THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER's Brandon Ellis "The Riffs That Taught Me" | Metal Injection 

Brandon is one of the best players out there today. He’s like a love letter to 80s shred while still having a really sick modern style

Killer guitar player man!! I love Brandon’s style cause he likes that 80’s shred!

I've been taking lessons from Brandon for about a month now and the guy is so down to earth and easy to chat with and get along with. Learning a lot from him. He's a great teacher, very knowledgable and most importantly...humble.

+1 Jackson Kelly +1 Green Crackle +2 Reverse Headstock

Wearing a Boston shirt and playing a Jackson Kelly... This dude need to be president of the world.

I'm so happy that he played Slaughter the Soul PROPERLY. I see so many people leave about 60% of the notes out of those riffs.

I would get goosebumps hearing him play the solos on nocturnal when they played the whole album live. He brought those solos to life compared to the album versions.

I’m kind of sad this isn’t 25 hours long. I could watch Brandon / listen to him all day long.

Guitar players, beginner and advanced - listen very carefully to this man. He is dropping so much knowledge - both techniques that he explains and musical concepts. In addition, he has great taste in music.

Legitimately my favorite guitarist in metal right now. So clean and his ceiling is so high.

If I could be even half the guitar player he is, I'd die a happy man

Brandon is ridiculous. One of the best new guitarist I've ever heard.

Such an influence for this generation. I've been listening to TBDM for 11 years! Time flies by.

This dude is in fact the best guitarist in metal today. The leads on Verminous are ferocious! The riffs and stylistic elements he has been adding since Nightbringers are so refreshing in MDM.

I’m not familiar with this guy, I don’t listen to a lot of metal but I really dig this dude. His playing is sick, and seems like a good dude.

The down-down-up chugging picking technique he said he uses and learned from playing at the gates songs is the same exact technique I learned from Gary Holt at one of his guitar clinics I attended. That technique is a total game changer when playing hard riffs. Instead of down picking every note while switching from the low string to play on a higher string, it makes it easier and cleaner sounding when you use the down-down-up technique. Out of all the lead guitarist BDM has had this guy is by far my favorite. Him and Brian Eschbach create some killer riffs.

Brandon's playing is easily one of the most recognisable in metal today. So many great points to his playing - such a killer dude!

Love to hear one of my favourite band! Queensryche!

"I guess like a voice led kind of way..." Just own it bro, we know that you know that's exactly what it is lol

Mostly Swedish players. At the Gates, Andy Laroque and Yngwie.

I've seen TBDM twice with Brandon, he's an incredible guitar player and his live stuff is flawless

It looks like Brandon's gotten a lot more comfortable with interviews and things like that - speech is 10x more natural sounding. Definitely my favorite TBDM guitarist.

For those who didn't catch what songs he were playing. 0:38 Whitesnake - Still of the Night Whitesnake (1987) 1:41 Queensrÿche - Empire Empire (1990) 2:22 The Black Dahlia Murder - As Good as Dead Nightbringers (2017) 3:38 At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul Slaughter Of The Soul (1995) 5:23 King Diamond - Welcome Home Them (1988) 6:59 King Diamond - The Invisible Guest Them (1988) 8:51 Yngwie Malmsteen - I Am A Viking Marching Out (1985)

Hell yeah my dad took me to see queensryche as my first concert back when I was about 10

I really love it that he is into the 80s stuff. Those were my years. I used Quiet Riots first album for demoing high end home stereos when it hit the charts as well as Dokken's Breaking the Chains

Very cool, playing those runs like he does at the end is way harder than it looks, especially making it that clean, dudes a killer player.

That Abigail poster in the back though 👌

“From really early in the beginning I just trusted my ear.” Ey I’m with you buddy! 👂🤘🏻

I love Brandon’s playing style and his phrasing. I live what he does in TBDM. He really brings those songs to life. I think he brings an already great band to the next level.

I love his playing in Arsis too, Unwelcome is a really underrated album IMO.

King diamond is pure 80s pleasure. Andy is a genius....GRAAAANNNNDDDMAAAAA

One of very few actual lessons where guitarist really gets into riffs

Really cool that Brandon knows (at least, some) theory, and it's very visible that it helps him practically in songwriting! One of the modern shredders. Love his old school influences, also!

"If you had to alternate pick, you couldn't do that".... proceeds to immediately do that. 😂

Yes Andy LaRocque getting some love! Serious shredder!

Is this a new series? I tried looking for more of these "The Riffs That Taught Me" videos but couldn't find any. I would very much like more of these haha.

At the Gates along with Iced Earth opened the door for metal to be a part of my life. At the Gates kick ass and are super fast at playing.

Imagine all the secrets and techniques he’s going to unlock the more he plays. Jeez

Damn, Andy & AtTheGates. Both from my hometown of Gothenburg I feel it for sure!!

Dude's got an awesome sound. 80s guitar style in a Death Metal Band

Great tone man. I had to watch this again. John Sykes did that song for White Snake and he's one of my favs. Great player and he has a patent on vibrato with a LP custom I think. 😂 Very cool. ❤

Great playing and tone!

Pedagogue, clear and articulate, a real pleasure to listen to him tell us where he comes from musically! Such a skilled and talented guitar player!

Tasteful player with impeccable technique

I like how knowledgable he is and how cleanly he transfers what he knows in to music and into words

I love how Black Dahlia can change their lead guitarist up every once in awhile but still keep their sound. I like every album, since Miasma at least

Black Dahlia NEEDS to cover Slaughter of the Soul! Damn, they would be sick!

Saw Brandon with BDM New Zealand and couldn't believe how clean he played every riff and solo... goose bumps

A death metal guitar player who loves the 80s. Hell yeah 🤘🏻🤘🏻

Keep learning with that Yngwie influence because any additional spin/take on what he does, but with a new interpretation is gonna be friggin' awesome!! 👍👍

Wow the I am a Viking riff down tuned sounds like straight metal

One of my favorites modern guitarrist, such a beast!

This was f*n awesome. I heard so much of the BDM in those riffs!! Thanks so much. 🙏 Sorry for your loss. 🖤

I’ll admit I hadn’t heard of this guy and didn’t even think I’d watch the entire video. I am beyond impressed with his skills and knowledge. I wish the video were longer now. I also bought Verminous.

Few good metal guitarists left who slay solos, Ellis is on the top

We need an USA signature version of this Jackson. Looks absolutely tasty.

After seeing this i realize I play welcome home way different. I am glad Brandon played that riff.

I'm so hyped an this new album. Hearing bands members talk like this is awesome

Can someone please make sure we dont lose this dude. We have a habit of losing great guitarists to poor decisions.

Sykes was known for diads. I learned a lot from him. And Queensryche too. But I never had a singer to pull that off till the mid 90s. Even then all we did was Silent Lucidity. But it was always a crowd pleaser

Because John Sykes is a badass.

Great, Brandon ! Super taste in every detail

I learned that same King Diamond riff back when it came out. It helped me to be more creative in my playing.

Who doesn’t love this guy

The new album is great his influence on tbdm and his production skills are much welcomed by someone like myself who is a long time fan I hope this is the final lineup all cylinders are firing with this record my only complaint was it’s not long enough I want more!

@Metal Injection & Brandon Ellis thanks so much for this video!

Saw TBDM live, he was the definite standout in the band, real talent.

Inspiring as always! 😍

Awesome to see Brandon giving some love to queensryche. Such great band and riff.

I won't more vids like this . I want to get to know this guy and i really enjoy listening to him talk and play

With that much love for 80's metal sound, you were the perfect match for Arsis indeed !

Watching this playlist, i realize how old i am. Except for Broderick, i have no idea who these other guys are...

The black Dahlia murder changes lineups more than I change my underwear. I'm not complaining though. I fucking love the sound that Brandon brought to the new album

Man, Slaughter of the Soul still sounds so good after all these years.

Dayum what a crunchy sound

This kids young but knows the classics of metal. Love still of the night, sick jam

I LOVE HIS TONE! WOW

Nailing that I Am A Viking riff for the first time on point as a teenager was definitely a formative experience. And I had no idea what economy picking was back then

Brandon, I won't stop until I have that guitar. I keep telling people you have the sickest collection. I love the crackle paint.

He's an awesome guitar player because he learned from awesome influences.

Dude! thank you for reminding all the naysayers that 80s shred is still metal as fuck

Killer player, always like his work with Arsis 🤘🏼

This video has helped me a great deal! i always wondered why i struggled in the "cliffs of dover" part where ellis says johnson actually used an economy picking. I always played that with alternate picking and struggled a lot. thanks man!

Easily my favorite guitarist.

this is stage 2. his face is slowly becoming Trevor's size. Just look how Alan's transformed. that's stage 7 of 10. all of them are sickly talented though. LONG LIVE TBDM!!!

His tone is damn near perfect

It's cool that you grew up being influenced by those bands ,I'm not alone.

I learned more from this 10 minute video than I have hour long guitar lessons on youtube. Thanks Brandon \m/ Killer guitarist.

Such a killer tone as well...

Such a badass player! One of my favs for sure lol.

Brandon ellis is an amazing guitarist, he's absolutely perfect for tbdm

So many amazing influences, I Am A Viking is a BANGER.

Awesome🤘♥🤘🎸🎶Thank you so much Brandon!!!

Great guitar teacher too! I mean you clearly understand what he is saying, everything makes sense and probably you learn a thing or two in just ten minutes!!

This guy inspires me

This was amazing, great display of skills homeboy. I can see how these riffs have influenced, crazy what bands though.

Best Riffs video yet - these are all my favorite bands! Awesome choice of riffs and well executed. I see a bright future for Brandon - cheers!

I realised watching this how much Brandon contributed to Nightbringers being such a great record... That riff he wrote for As Good As Dead is pure metal \m/

Great teacher, calm and collected. I can tell the passion for playing is there. It makes sense because it always shows in there music. The Yngwie "I am a viking" riff (And the lead) was cool!, Thanks for sharing.

Respect for the fellow jersey boy 🤘