Latest articles by Michael Astley-Brown
Co-leader of Mastodon for a quarter century, Brent Hinds was a one-of-a-kind guitarist who took metal guitar into uncharted territory
Hinds was killed in a motorcycle accident on Wednesday, August 20
I went behind the scenes at Fender Japan to find out why its guitars are so radically different – and what’s stopping them reaching the US
Fender Japan makes some of the iconic guitar firm’s most exciting products, but we know very little about how it operates… until now
“Nuno Bettencourt isn’t the only one keeping Eddie Van Halen’s fire burning – the most underrated guitarist on the planet just gave him a run for his money”: July 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
New cuts from Deftones, Big Wreck, Wet Leg, Eric Gales and more...
“Arresting, unsettling, sometimes unpredictable… nails the Deftones brief”: KHDK Digital Bath review
This signature stompbox recreates one of Deftones’ dreamiest tones – but is it more than just a one-trick (white) pony?
Ozzy Osbourne was an extraordinary frontman and working class hero with great taste in guitar players
The Black Sabbath icon has died at the age of 76, and leaves behind a legacy of game-changing music and guitar talent
With Olivia Rodrigo, Arianna Powell is staking her claim as a guitar hero for a whole new audience
The seasoned session player made her name with the Black Eyed Peas and Halsey, but it’s the Olivia Rodrigo gig that’s given her incendiary playing a spotlight on a global scale. She breaks down her whirlwind journey so far
I played in a covers band for years, and swore by one pickup combination that covered everything. With $400 off this Charvel San Dimas, this is the HSS guitar I’d be picking up this Prime Day
This top-spec San Dimas in Aqua Flake is built to thrill – and it’s a steal for covers band guitarists
How Turnstile ramped up the shred in Olivia Rodrigo’s live show
Lead guitarist Arianna Powell reveals how the hardcore outfit inspired the guitar choices on Olivia Rodrigo’s recent tour
Back to the Beginning was Ozzy Osbourne’s night – but it was also a tribute to Tony Iommi’s singular impact on guitar music
Iommi’s world-altering riffs led to some of the all-star farewell show’s biggest singalongs – no wonder the supporting cast of guitar heroes had so much fun playing them
Every guitar hero, special guest and all-star cover from Ozzy Osbourne and Black Sabbath’s epic Back to the Beginning farewell show
Jake E. Lee, Ronnie Wood and Nuno Bettencourt were among the six-string royalty joining the likes of Metallica, Guns N' Roses, Slayer, Tool, Pantera, Alice In Chains, Gojira for the nine-hour celebration
June 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
There's been plenty of heat this month, and not just the temperature outside. Check out some of that six-string (and seven-string... and eight-string) fire from Muse, Rafiq Bhatia, Eric Gales & Buddy Guy, Wunderhorse, Haim, and many, many more
Move over Taylor Swift: Olivia Rodrigo is this generation’s Eddie Van Halen – her Glastonbury performance proved it
Opinion The headlining star’s set was filled with pyrotechnic guitar solos, crunching riffs and a guest spot from the Cure’s Robert Smith. It will inspire a generation of new guitarists
Jackson officially launches its affordable Surfcaster reissue
The surprisingly budget-friendly offset finally arrives after it was first unveiled back at NAMM this year
Chris Bird, Guitar World Lessons Editor and former Total Guitar Editor, has died aged 48
Our friend and colleague first joined Total Guitar in 2007 and spent nearly two decades sharing his passion and knowledge for the craft with readers
Guitar pedal footswitch toppers explained – and why they could be your pedalboard’s new best friend
We dive into the pedal topper trend and what’s behind it, highlighting the key types you need to look out for
Best modeling amps 2025: get iconic amp tones at your fingertips with these top picks
I break down the best modeling amps available, covering a range of budgets, brands and sizes
Joe Satriani plays For the Love of God? Steve Vai and Satch tackle each other’s most iconic leads in first SatchVai Band rehearsal footage
Always With Me, Always With You and If I Could Fly are among the classics getting the dual-guitar treatment
“Wins out on battery life, aesthetics and its Cable Tone feature”: Blackstar Airwire i58 review
The UK amp firm has got in on the new golden age of guitar wireless systems. But can it match up to the increasingly impressive competition?
March 2025 Guitar World Editors' Picks
A round-up of March's best and most exciting guitar-led cuts from the likes of YUNGBLUD, Sleep Token, Samantha Fish, Great Grandpa, Rachel Chinouriri, Joe Bonamassa, Mickey Callisto, and many, many more
I journeyed to the only dedicated Fender store in the world – and found out how it could change the future of guitar retail as we know it
From all-star guest appearances to the world’s biggest collection of Custom Shop and made-in-Japan guitars, Fender Flagship Tokyo is the guitar store I’d always dreamed of
Greeny will always be Kirk Hammett’s pride and joy. But this uber-rare 1959 Gibson ES-335 is a close second – and it has a surprising history
What’s rarer than a Burst, rarer than a korina Flying V, and even rarer than a korina Explorer? A vintage guitar that Kirk Hammett believes is second only to Greeny when it comes to the best-sounding instruments in his arsenal…
Fender Japan stakes a claim for 2025’s most breathtaking electric guitar with the Sakura Telecaster
Get us to Fender Flagship Tokyo immediately
“A near-perfect compact wireless system”: Fender Telepath Wireless System review
After taking over the guitar cable market, Fender has turned its hand to its debut wireless system – and it has a secret weapon onboard
When Chris Cornell left Audioslave, he turned to Jeff Buckley’s guitar foil to make his mark
When Gary Lucas got the call to play guitar on Chris Cornell’s first post-Audioslave release, he was only supposed to be there for one day. But Cornell had other ideas…
Nine Inch Nails made their name with infamously destructive live shows – this is the true story behind their epic guitar smash-a-thons
It was the tour that made Nine Inch Nails – and destroyed countless guitars. In an exclusive extract from Lollapalooza: The Uncensored Story of Alternative Rock's Wildest Festival, Trent Reznor, Richard Patrick and Dave Navarro look back at their all-star guitar-smashing rituals
