From blues perfection to monumental slabs of sludgy riff-rock: here are this week's essential guitar tracks

Kirk Fletcher
(Image credit: Future)

Summer might be in full swing, but, thankfully, neither the heat and humidity nor the continuing effects of the coronavirus have slowed down the world of music.

It can be difficult, especially during these trying times, to wade through the ever-growing sea to find the needle-in-the-haystack tracks that move the guitar forward and stick with you long after the first listen - but that's why we're here to do the searching for you.

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Michael Astley-Brown

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.