Exodus guitarist Gary Holt recently shared his thoughts on the guitar techniques of two metal legends, James Hetfield and Dave Mustaine, in an interview with Sweetwater.
Holt praised both guitarists while highlighting their distinct playing styles and technical approaches.
“James [Hetfield], he’s the best ever. Like, when you have the sickest downpick section, and then there’s a big slide in the middle, there’s a reason that slide is there. But he’s still the best. And he sings while doing it. I can’t sing a note and play at the same time,” Holt said.
The Exodus guitarist then turned his attention to Mustaine’s technique, acknowledging its complexity.
“See, his [Dave Mustaine’s] stuff is different. It’s like super technical and super difficult, especially to make all them notes ring out and stuff. It’s not necessarily punishing, but it’s a different kind of hard. It’s super hard, and seeing that and being played, it’s just as tough,” Holt continued.
Holt’s perspective on these guitar legends carries particular weight given his deep connections to the early thrash metal scene. His unique position within the genre’s history adds credibility to his observations.
Floyd Rose reported that Exodus was founded in 1980 by current Metallica guitarist Kirk Hammett. This created an intricate web of connections between these influential bands. The relationship between Exodus and Metallica dates back to their early days. CBS San Francisco noted that Exodus first met Metallica at a 1982 San Francisco show where Metallica headlined before eventually recruiting Hammett to replace Dave Mustaine.
Holt has established himself as one of thrash metal’s most enduring figures. Osiamo documented that he has been the only continuous member of Exodus since 1982. He has appeared on 15 albums for the band. This longevity has given him a front-row seat to witness the evolution of thrash metal guitar techniques over more than four decades.
The guitarist’s insights into different playing styles reflect his extensive experience in the genre. Guitar World revealed that Holt has recently detailed his thrash metal journey in his memoir “A Fabulous Disaster.” The book chronicles his path from Exodus tech to Slayer fill-in guitarist. His dual role in both Exodus and Slayer has provided him with unique perspectives on the technical demands of thrash metal guitar playing.
Holt’s comments highlight the respect among metal musicians for different technical approaches to guitar playing. They demonstrate how the thrash metal community continues to celebrate the distinct contributions of its pioneering guitarists.
