THE GREATEST UNDER SOLO RIFFS

[@Hemotoxin]

Varvis! Thank you so much for including When Time Becomes Loss, it’s so awesome it inspired the whole video and to be considered in the conversation amongst all these legendary riffs is an honor. You’re dead on with the analysis, portions of the track were actually inspired directly by the last time I got to see Iron Maiden live.

[@VARVIS_]

No thank you for making such melodic, interesting and beautiful death metal! And keeping that Old School sound and vibe as well. I cant tell you how refreshing it was to listen to your album I thoroughly enjoyed it! Keep up the excellent work man! That is also so cool about the Iron Maiden thing! It sounds so good with those sus2 chords ☺️☺️

[@Thrillhouse84]

Holy shit what a pleasant surprise Hemotoxin is like one of my very fave new bands (new to me); I just caught AMGs review of When Time Becomes Loss about a week ago and instantly fell in love with what I was hearing (I always start the album when I read the review, especially if it's like 3.5 or better, or 1.0 of course). Y'all draw influence from, from what I can discern, a lot of my favorite bands all across metal while still sounding unique. I love the old school vibe, and I can't wait to delve into your back catalog as well! Oh and to agree with you guys I've been hooked on add9/sus2 chords since I started playing 25 years ago and still love them. But yeah Hemotoxin if you ever play NE Florida or southern GA I'll be there for sure

[@ace5612]

Trapped In A Corner - Death. Love that solo and the sick riff it plays over.

[@VARVIS_]

Oh HELL yeah

[@alexd375]

This was my first thought. Both solos and undersolo riffs

[@Daghoulz]

100%!!! My mind went right to this song when reading the title of this video.

[@Rebornthrudoom]

Fuck yeah!

[@rbnh9827]

Go to Under solo riff.

[@Altercentaury]

Sepultura - Dead Embryonic Cell The under solo riff will always be my all time favourite. The sheer intensity of said riff really keeps the energy of the song going throughout the whole solo and also works as an effective buildup for the climactic breakdown after the solo

[@funshorestudios]

And Desperate Cry!

[@DarrynGrills]

My first thought was Frayed Ends of Sanity. Really any Meshuggah riff would work, especially the slower ones like Straws Pulled at Random or Bleed. Nile's The Gods Who Light Up the Sky at the Gate of Sethu and of course Fermented Offal Discharge. The guitars, bass, and drums are all working together to perfectly back that solo.

[@VARVIS_]

Oh hell YEAH absolutely great picks

[@viniciusleaoa]

- Disposable Heroes, specially from 5:05 onwards - Battery - Holy Wars beneath Marty's solos - The Fugitive (Iron Maiden), specially from 3:39 to 3:48

[@calebbean1384]

Hangar 18 under all the leads. I've been learning Dave's parts and the riffs are about as hard to play as the leads are lol

[@viniciusleaoa]

@calebbean1384 hell yeah 🤘

[@leonwaksberg1415]

Train Of Consequences, it's one of the best riffs on the album

[@thejonathandoan]

02:45 my favorite Megadeth under solo riff is from "Train of Consequences" from their album Youthanasia. I think it only occurs during the solo sequence, and is a badass riff in and of itself! Perfectly compliments the incredible solo by the great Marty Friedman.

[@tomaszzwolinski6254]

For Megadeth I'd personally choose Wake up dead riff under Dave's solo. This one rips af and is the most groovy thing on this planet while not overshadowing the solo itself. If I made my list of the greatest, it would be number 1. Also that one middle solo in Hangar 18 has a riff that is so matching the solo becomes even crazier than without it.

[@VARVIS_]

Oh man absolutely Wake Up Dead is just a masterclass

[@calebbean1384]

The riff under the last solos are my favorite, it's just a variation on the one you mentioned though, transposed a bit

[@Donald18838]

Suffocation has so many great under solo riffs you can make an entire vid just about them lol

[@theinversion4269]

Lol i was about to comment this.

[@tysonwastaken]

like what??

[@Donald18838]

@tysonwastaken brood of hatred, pierced from within, epitaph pf the credulous, the invoking, surgery of implement, pinnacle of bedlam, blood oath. just to name a few

[@balazshidi7075]

Pls do

[@jgxvx]

I've never even heard the term Under Solo Riff before, but when I read the title I immediately thought of Blackened. 😅 I've always loved how the riff and the solo in that song work together and seamlessly blend into each other.

[@VARVIS_]

Based

[@calebbean1384]

Plus the drums are doing really weird shit, unintentionally by Lars but it worked out well

[@clairvoyant_eclipse]

i'd have to include my friend of misery from 6:01-6:18, its so groovy especially with the added mutes

[@viniciusleaoa]

Hell yeah 🤘

[@andrewsharpe7630]

real

[@zeusm11]

Probably my favorite Death under solo riff is the diff under Bobby’s solo in Symbolic…. I talked to Bobby once about how Chuck would write the sickest riffs, then instead of make them main riffs, would put a solo over it 🤯 Bobby’s like, he was the master at that. Chuck and Muhammed from Necrophagist both did this. Shout out to The Stillborn One, the riff under Christian’s solo might be my favorite riff one the whole album. These are two specific Death under solo riffs that I feel inspired the Trey and he took those musical ideas and stretched them as far as they could go.

[@calebbean1384]

As slow as it is, I prefer the one under Chucks lead. It has such weird harmony going on

[@Shadefecator]

I like Judas Priest - Painkiller. It’s an alternative form of the main riff and the actual solo harmonises with the underlying riff perfectly during some parts.

[@GraphiteBlimp27]

Living Monstrosity- Death. That was the Death song I first learned specifically because I love that riff so much. Especially because there are actually two that alternate with different vibes, one fast and chaotic and one slow and menacing.

[@infinidominion]

James and Chuck traded off so well

[@calebbean1384]

I can hear it in my head

[@Miguel_OHara928]

The riff under Adrian's solo in Brighter Than a Thousand Suns is one of my absolute favorite Maiden riffs. When they repeat it in the final section of the song, it sounds absolutely massive.

[@VARVIS_]

A great pick!

[@ArcadeMusicTribute]

This is a great contribution. A lot of us keep forgeting that underneath a great guitar solo, there's usually a materfully crafted riff. I love your comparison with a canvas, because that's what a good riff underneath a solo is.

[@jamiewashere]

My absolute favorite under solo riff is in the song Death Certificate by Carcass off the legendary Heartwork album. I have listened to that song so many times and the solo and the underriff are unmatched in my opinion. The solo and the under riff are in two parts, both epic, and when the solo ends it transitions into an epic heavy riff. ***Chefs kiss***

[@potatoyt1406]

Phobophile - Cryptopsy. It builds off of previous riffs from the song and sounds truly evil, which matches the song's lyrics. Also Flo's chaotic drumming in that part fits the solo amazingly.

[@calebbean1384]

Oh yeah, that one's the shit. I climax every time he does the final sweep lol

[@metalfreekz13]

Ambivalent by Nevermore immediately comes to mind. It is very simple, yet effective. It lets the solo shine while at the same time, it is a badass riff.

[@davewilliamson4357]

Merciful Fate's "Desecration of Souls". Around the 3:07 mark, depending on which stream you listen to on KZbin, it goes from a somewhat faster tempo to about half time. The guitar riff under the slower solo is absolutely one of the best under solo riffs ever created. Give it a listen!

[@bocko855]

Honestly surprised Blackened got in, and Frayed Ends didn't

[@VARVIS_]

It will be in the follow up for sure

[@vitodigiovanni4020]

Five magics is one of my favorites 🤘

[@VARVIS_]

Which one?

[@vitodigiovanni4020]

​@@VARVIS_ the last riff during Dave's solo, my brother said lucretia, Great video and I can't wait for part 2 🤘

[@angel2of7death]

I thought you were gonna say the under the solo riff on Blackened from 04:31-04:56, which is kinda even cooler and very slam metal. Perfection

[@Rebornthrudoom]

Where The Slime Live by MA and The Sleep by Pantera are my favorites!!

[@user-ft4jo8ev1v]

For another recent example: "The Fighting Eagle" by Century has a great example of this. It's basically the melodic riff from the chorus that comes back in another key, but the way it kicks in is amazing.

[@vincentmomont7538]

Great video man and definitely one of my favourite under solo riff is the riff for the first solo of Charon by King Diamond

[@sacricideofficial]

love this video idea. Definitely an art!

[@Pizzatime678]

I love the riff under the solo in battery how it just speeds up and I think the riff under frayed ends of sanity too is sick

[@iiz50p]

Some under-solo riffs are so good you don't even really hear the solo

[@drunkduck9854]

Some of the best under-solo rythm sections I've heard have been from early Iced Earth. Take a listen to the The Path I Choose from 2:05 - 3:10

[@johnholmeswebb8162]

One of my favorite under solo riffs is "Vulture", by "A Life Once Lost.

[@atilladorne]

Spirit Crusher riff under Chuck's solo is literally one of my favourite riffs of all time and I guess my favourite riff from TSOP which is my favourite Death album. Its so f brutal and it hits hard with that crazy solo. And lyrics that goes THAT IT BLEEEUUAD... I don't know, it's so hard to describe Schuldiner's music, its just amazing. This riff is actually hard to play, this 0-0-0-0-0-0 should be PERFECTLY played to sound so badass like in the song.

[@deathmetalmvs5924]

Necrophagist - The Stillborn One Cryptopsy - Phobophile

[@Raspberryfanta72]

Imo for Metallica the best under solo riff is The Unforgiven james plays really powerful power chords and bends and not to mention that descending rhythm on the A string

[@VARVIS_]

Oh man yeah that one is also excellent. I did a whole deep dive on the 3 unforgiven songs and I made special mention of just how good that riff is in it 👍

[@andrewsharpe7630]

My first thought was the Tornado of Souls by Megadeth under riff. I guess it's not anything special, I just think it's very dramatic when paired with the solo. Ha, I never heard the phrase "under riff" before, but it is a badass part of songs.

[@Devypocalypse]

Such a great progression to just riff out on.

[@AceMcshred]

Coma by Overkill. Ive heard the song 1,000 times and i have no idea what the solo sounds like because all i can pay attention to is how badass the rhythm sounds.

[@Poiyda]

Every time I watch Cynic play How Could I at Wacken, that part where Paul just sits down while the final solo is being played just seems to make me immensely happy.

[@calebbean1384]

And Sean chewing gum the whole time lol

[@martyjohnstone8226]

Favorite would have to be Churning the Maelstrom by Nile

[@theinversion4269]

Lucretia - Metallica Cast Down the Heretic - Nile Drifting Remains - Gorguts The Glorious Dead - Gorefest Disposable Heroes - Megadeth

[@DarrynGrills]

Lucretia is my favorite Metallica song.... :/

[@D_ANIE_L]

Ah yes, Disposable Heroes, My favorite Megadeth song

[@visitor5451]

agree on lucretia. that song is loaded with great riffs!!

[@vocecaiunocontodomalakoi7541]

W profile picture

[@oliverdahlberg838]

Megadeth - Lucretia. Always find myself bobbing my head to the riff rather than swinging to the beautiful solo lol

[@tribblefluffer]

Awesome video idea, thanks for sharing!

[@__supreme7]

Aye you mentioned When from Megadeth its prob my second favorite off of WNAH, such an underrated album. Also I think COB has plenty of great under solo riffs that elevate the overall solo, though to be fair the keyboards play a key role in the under solos sounding great.

[@VARVIS_]

Based fellow World Needs A Hero enjoyer 🫡🫡🫡 COB definitely do!

[@thocom529]

Ngl should have done the solo riff from Lucretia 🙄

[@lsu1992]

Amen. Maybe my favorite riff on RiP.

[@thocom529]

Also zero tolerance under solo riff is prob the best from death

[@barackobreezy]

@@thocom529 ^^^ thought the same

[@heztorm]

Great point. I am amazed about this kind of details. Frayed Ends of Sanity as very interesting riff variation under the solo as well

[@thenephilimmm]

listening to the how could i riff at 1.25x speed makes it full speed lol. you are crazy for downpicking the whole thing man! overall great vid!

[@VARVIS_]

Im currently in the very long and painful process of training myself to alt pick instead of downpicking everything 🤣🤣🤣

[@thenephilimmm]

@ you will get it down I believe in you! it’s all james fault that we downpick everything 🤣🤣 I wanna be the downpicking king too lol

[@barackobreezy]

creeping death's under solo riff is so awesome. just brings the main riff up on the A string but it's so god damn effective and fucking fun to play. one of the most satisfying riffs to play to me

[@Iceymitsu]

Clicked for the Dokken call out. Subbed for the Edmonton sweater. If my Caps fail, I'll be rooting for your Oilers this year!

[@VARVIS_]

Ayyy cheers bro. Would love to see Ovi in the playoffs again

[@calebbean1384]

Playing the two note per string alternate picking can be kind of tricky, but if you get the right angle with the pick it'll flow a lot better. Work up that speed on the thicker strings first, then try applying it up high once you are actually comfortable with the speed. Being comfortable is a huge part of it. Sorry if this is useless advice ha

[@martynburrows3702]

I’ve always felt that the riff under the solo in necrophagist’s “only ashes remain” is so sick! That would definitely be in my list

[@jeroenhoffmann78]

The sleep by Pantera

[@SofaKing880]

I know it isn’t a solo, but the chords played under the lead in the ending of My Curse are legendary

[@matthewmaroun8421]

Transcosmic blueprint by black dahlia off the new one. My friend told me to listen to the solo, but i missed it the first time because the riff was so insane

[@Hamchickenfinger]

Your guitar tone is fucking killer

[@VARVIS_]

Thanks fam I am using the solidus VS8100 amp sim. Sounds excellent 👌

[@capswingsisles]

Always held these kinds of riffs as some of the most important in a song, they shape the solo so much I love seeing vids like this 🎉 The Sleep - Pantera

[@TheoD-i5j]

Thanks for including hemotoxin, I did not know them before and now frickin love them

[@mattw4461]

Iron Maiden has quite a few. Seventh Son, Powerslave just to name a couple.

[@rogercastilho19]

I'm weird, I usually listen to the riff very closely. Only when I'm familiar with the song I start to pay attention to the solo.

[@kentcarmack5879]

Damn dude good picks. Good job

[@trevorstevenson4038]

Now we are talking!! This is the first clip on this topic I have ever seen. Every metal guitarist has their own, unannounced list.

[@mantalksatfridge6811]

It's used again later as an outtro riff, but brighter than 1000 suns by iron maiden has an incredible riff under a solo

[@BrianWGuitar]

Good guitar playing man!

[@VARVIS_]

Cheers man! I have been grinding hard lately!

[@thocom529]

Common varvis banger

[@MetalGarySolid]

Discovered Hemotoxin because of this video. Love them now. Thank you so much!

[@TheWelhaven]

I like the riff under the solo on Nile’s Evil to Cast out Evil. Great lead too.

[@ruperterskin2117]

Right on. Thanks for sharing.

[@GoozeEggz]

Fight fire with fire is easily top 3 imo, just technical tight chugging from james.

[@SantyShatterer]

In my darkest hour solo riffs are definitely brilliant too

[@bobtheboozer9452]

Most songs from the black dahlia murders nocturnal still blow me away especially in under solo riffs

[@TredecimMusic]

I really, really, enjoy the one from A Lot Like Vegas by Bring Me The Horizon. That was one of my first real solos I learnt, though, so I might be biased. 1000 eyes was also a great pick from the video, too!

[@VARVIS_]

Dude what a pick! Never even thought about bmth for this video! Cheers bro

[@rembo96]

Frayed Ends of Sanity riff is one of the best.

[@kaiserYT_]

If you count harmony duet, The Planet by Intestine Baalism. Best solo section ever made, and it is not even close.

[@asteroidimpact6301]

Saxon on the very same album, 'Man and Machine' under the first part of the solo!

[@markop.1994]

The faceless - planetary duality pt2 at around 2:40 has a sick under solo riff

[@SadWingsofDestiny1]

testament- disciples of the watch，that riff under the solo is so beautiful

[@infinidominion]

Chuck would speak of the importance of those under solo rhythm riffs too

[@marktaylor6246]

Although it is the main song underneath, one of my favorites is Saxon - Power and the Glory. It just seems to work so well.

[@Standbackforscience]

Metallica "Seek and Destroy", in particular the "live" at the Automatt version, James' guitar is extra loud in the mix, his tone is perfect and his riff cuts!

[@wrongperfection]

Alkaloid - Alter Magnitudes. It's Christian Muenzner at his best. The whole song is a masterclass of tdm riffs, but the solo/ riff under it are something otherwordly.

[@elkrumb9159]

Master’s Apprentices for me, the riff under the guitar harmony and solo is super good and fits well with both

[@paulkretzmusic]

I'm surprised with the particular choice. *Blackened* first solo half time underriff is so heavy and, imho, is more interesting then the following fast one! And with Death... *Perennial Quest* under solo riffs are just worth separate songs! That's why I covered this song ("Unsorted" playlist) on 8-string, an octave lower then original. Anyway, great content, man! 😎🤘🏼

[@AntonioThunderbottom]

The riff under the solo on Seek and Destroy is pretty sick

[@fakamusica]

diggin the creed refference

[@atilladorne]

Damn, listened to Cynic How Could I after you mentioned it. It hits REALLY hard especially knowing it was written in 1993 but man.. vocals are so strange for me, hard to listen. Guess I'll find instrumental idk. Thank you for video, love your content! Average Schuldiner enjoyer. \m/ waiting for the second part of that video

[@calebbean1384]

Cynic's early demos had fairly standard death growls/shouts, you might prefer those

[@zdenkonouzovsky6947]

Extreme Aggression - Kreator

[@omerenestoprak5142]

Avenged Sevenfold - Nightmare came to my mind just as I’ve seen this video

[@tacosocks2576]

Flidias - Infection. Local Ontario band, such a hidden gem you should all check out.

[@Axter6]

My absolute favorite is Metallica - Frayed ends of sanity 4:20 onwards . So damn cool

[@loganwink44]

3:23 When is an awesome song and I always used to listen to it on the bus rides home from school

[@henrywalton5967]

When writing music this is what I'm struggling with the most, I find the riffs are often clashing with he solo. I really need to learn theory...

[@vaas6007]

Annihilator - Stonewall Annihilator - Road to ruin

[@Damjansen]

More people should watch this, finally someone talks!!

[@musicmanj1642]

PANTERA under solo riffs! Mouth For War Hard Lines, Sunken Cheeks The Sleep and many more!

[@Nate_M_PCMR]

Pretty much every Pantera song becomes great just by the solo section

[@arvindshastry1178]

I really love the under solo riff of the song Tired and Red by the band Sodom

[@Mr.Steezyy13]

I love the second riff that James plays under the solo in Escape! Really simple, but so groovy. Check it out \m/

[@chicoscience502]

Advanced corpse tumor by necrophagist has one my favorite backing riffs of all time

[@petyapyatochkin9630]

In parallel universe Human era Sean Reinert talks about under solo riffs.🙃

[@sergiorojas6277]

Maniac forces by Tankard, awesome riffs under the solo

[@craigroaring]

2nd solo in "A story to Tell" by Death. About the 3 minute mark.

[@alexanderkongerslev7248]

Myy favourite under solo riff has to be on Fermented Offal Discharge by Necrophagist. It's the one during the second section of the solo

[@crispy9985]

Together as one by death is amazing too