Slash has received critical acclaim as a guitarist. In 2005, he was named "Best Guitarist" by "Esquire", which congratulated him on "beating the comeback odds with a surprisingly legitimate and vital outfit, Velvet Revolver." Slash was awarded the title of "Riff Lord" during "Metal Hammer's" fourth annual Golden Gods awards in 2007. In 2008, he was ranked No.21 on Gigwise's list of "The 50 Greatest Guitarists Ever," and in 2009, he was named runner-up on "The 10 Best Electric Guitar Players" list in "Time", which praised him as "a remarkably precise player." In 2011, "Rolling Stone" placed Slash at No. 65 on their list of "The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time."