12 must-listen guitar tracks: June 2019

Refresh your playlist with a selection of this month’s essential tracks for guitar lovers of all stripes, brought to you by the makers of Guitar.com.

Biffy Clyro: Balance Not Symmetry

A surprise release for a soundtrack of the same name, the Scottish arena-rockers find themselves reinvigorated on this new release. Angular riffs and esoteric percussion abound on the title track, which finds us firmly in vintage Biffy territory.

The Black Keys: Go

A back-to-basics rock track from Auerbach and Carney sees the band fit comfortably between the Attack & Release and El Camino eras, full of catchy, jagged riffs and a singalong chorus.

Slipknot: Unsainted

Taken from their new album We Are Not Your Kind, it features Taylor’s signature vocals backed by brutal drumming, before Jim Root and Mick Thomson bring the house down with more merciless riffery.

Mac DeMarco: All Of Our Yesterdays

Indie’s prodigal son has released his fourth long player and this track provides the perfect, lilting vibrato guitar to soundtrack your barbecues in the park this summer.

Yonaka: Don’t Wait ’Til Tomorrow

With the title track from their debut album, Yonaka are another band reinventing British guitar music. Produced by the band, it features filtered lead lines between Theresa Jarvis’ sultry vocal melodies.

The Amazons: 25

Guitar solos abound on the Reading natives’ sophomore record, taking influence from rock ’n’ roll’s finest in the form of Led Zep, Howlin’ Wolf and others.

The Raconteurs: Help Me Stranger

Opening with White’s trademark psychedelic blues, this quickly revolts into a sinewy groove with hairy lead inflections and acoustic guitars. More uncompromising songcraft from Benson, White and co.

Swimming Tapes: Keep Her Closer

These five friends from Northern Ireland offer a respite from the recent punk resurgence, turning their hand to the kind of American indie that wouldn’t sound out of place in a sticky Californian bar.

Bruce Springsteen: There Goes My Miracle

The second single from new album Western Stars, the track pays homage to 60s stalwarts Glen Campbell and Burt Bacharach with a string section and soaring vocals from the boss.

The National: Rylan

A sporadic live track in recent years, Rylan has now been given a full studio rendering on I Am Easy To Find, with thunderous, gated drums and wilting vocals.

The Hives: I’m Alive

Everyone’s favourite Swedish outfit The Hives have returned with their first original material in over four years. Harsh, strung out chords open the track before falling into huge guitar stabs held up by weighty drums.

James Bay: Rescue

From his surprise EP Oh My Messy Mind, it’s a welcome departure from Bay’s more pop-leaning sophomore record, with chugging guitars, blues-and-country-inspired lead lines and gospel backing vocals.

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