Revisit four songs from the late '70s, which all have iconic guitar riffs that more or less helped define heavy metal as we know it.

Replacing Dave Mustaine as Metallica’s lead guitarist in 1983, Kirk Hammett cut his teeth on Jimi Hendrix and Led Zeppelin. So it’s unsurprising that he lists Hendrix’s Band of Gypsys and Zeppelin’s ...

The ’80s were rock’s ultimate guitar decade. The shredding, fingerboard-tapping, dive-bombs and epic power-ballad solos. And most importantly, gargantuan riffs fans could air-guitar to. Many top ’80s ...

Tony Iommi is the undisputed champion of the heavy metal riff. He earned that title in the early ’70s, as his memorable guitar riffs — short, repeated chord progressions that help form the rhythmic ...

And why most of his guitars only have four strings. "I've always been intrigued by riffs, man. I think riffs are amazing; they are magical," Cavalera said. "There's something about it. Your ...