earliest days, heavy metal has been defined by its screamingly loud, distorted guitars, so it’s no wonder that the genre is rife with fabulous players. This large format, well-illustrated book showcases metal’s 100 greatest axe men, from early heroes like the legendary Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck to stars from the 1970s and 1980s such as Motörhead’s Fast Eddie Clarke and Pantera’s “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott to hot new talents like Mick Thompson of the nu-metal band Slipknot. Each entry includes a career biography, with makes and models of guitars played, and explains in technical but informal terms why the player deserves a spot on the coveted list. Sidebars and boxes detail each guitarist’s trademark playing style and top riff. Throughout, the book celebrates guitarists like Steve Vai and Joe Satriani, who don’t play metal but do merit honorable mention for their contributions to rock.