For this column, I have a great reader question from Zachary in Houston, Texas. Question: "Hey Dave, what is your favorite scale to use when playing metal?"

To celebrate the upcoming release of Meshuggah's new album, Koloss, which is due March 26 via Nuclear Blast Records, some of my Boston-based friends made a video that is getting a lot of reaction out of people. It's called "Pour Some Meshuggah On Me." The video is a musical mash-up combining Meshuggah-style riffing with Def Leppard's hit "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

Some new guests have been added to the lineup of NAMM Metal Jam 2012, which takes place tomorrow night, January 18, at Chain Reaction in Anaheim, less than a mile away from the Anaheim Convention Center, which will be hosting the Winter NAMM show this Thursday through Sunday.

Recently it was my great honor to sit down with rock legend -- and one of my all-time favorite players -- Leslie West to talk about his new record, Unusual Suspects. The album features Leslie's classic searing and smooth guitar tone, as well as guest performances by music heavyweights like Slash, Zakk Wylde, Joe Bonamassa, Steve Lukather, Kenny Aronoff and Billy Gibbons. Leslie had me fascinated and laughing my ass off.