A web magazine to enjoy the guitar even more

[Western Music] A Compilation of the Coolest, Most Rocking Guitar Riffs [2025]

Active club DJKento
Active as a club DJ. Centered on dance music, they mix a wide range of genres including US hip-hop and J-rap, captivating audiences with their unique musical style.
Freelance music writerTakashi Hoshino
I’m Takashi Hoshino, a freelance writer currently juggling work with parenting. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years since I first picked it up when I started high school, and I’m still active in a band today. Ever since I began playing, I’ve been drawn to hard rock and heavy metal, and I enjoy intense music, whether Japanese or Western. At the same time, I keep in mind something I was told long ago: “If you want to play rock, you should know more than just rock!” With that in my heart, I make a point of listening to a wide range of genres every day. My experience as a writer is still growing, but I’ll keep working hard to recommend all kinds of music to as many people as possible!

A guitar riff is an element that holds a particularly important place in genres like rock, hard rock, and metal.

It has a different kind of appeal from a guitar solo, and some riffs leave such a strong impression that they define the entire image of a song.

From intricate passages that showcase a player’s technique to ones built from simple chords, rock lovers each have their own “favorite guitar riffs.”

In this article, we introduce legendary guitar riffs that have marked the history of Western rock music, including popular tracks from recent years.

We hope young guitar kids will also find inspiration—enjoy this collection of brilliant riffs!

[Western Music] A Collection of the Coolest, Most Rockin’ Guitar Riffs [2025] (91–100)

Protect The LandSystem Of A Down

System Of A Down – Protect The Land (Official Video)

Protect The LandSystem Of A Down

A song by System of a Down, a four-piece alternative rock band formed in 1994 in Glendale, California.

Released as their first new single in 15 years, it’s a strongly message-driven track that speaks about war and acts of genocide in Artsakh and Armenia, the band’s cultural homeland.

The simple yet catchy guitar riff, which highlights the lyrics and melody, really sticks in your head.

Despite its serious subject matter, it slips smoothly into the listener’s heart, showcasing the appeal of rock guitar sounds.

Raise the rankinglower

PapercutLinkin Park

Papercut [Official HD Music Video] – Linkin Park

PapercutLinkin Park

A track by the rock band Linkin Park, whose total worldwide sales have exceeded 100 million and which is said to be the best-selling music band of the 20th century.

It opens their debut album, Hybrid Theory, and its fresh sound—melding rock-solid vocals and high-caliber rap over a heavy rock backdrop—sent rock fans around the world into a frenzy.

The simple yet catchy guitar riff lodges in your ears as much as the vocal melody, arguably establishing a new standard for rock guitar.

If you love rock, this is a must-listen—a song where the guitar’s presence truly stands out.

Raise the rankinglower

[Western Music] A Compilation of the Coolest, Most Rocking Guitar Riffs [2025] (101–110)

Plug in BabyMuse

Muse – Plug In Baby (Official Video)

Plug in BabyMuse

“Plug in Baby,” a popular song by Muse—the British rock trio famed worldwide—always ignites a frenzy at their live shows, grabbing listeners from the very first moment with its powerful intro riff.

Released as a single from their 2001 second album, Origin of Symmetry, its grand, dramatic melodies and sound make it a quintessential early-Muse killer tune.

The complex yet beautiful melodic lines, composed by Matthew Bellamy—who is not only a guitarist but also a masterful pianist and whose work reflects classical music influences—have inspired countless guitarists.

Raise the rankinglower

John Lblack midi

black midi – John L (Glastonbury 2022)

John Lblack midi

black midi, a trio stirring up a fresh gale in the UK rock scene.

Hailing from London, their track John L, released in March 2021, showcases frontman Geordie Greep’s powerful yet chaotic guitar riffs.

The sound, fusing violin and guitar, pairs with unpredictable shifts to draw listeners deep into the song’s world.

In particular, the main riff packs an extraordinary punch that will instantly grab rock fans.

Sublimating influences from jazz, math rock, and post-punk into something singular, they’re crafting a sound entirely their own—well worth your attention.

Raise the rankinglower

In conclusion

Listening to a collection of riff-centered songs like this might have made some of you think, “I want to try playing these on guitar!” Guitar riffs function as the very “face” of a song, and because they so clearly reflect a guitarist’s technique and unique sensibilities, it’s fun to feel each player’s individuality shine through.

Even if you haven’t paid much attention to “riffs” before, why not take a moment to really focus on the riffs themselves and give them a careful listen?