Emil Werstler is an American guitarist and musician based in Nashville, Tennessee[1] who is perhaps best known for his work in metal and gypsy jazz.

[11][12] Since 2006 Werstler has worked with artists such as Arsis, Austrian Death Machine, Enders Game, Jason Bieler, Sylencer, The Agony Scene, Unearth, and Xerath.

[18][19] He releases content periodically on his YouTube channel,[20] teaches clinics across the US,[21] and has performed at various events including Experience PRS.

"[25] Early on he taught himself songs from heavy metal albums[25] like Testament’s Low and Pantera’s Far Beyond Driven, and also "wound up really getting into more harmonically technical bands like Death and Cynic.

United in Regret received favorable reviews from press worldwide, including The Village Voice[27] and Pop Matters.

"[3] With Dååth Werstler has performed live at festivals such as Ozzfest,[30][31] and he was a fill-in musician for the band Unearth in 2009, taking the role of guitarist Buz McGrath.

[33] "Avalanche of Worms is an incredibly unique and diverse piece of work... [Levi and Werstler push] the boundaries in several directions at once, taking elements of prog, metal, avant-garde, classical, jazz and experimentalism to varying heights both in their respective contexts and as a wild, yet listenable, cornucopia of styles."

[26] Magna Carta Records had first approached the duo about a collaboration after becoming familiar with their playing through the 2009 Guitars Ate My Brain compilation,[26] and Avalanche of Worms features twelve all instrumental rock-metal tracks co-written by both guitarists.

[26] Both Levi and Werstler produced the album, which includes contributions from guest artists such as drummer Sean Reinert of Cynic.

[5] Ryan Ogle of Blabbermouth.net wrote that the two guitarists had composed and recorded a "dazzling display of fretboard pyrotechnics,"[5] while Metal Sucks called it "one of the best albums of 2010 thus far.

[34] The eponymous Dååth was met with largely positive reviews,[35] with Blistering writing that "Levi’s and Werstler’s guitar riffs drive the album’s force and display beautiful transitions and time signature changes.

"[36] AllMusic wrote that the album was "another reminder that now it's the guitar-wielding duo of Eyal Levi and Emil Werstler (whose superlative lead work remains a must-hear proposition in its own right) running the Dååth show.

"[35] Werstler played guitar on a number of albums as a guest soloist in 2011, including II by Xerath,[13] the Nine Inch Nails tribute Just Like You Imagined by From Exile,[13] and The Age of Hell by Chimaira, which sold more than 7,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release to debut at position No.

[7] Werstler continued to work as a studio musician and in 2012 he played lead guitar for the track "Shock and Awe" on the album A Lethal Dose of Truth by Sylencer.

[8] On May 14, 2013, Chimaira released the album's first single, "All That's Left Is Blood", along with an accompanying music video[39] and guitar solos by Werstler.

Reviewer Axl Rosenberg praised the new lineup, writing that "lead guitarist Emil Werstler and drummer Austin D’Amond give MVP performances; they sound ADD in the best possible way, taking riffs and fills which might be 'stock' in other hands and turning them into something just that much more creative and unique.

In August, Works of Flesh released their album Plagued featuring a solo from Emil on the track "Paradise Lie".

[47] Emil made his final live appearance of 2015 opening for Deantoni Parks with electronic artist Chris Hunt on December 16.

[59] In January 2021 Jason Bieler And The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra released their album Songs For The Apocalypse featuring Emil's talent on the track "Horror Wobbles The Hippo".

[61] According to Werstler, he has been influenced by musicians and vocalists such as Martin Gore of Depeche Mode, David Eugene Edwards of Woven Hand, Anna Calvi, and Flying Lotus among others.

[63] Werstler has made a number of appearances at the annual Experience PRS event with a main stage performance and clinics with various musicians.