Top Ten: 10 slabs of monstrous guitar for your collection

You know what will happen... all the wrong CD's will turn up at Christmas... what you didn't want the X Factor Christmas album? But you did get some cash from that auntie that had more sense... you know the one who knows that you know what music you like more than anyone else... Well if that's the case, you know you love state of the art chops, you can't remember which album you should get with that Christmas stash... well here you go... all these albums have spent a good deal of time on my mp3 player and get the Truth In Shredding seal of Top Notch Shredding approval.

Andy James fourth self titled solo release, chock full of two handed synchronizations and bags of melody.


 Stéphan Forté, Adagio's maestro artisan back with some deadly licks and scary chops!


Gianluca Ferro, with his 8 string progressive rock fusion tunes


New comer Paul Wardingham delivers a full frontal assault of chops and melodic grunt to power any guitar starved fan.


Francesco Artusato, Holdsworthian legato stylings on extended range guitars, over heavy sound scapes.



Jeff Loomis modernises Jason Becker, and adds his own immense chop laden solos in this tour de force, post Nevermore.


Christian Muenzner, Obscura's lead guitarist delivers, state of the art chops to the melodic metal table.


Ron Jarzombek's fret board pyrotechnics, twelve tone rows, originality in abundance

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Tosin Abasi, Javier Reyes how about 8 string heavy and beautiful? 



Avalanche of Worms, Levi/Werstler's first release on Magna Carta Records, delivers a commanding sonic statement from the the partnership of Daath's Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler.