Watch Tim Henson’s flawless unplugged performance of Polyphia’s Playing God
The guitarist takes a seat for this astonishing run-through of Polyphia’s flamenco-influenced new single
Tim Henson recently uploaded an ‘unplugged’ performance of Polyphia’s latest single Playing God.
The new track is the band’s first in three years and caught fans by surprise. Renowned for their heavy, progressive style and accidental boomer baiting, Henson and fellow guitarist Scott LePage instead returned with an acoustic, instrumental monster that weaves in inspiration from flamenco greats like Paco de Lucía, with trap beats and whistling melodic lines.
Now, in Henson’s latest video, he plays through the track ‘unplugged’ using what appears to be the same Ibanez Talman nylon-string acoustic from the promo video, and we presume, the studio recording.
We should warn you before watching that the video is somewhat triggering for those of us dealing with restricted practice routines, cold fingers, the general acceptance of mortal abilities and other assorted excuses.
It is something of a masterclass in rhythmic accuracy, speed harmonics and picking technique and all the more remarkable for the fact it is performed live on a classical guitar. Yes, the Talman pushes the definition of what a classical acoustic instrument should be, but as a track, Playing God does much the same for the listener.
We still don’t know whether the single predicates the arrival of a new Polyphia album. While we all wait to find out, we’ll leave you with this video and the quarter-speed button to spend some time together…
Get The Pick Newsletter
All the latest guitar news, interviews, lessons, reviews, deals and more, direct to your inbox!
Matt is Features Editor for GuitarWorld.com. Before that he spent 10 years as a freelance music journalist, interviewing artists for the likes of Total Guitar, Guitarist, Guitar World, MusicRadar, NME.com, DJ Mag and Electronic Sound. In 2020, he launched CreativeMoney.co.uk, which aims to share the ideas that make creative lifestyles more sustainable. He plays guitar, but should not be allowed near your delay pedals.

“I want some people to be outraged – I feel like that would be a true way to honor Type O”: Welcome to Nate Garrett’s Neon Nightmare, the Spirit Adrift guitarist’s ’80s horror-inspired tribute to Peter Steele

“You already have your own distinct sound, which normally people take decades to find”: 11-year-old shredder stuns with Eddie Van Halen and Brian May solos during relentless Britain’s Got Talent audition