Bryant said:
FINALLY someone mentions Tore Ostby from Conception/Ark. He doesn't do the shred thing constantly (or even that often), as many of the other ones that have been named, but he can *definitely* do it, and do it well.
The difference is that Ostby uses his chops more tastefully....dropping in a blazing solo or riff now-and-then for effect rather than just "showing off" constantly (which to me becomes boring). This is one of the reasons I rarely listen to Yngwie Malmsteen...he's a brilliant technical guitarist, but after a while you sort of become numb to it and it loses its appeal.
That's the biggest reason I'd pick Ostby and John Petrucci over most other guitarists. Both have chops to burn, and use them well, but they also use them tastefully...putting the SONG and the MELODY first, and only putting in a burning riff where it actually FITS (there's a couple of Petrucci exceptions, such as on Train of Thought (even though I love that disc) where he wanks a bit).
Having said all that, I'd obviously include Ostby as one of the best from PP. I agree with Zod on putting Jasun Tipton on the list, as well as Kiko (Angra), Romeo (SymX), and Joel Gregoire (Stride). And even though I wasn't that fond of their set, I was also very impressed by Rage's Victor Smolski (who I've also been shocked that no one mentioned). I'm less familiar with this year's bands than previous years, so I'm looking forward to discovering some more.
Craig
