In the very first episode of Axe Lords, we're kicking things off with none other than Alex Skolnick—a guy who’s gone from shredding thrash metal stages to throwing down jazz riffs without missing a beat. Alex talks about his journey, from learning guitar with one of guitar’s greatest players to dropping jaws with his solos in one of metal’s most iconic bands.

We get into the nitty-gritty of thrash guitar—writing solos that are fast, furious, and oh yeah, actually good (no pressure, right?). He dishes on his audition with Ozzy, the ups and downs of navigating an industry that isn’t always about the music, and why being a guitar god isn’t as glamorous as it looks. He also shows the Axe Lords how to sweep.

There’s no sugarcoating here—just raw insights into his journey from rebellious teenage guitarist to seasoned pro, all while paying homage to the axe-slinging legends like Satriani and Malmsteen who paved the way. With new music on the horizon, Alex’s story is a testament (pun intended) to the relentless grind of a musician who never stops evolving. 

Axe Lords is hosted by Dave Hill, CIndy Hulej and Tom Beaujour

Produced by Studio Kairos. Executive Producer is Kirsten Cluthe. Edited by Justin Thomas (Revoice Media). Engineered by Patrick Samaha. Recorded at Kensaltown East. Artwork by Mark Dowd. Theme music by Valley Lodge.

Follow Axe Lords @axelordspod.com

Watch the video on Volume.com/axelords

Follow Alex Skolnick @alexskolnick

Chapters

00:00 Discovering Music Through Covers

02:09 The Birth of Axe Lords Podcast

03:34 Writing Solos in Thrash Metal

10:23 The Pressure of Short Solos

12:37 The Influence of Virtuoso Guitarists

18:17 The Ozzy Osbourne Experience

26:52 Navigating the Music Industry

32:37 The Journey to Finding a Guitar

37:34 The Early Days of Music and Band Dynamics

40:51 Parental Perspectives on a Music Career

43:45 Influences and Lessons from Joe Satriani

49:16 The Yngwie Malmsteen Phenomenon

56:55 Guitar Techniques and Signature Sounds

01:06:26 Current Projects and Future Endeavors