Scott Ian Calls Kirk Hammett The Most Underrated Rhythm Player

Most of us would probably agree that Scott Ian is one to be trusted when it comes to rhythm guitar. So, if Ian says that someone is an underrated talent, it’s probably true. In his last talk with Revolver, Ian described Kirk Hammett as the most underrated rhythm guitarist of all time while choosing his favorites.

“For me, in the world of metal, I think the most underrated rhythm player is Kirk Hammett,” he said, praising the talent of Metallica guitarist. “Because he’s in a band with James [Hetfield,] who, when it comes to metal, is the best. There’s no better right hand than Hetfield’s.”

He continued, “Frederick [Thordendal] from Meshuggah [might actually] have the best right hand. I’m convinced he was a Terminator sent back [in time]. But instead of killing Sarah Connor, he was here to make all other rhythm guitarists feel bad about their right hands. So technically, he’s the best, but James is James, he’s the f*cking god.”

Talking about the role sharing between lead guitar and rhythm guitar, he added, “Kirk’s in a band with James, and he’s the lead guitar player, so nobody ever talks about Kirk as a rhythm guitar player. But he’s gotta go f*cking note for note with James. And he can’t cheat. There’s no f*cking cheating, he’s down-picking all those f*cking parts. Nobody talks about that.”

“So Kirk, to me, is the most underrated, ” concluded the musician after giving his reasons. “I’ve established that James is the best, Frederick is from another planet — so he doesn’t count, he’s an alien. But I’ve gotta give it up for [Slayer’s] Kerry King.”

According to Ian, Hammett was destined to experience the same fate as most rhythm guitarists: to disappear behind the lead guitarist. Although the rhythm guitar is not just as ‘glamorous’ as the lead guitar, it is one of the main elements that carries the sound of a band. It is a vital component of a band’s rhythm section that moves the melody, tempo, and song along.

Both Scott Ian and Kirk Hammett have proven time and time again that rhythm guitar has as much room for innovation and energy as lead guitar. Sometimes the rhythm guitar has more work to do than the lead, especially when it comes to a fast-paced genre like metal, and these two have already established themselves as the names that fulfill this role.