[Correction/change notice: The following review was written on the original versions of the books. They have since been revised and updated (in 1995). The Troy Stetina Series now comprises 10 book/CDs. "Heavy Metal Lead Guitar Volumes 1 & 2" have been revised, updated and retitled Metal Lead Guitar Volumes 1 & 2, and a Primer has been added as well. "Heavy Metal Rhythm Guitar Volumes 1 & 2" have been fully rewritten and is retitled Metal Rhythm Guitar Volumes 1 & 2. Tuning is now consistant between all books.]

Review #1:

HEAVY METAL TUTOR SERIES
By David Mead
From Guitarist magazine (England) - August 1992

Strangely enough, Troy Stetina's track record was primarily established during the seventies as a competition cyclist! After concentrating his efforts of speed in the two-wheeled department, he turned his attention to 6-string athletics thereafter.

The series comprises five books, all with an accompanying CD on the cover. There are two volumes apiece, covering heavy metal rhythm and lead. A further book -- written with Tony Burton -- focuses on HM guitar tricks.

At the beginning of HM Rhythm Volume One, simple rhythms on a basic 4/4 beat are explored gradually increasing in difficulty until, at the end of Volume Two, you take part in a metal workout called Babylon.

The lead volumes take you through all the established cliches of the style in tablature, with each example played for you on the CD, until you are capable of playing the demanding lead part to Babylon. I like the continuity of it all, I must say.

The field of special effects is well and truly explored in the 'Guitar Tricks' volume. Everything you always wanted to know about pick slides, whammy wobbling, two handed technique: it's all here in a medley of metal mayhem.

One slight slip-up has occurred in the transference from tape to CD on Rhythm Volume One, the tuning is more E flat than standard E. The other volumes don't seem to share this and so I guess it must have been a mistake. Otherwise, recording quality is good and the durability and convenience of the CD format proves its worth.

The books are designed to be taken either as a course or as individual tutors and in so doing the same ground is covered on a number of ocassions, but never to the point where the going gets laboured.

When the books are considered as a whole it has to be said that Troy Stetina has provided one of the most accessible heavy metal courses to date and if this is your thing, I'd advise you to check it out.

[Correction/change notice: The following is an older review, made upon the original versions of these methods. All are book/CDs now, and the current retail price is $19.95. Hal Leonard's current address is 7777 West Bluemound Rd., Milwaukee, WI 53213.]

Review #2:

Heavy Metal Lead Guitar, Vols. 1 & 2;
and Heavy Metal Rhythm Guitar, Vols. 1 & 2 By Jim Ferguson
As printed in Guitar Player magazine (November 1987)

No stranger to high velocity, author Troy Stetina won a gold medal at the 1975 National Bicycle Road and Track Championships. Now devoting his energy to guitar full-time, he has penned one of the most thorough rock book/cassette packages currently available. Heavy Metal Lead, Vol. 1 starts with an aural explanation of the timing and rhythmic notation (the series features tablature only). Next Stetina introduces the A minor pentatonic scale, hammer-ons, pull-offs, familiar double-stop bends, common bend combinations, rock cliche licks, muting, slides, and artificial harmonics.

The book's first section culminates with a smoking, fully transcribed solo. The remainder of the volume deals with speed exercises, triplets, rakes, improvisation, phrasing, the Dorian mode, and using the vibrato bar (five other solos are included). Heavy Metal Lead Guitar, Vol. 2 includes increasingly complex examples and solos- with the emphasis on fast playing. Heavy Metal Rhythm Guitar, Vols. 1 and 2 cover rhythm playing and present a variety of useful chords, rhythms, progressions, riffs, and theoretical ideas.

Most of the examples in each 50 page volume are included on its accompanying cassette; for the solos- the author is backed up by a full rhythm section. While a chapter on equipment in one of the books would have been helpful, this is one of the best rock series currently available, and it will have you rocking out in no time. Each book/cassette package costs $12.95; the series is published by Hal Leonard - 8112 W. Bluemound Rd. - Milwaukee, WI 53213.