Wolfgang Van Halen Celebrates Aaron Marshall: The Unique Voice in Modern Metal Guitar
In a recent interview,Wolfgang Van Halen expressed his admiration for Aaron Marshall,the talented guitarist from Intervals,emphasizing the qualities that make his playing stand out among today’s metal guitarists.
The Future of Metal Guitar: A Diverse Landscape
The realm of modern metal guitar is thriving, with remarkable talents like Polyphia and Animals As Leaders pushing boundaries, alongside the innovative techniques of Spiro Dussias. However, during his chat with Guitarist, Wolfgang highlighted one particular aspect of Marshall’s style that he believes sets him apart from his contemporaries.
A Bluesy touch in a Technical World
“Aaron Marshall is one of the few contemporary metal guitarists who isn’t afraid to incorporate a bluesy riff into his playing,” Wolfgang noted. This willingness to blend genres is what he finds most appealing.
“While modern players like Tim Henson from Polyphia are incredibly skilled and create remarkable music, they frequently enough shy away from bending notes,” he added. “That’s why Aaron is my favorite; he possesses a distinctive and recognizable voice on the guitar.”
Recognizing Unique Styles
It’s important to acknowledge that Henson’s melodic style is also highly recognizable, with his iconic G.O.A.T. riff earning its place among the most memorable guitar riffs in history. Nevertheless, Henson has expressed a desire to distance himself from what he refers to as “boomer bends,” aiming to create a clear distinction between different generations of guitar playing, a sentiment that has sparked some debate within the community.
In contrast,Wolfgang champions Marshall’s ability to seamlessly connect various musical eras and styles,showcasing a modern approach that still honors the roots of guitar playing.
Melodic Sensibility and Instrumental Mastery
“What I truly admire about Aaron is his melodic sensibility, especially as he creates instrumental music,” Wolfgang remarked.”He essentially serves as the vocalist of the band while also being the guitarist. His knack for crafting hooks while shredding is always done with taste, and I can’t get enough of it.”
The bond between wolfgang and Marshall has grown over the years, with Wolfgang even gifting Marshall one of his new EVH SA-126 signature guitars earlier this year. Marshall humorously noted that “wolfgang knows more Intervals songs at any given moment than I do.”
Other Guitarists Who Stand Out
Marshall isn’t the only guitarist who catches Wolfgang’s attention. He also praised Misha Mansoor of Periphery, stating, ”What Misha has accomplished is remarkable. He has a signature sound that is truly iconic. I love how he blends his passion for Meshuggah with other influences. I don’t think he receives enough recognition for his contributions.”
Explore More in the Full Interview
For a deeper dive into Wolfgang Van halen’s insights, be sure to grab a copy of Guitarist magazine to read the full interview.
In addition, Wolfgang has shared his thoughts on the risks of performing Van Halen songs live, reminisced about a memorable guitar lesson from Paul Gilbert, and revealed how a classic Nirvana track inspired one of the standout guitar solos on his latest album, The End.
