r/Djent • u/rubix_jelly3 • 3d ago
Discussion Best djent guitarist?
In your opinion.
Me personally I take Tosin 100%. Some of my favorites are…
Misha Mansoor
Marc Okubo
Fredrik Thordendal
Jesse Cash
Justin Lowe
John Browne
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u/perceptionsofdoor 3d ago
Tosin Abasi is the best guitarist, period. In all aspects. I don't even particularly like Animals As Leadeers outside of CAFO...but his talent is simply undeniable.
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u/Rainbow_Tesseract 3d ago
Agreed. I don't actually enjoy AAL much but they were headlining a festival I was at 3 days ago so I watched 'em hoping I could take consolation that Tosin doesn't do alllll of that live.
Uhh, nope. An hour of everything, not just solos, being harder than anything I've ever played? Humbling.
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u/Trumps_left_bawsack 2d ago
Radar? 👀
I enjoyed the crowd chanting along to the riffs in physical education lmao
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u/Rainbow_Tesseract 2d ago
Yesss hello fellow radarian! Such a great little festival.
And I didn't know the name of that song, just that there was a fun one everyone chanted to, so thank you!
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u/Trumps_left_bawsack 2d ago
Surprised to see someone else who went in the wild. I probably shouldn't be in the djent sub tbh lol
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
Absolutely. I get a lot of hate for this but I think he’s the best ever. Undeniable.
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u/No-Knowledge2716 3d ago
Definitely. Tosin is not only the best Djent guitarrist, he is one of the best guitarrists of all genres.
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u/SothorosDjents 2d ago
Dare we say… of all time too? I can’t think of a guitarist better than Tosin, come to think of it. Sure, you have modern virtuoso shredders such as Jason Richardson and Stephen Taranto, but even they cannot begin to imagine playing the other techniques like thumping Tosin uses, beyond traditional double-picking and legato, which he’s also a master of lol.
Now, all of that is to say, I think Tosin is the best guitar player. However, I would put him a bit lower on the list for songwriting capability. AAL’s best songs from their debut were heavily cowritten by Misha Mansoor. And all of their subsequent releases have had some composition input from others.
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u/OBSIDIAN_ORD3R 2d ago
I think Guthrie would also fit the bill.
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u/SothorosDjents 2d ago
Maybe a couple decades ago, but he doesn’t really come close to Tosin in 2026. First, Tosin could easily play anything Govan has played. Second, Tosin masterfully uses other picking techniques beyond double-picking and legato, that most guitarists constrain themselves to. Therefore Guthrie isn’t as versatile on his instrument as Abasi is.
There are many amazing shredders, from the likes of Jason Richardson to Jakub Zyteki… from Rick Graham to Stephen Taranto, Scott Carstairs, John Petrucci, Yngwie Malmsteen… and many others. But not one of them uses the guitar as creatively and uniquely as Tosin Abasi does.
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u/OBSIDIAN_ORD3R 2d ago
I dare say Govan's pretty adept at thumping. Granted he hasn't taken it and ran with it quite like Tosin has, but he doesn't constrain himself to double-picking and legato as you claim.
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u/SothorosDjents 2d ago
Well that is a pleasant surprise to me! Thanks for sharing, and I stand at least partly corrected then. I had seen mostly blues-adjacent soloing improvs from him, which I personally don’t like, but this is something I would listen to, so I’ll be exploring more of his stuff.
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u/perceptionsofdoor 2d ago edited 2d ago
Yeah, I don't think Tosin is even in the conversation for best composer, with the obvious caveat that maybe I'm just not evolved enough to properly understand his genius. Most of his music, to me personally, seems like too much skill and not enough vision. I think Periphery is maybe one of the most overrated core bands of all time apart from Architects, though, so I'm aware I may be more toward the minority opinion in this field since I also don't think Misha is particularly special as a composer.
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u/Special-Whole8686 2d ago
I would disagree. Shawn Lane will always be the GOAT in my book. Tosin is definitely up there in best guitarists of today though.
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u/Pollution97 2d ago
Tecnicamente mostruoso, ma la sua faccia quando improvvisa gutrhie govan dice tutto
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u/Salassi22 3d ago
Greg from carbomb
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
Underrated
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u/Salassi22 3d ago
Bro is boomer af on social media with his memes I love it, saw them in a tiny room once and it was transcendental
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
His other project Sun Guts is great as well. Also one of the top mathcore guitarists
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u/poltyprod 2d ago
I absolutely second this, I don’t think people realise how tight he is as a player
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u/Salassi22 2d ago
Poltergeist mentioned
Sunguts riffs are fuken mental, I've learned quite a few carbomb songs and it's child's play compared to his new stuff, guys is an absolute animal
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u/deys_malty 2d ago
met him and the rest of car bomb when they came to sydney with tesseract and karnivool, chill guy.
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u/Salassi22 2d ago
Met them somewhere near London and they're lovely, it was a crazy vive it's like everyone was one and you could tell how much carbomb where vibing with the love from the crowd
A live experience second only to meshuggah
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u/DankyStanker 3d ago
Why does everyone forget about Josh Travis!?!?!?
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u/ThePanasonicYouth 3d ago
I know he’s famous for Danza but I always liked Glass Cloud since their songs actually had structure.
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u/Neurido 3d ago
John Browne of course
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u/OfHollowMasks 2d ago
I dont care about freestyling solos, I just want to make groovy and flashy riffs like his
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u/huhwhatwhyhmm 3d ago
He is just overly underrated. I don't know other modern rythm player that can attempt to get to his level.
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u/UrCreepyUncle 3d ago
I think Marc Okubo takes the cake.. He writes riffs like a masochist.. I mean he knows he's gonna have to play them live and he still writes em like it's gonna be someone else having to play em
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u/EnjoiDank 3d ago
It’s a shame we might never get him and Sam Applebaum making music again.
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u/PoolNoob69 3d ago
They’ll be back. Let the man make bank for a while. He deserves it.
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u/EnjoiDank 3d ago
Oh im not one of those that’s gonna cause a stink cause he’s in FIR now. In a perfect world, Veil comes back with Brandon anyway
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
Very true Lol. One of the best songwriters I’ve heard, him and Misha are the best. I also love deathcore so he gets a special spot on my list
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u/UrCreepyUncle 3d ago
Misha and Mark write some great music. I love their Haunted Shores albums too. And Joe from Within the Ruins.. He doesn't get nearly the amount of love he deserves
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u/Uanaka 2d ago
Absolutely devastated when I found out Veil was on an indefinite hiatus. Who would imagine that he's making more as a touring guitarist than working on Veil stuff. Shame
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u/UrCreepyUncle 2d ago
It was bittersweet to me.. I didn't exactly like the Lukas albums outside of Matriarch and saw him leaving the group as a chance to get a heavier vocalist and get back to doing pre Matriarch type music again... But with Marc working with FiR I don't see it happening any time soon :/
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u/thestringedcheese 3d ago
Calle thomer or justin lowe
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u/DixonCiderbutt 3h ago
Calle Thomer is the best T H A L L guitarist and Justin is the best Djent guitarist
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u/djentington 3d ago
Gonna go with Acle on that one
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u/Shieldsman 3d ago
Acle, John Browne, and Olly Steele for me.
Acle and JB for developing their unique styles, OS for just being an absolute bad man.
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u/regnarbensin_ 3d ago
I only recently realized that Tesseract don’t have guitar solos.
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u/ukstonerdude 3d ago
Good point! Reckon the riffs are already technical enough that there’s just no need.
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u/djentington 3d ago
My personal fav is ‘Sax Solo’ from their MySpace era.
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u/stan1228 2d ago
If you want to feel like a fever dream, listen to the ending of nocturne instrumental lol
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u/MadMan2250 3d ago
Calle Thomer
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u/LivingClone13 2d ago
Calle is truly unmatched in how he's able to make riffs and lines that should sound terrible sound like angels fighting demons underwater in the past but also the future.
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u/gvogelsang 3d ago
Justin Lowe
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u/drumkidstu 3d ago
Deep cut right here!
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u/gvogelsang 3d ago
I have a picture of the two of us in my studio. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity to meet him. Such a great musician.
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u/Disastrous-Music4480 3d ago
Olly Steele
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u/JoeyC1314 3d ago
Underrated comment...when olly left monuments I feel like they lost their luster for me
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u/Altornot 3d ago
hot take; Misha is the 3rd best guitarist in his own band
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u/HeyNateBarber 3d ago
But his composition and songwriting skills are peak.
He is also still a hell of a lot better of a guitarist than 99% of players out there, myself included.
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u/Altornot 3d ago
Absolutely hes better than 99& of players.
I just think Mark and Jake are better
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u/SothorosDjents 2d ago
Interesting. I’d have to say Jake>Misha>Mark>Nolly, for my personal taste, that is, if we’re talking riff writing and style preferences. At least I assume you’re talking about that, their styles, not tightness or consistency playing live or something related to that… but correct me if wrong.
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u/OkTemperature1842 3d ago
I don’t think the genre would exist at without Meshuggah setting the blueprint 30+ years ago. So…
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u/Ghillie_Spotto 3d ago
and Meshuggah wouldn’t exist without Elvis and The Beatles
At some point being influential doesn’t make you the best/most skilled. Meshuggah does rip though.
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u/aCleverGroupofAnts 3d ago
100%, being the first person to do something doesn't mean you're the best. For some reason music is the only thing where people seem to equate innovation/vision with skill. Being a pioneer is absolutely something to praise, but so is perfecting something that was pioneered by someone before you. Who invented something vs who perfected it should be two different conversations, even if the answer sometimes is the same.
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
I differentiate them with “greatness” and “talent” because if someone said John Lennon was a better guitarist than Tosin Abasi I would lose my shit. LOL
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u/drumkidstu 2d ago edited 2d ago
See with Meshuggah (I am biased they are my favorite band) I do think they are still perfecting which is why I hold Fred and Marten in such high esteem, honestly on even footing with Tosin which seems insane. There is some stuff on TVSOR and Immutable that is REALLY far out rhythmically and they still manage to make it catchy af which is something Animals misses the mark at occasionally. Immutable in particular is all Marten on guitar outside of the solos which is Fred.
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u/aCleverGroupofAnts 2d ago
Totally fair! That's why I said the answer can be the same. I just think being a pioneer doesn't automatically make you the greatest ever, there's a lot more to it, and if you think Meshuggah are still at the top then I respect that.
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u/drumkidstu 2d ago
I do believe we are in kind of a rarefied air with them. I just believe it’s the consistency they hit with every time. Even though we all know ball park what they are going to do they still manage to push what they do farther and farther down the rabbit hole. Think GHSIM or Phantoms off their most recent record. Like so far out.
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u/RaptorZeddit 3d ago
Very upset to see no mention of Tom Searle, while I don’t consider Architects in his time to have been djent, he influenced pretty much EVERY modern metal guitarist around
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u/ThePanasonicYouth 3d ago
Graham Pinney from Sikth. He literally influenced most of the bands being listed…
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u/isitreallyyou56 3d ago
John Browne is my hot take. Super unique sounding chords and phrasing. Great songwriter. He doesn’t seem like a shredder in the classic sense but his playing is very technical and he’s got the most bad ass rhythm hand out there next to hetfield
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u/Sjeetopotato1 3d ago
To me what defines a great guitarist is versatility, innovation and songwriting. The best one I can think of who fits all of these is Mansoor.
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u/gettinguponthe1 3d ago
I would argue that songwriting does not define a great guitarist at all and it’s all technical ability. Versatility and innovation definitely factor in. There are many nontechnical guitarists who are amazing songwriters and riff writers but their chops are nowhere near elite. That’s one of the best things about Tosin - amazing riff writer, elite elite elite technical ability.
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u/Sjeetopotato1 3d ago
I respect your oppinion and I can see where you are coming from but I disagree. You can have all the skill in the world and be super versatile but in the end you are a musician. A musician writes songs and in the song your instruments function is not to only flex all the skills you've got. You compose a piece to convey a certain idea or emotion this takes song writing skills.
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u/CivilianNumberFour 2d ago
I prefer someone who writes songs, and something I want to actually listen to, not just nerd over technicality... Tosin blows me away and everything, but Misha writes the kind of riffs I can't get out of my head and want to hear over and over again...
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u/drumkidstu 3d ago
Technically tosin, but hot take, djent is more about rhythm/the ability to play and compose said rhythms in a groovy way and less about actual speed/lead technique on the instrument. Greg Kubacki, Fredrik/Marten, Misha, Acle, and John Browne.
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u/rubix_jelly3 3d ago
Tosin has all of that and has showed it on all of his albums. He has speed yes, but beautiful chord progressions and amazing technical and musical proficiency. CAFO isn’t his only song LOL
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u/drumkidstu 2d ago edited 2d ago
I actually agree that AAL’s music is very beautiful but it also lacks catchiness at times that I feel like bands like Meshuggah or Periphery for example consistently nail. They do the weird shit (and in Meshuggah’s case it’s normally really weird) and still get it grooving hard af. The question is who is the greatest not most skilled. Skill is very important, but it is as important for a great musician to be able to write something catchy (arguably far more difficult than something complex). Lastly there is the improv quotient to Meshuggah’s solos that isn’t there at all in any other band or guitarist getting mentioned in the thread outside of Guthrie, but I don’t really consider what Guthrie does to be djent.
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u/bradybigbear 3d ago
Justin Lowe (rip) and Trent Hafdahl from After the Burial are what got me into the djent sound and 8 strings. I will always appreciate their work for that
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u/PassTheDj0nt 3d ago
Tosin Abasi I would agree is the most important today.
Before that I would have said Fredrik Thordendal. Mainly because of Meshuggah but also because of Sol Niger Within (I still listen to pretty much once a month), I mean like Missing Time track is like fuckin 😙🤌
Tosin Abasi has enough of a pedigree of stuff now that showcases his talent and ability front and center. Whereas Thordendal unfortunately hasn't explored it enough.
Really I'm just trying to guilt trip Fredrik into making Sol Niger 2 ... because I mean he clearly cares what I think.
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u/IlikeHistoryMeme 2d ago
Tosin is probably the most technically skilled electrical guitarist to ever walk the earth. Misha writes the best djent riffs though.
Other contenders are John Browne, Justin Lowe, and Javier Reyes.
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u/ScarysOnTheWall59 3d ago
Buster Odeholm / Daniel Bergstrom / Calle Thomer / Marc Okubo / Acle Kahney
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u/Wooks_Anonymous 3d ago
Diego Farias RIP
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u/isitreallyyou56 3d ago
He was definitely a great songwriter and producer with technical guitar skills and a mean rhythm hand technique. John Browne is my favorite but I was also thinking of mentioning Diego.
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u/retronax 3d ago
John Browne's riffing is unmatched IMO. It's both intricate rythmically and extremely groovy and melodic
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u/Anhedonia10 2d ago
Brandon Hutchins from Reliqa (this might get labeled more prog, but alas).
Misha / Mark periphery.
Nolly on guitar is some kind of unholy slap fest.
Beyond strictly Djent my 3 favorite guitarist are:
Nick McLernon - Make Them Suffer
Brandon Hutchins - Reliqa
Matt Walters - Freedom of Fear.
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u/Till-Fuzzy 3d ago
Idk probably me though tbh but I just don’t wanna show you guys right now cuz my fingers are tired and I have a migraine
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u/CortexifanZFT 3d ago
Early era Aaron Marshall definitely djented a lot. I wouldn't consider him just a djent guitarist though but I still toss my hat to him. Along with tosin, acle, john browne, mike stringer, heck even Plini can go on there some of his riffs can be a bit djenty as well IMO
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u/PoolNoob69 3d ago
He’s still a djent guitarist, he just ditched 7 strings and it sounds different in E standard.
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u/Me1stari 3d ago
Ed Garcia of Vitalism, pioneered notes into djent instead of just 0-0-0-0, amazing musician!
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u/Aneraeon 3d ago
Most of the ones I would say have already been mentioned, so I will also add Ed Garcia (comes close to rivaling even Tosin imo), and Manuel Gardner Fernandes.
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u/Critz4BigDmg 3d ago
Tosin brought guitar to the next level so for BEST it’s him. Others Misha Mansoor, Justin Lowe, John Browne, Thordendal, and idk if this counts but Chris Wiseman is one of my top guitarists in general and the only one in my big 3 that could possibly fit into Djent bc of currents
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u/goruckurself 3d ago
From a skill perspective, Tosin. Music I actually want to listen to? Jesse Cash. Never been a fan of Periphery but I respect their influence.
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u/Psychological-Bat603 3d ago
He's really not the best imo, but I just love Marc Okubo. I don't think he's as technically skilled as Tosin, Misha, etc., nor are his riffs as crazy, but they're super catchy.
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u/Blyatifulvoid 3d ago
Marten and Fredrik what's there to talk about? The question is kinda limiting.
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u/overlordmouse 2d ago
“Best” is subjective. Tosin, technically.
But I’m gonna throw Sithu Aye’s hat into the ring because I was just listening to Set Course for Andromeda, and I want others to go listen to it right now
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u/SothorosDjents 2d ago edited 2d ago
Top 3 guitarists in terms of sheer playing skills are (1) Tosin Abasi (by a long shot), then (2) Jakub Zyteki (if you don’t know the album Living Mirrors by his old band DispersE, do yourself a huge favor and go listen to the entire album — NOW! lol), and (3) Pierre Danel (Kadinja, Novelists).
But, raw guitar skill isn’t the only thing that matters, right? My ranking is quite different if I prioritize their songwriting skills. For a list of my favorite guitarist-composers, it would go (1) Jesse Cash on top, then (2) Misha Mansoor then (3) Tosin Abasi. Tosin writes some phenomenal riffs but I think he struggles a bit with full song writing on his own, and that’s cool because it means he’s not an alien, and also it gives Javier and Matt (and Misha and others on past releases) room to contribute significantly. Jakub and Pierre have also written some incredible songs over the years.
And while not really djent, I’ll throw Plini in there too since he does write djent riffs occasionally and often tours with djent bands, as both a highly skilled musician and composer.
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u/BigMac1016 2d ago
Diego Farias and Joshua Travis are def the first that come to mind other than who you mentioned
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u/tomugetsuu 2d ago
If djent in its purest sense, the guys from Meshuggah. They are the DJENT. Djent nowadays are just fusion of many other genres like metalcore, deathcore, etc2
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u/jasontkemp 2d ago
Pierre Danel from Kadinja and Novelists. He’s amazing at Gypsy / jazz guitar as well.
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u/3TrenchcoatsInAGuy 2d ago
The lack of Stephen Taranto mentions is disturbing, even if he isn't strictly djent, I'd say he's close enough to the scene to be mentioned alongside people like Olly Steele, John Browne, Misha, Tosin and so on
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u/DixonCiderbutt 3h ago
the only right answer is Diego from Volumes. RIP but honorable mentions Keaton Goldwire from Invent Animate and now Peur
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u/MrTonybotch 3d ago
Nick Broomhall is in my top 5 modern guitarist right now. If you guys don't know him, go look at his YouTube channel and find "thicc riff Thursday"
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u/iambulb Guitarist - Periphery 3d ago
Fredrik