Name the best heavy metal band?

i don't know about you guys, but it wasn't a very hard decision for me - iron maiden is my answer. more difficult for me is to select the second band in the list: judas priest maybe... or black sabbath... or metallica...

who's the best...

you tell me!

DEFINATELY iron maiden.
some might argue with metallica being the best, but they are just commercialized too well. they just see, so....popular.
iron maiden on the other hand, is the real deal.

Metallica

Shadows Fall

Sources
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

Heavy metal as in metal in general, or as in classic metal?
If the former: Dream Theater
If the latter: Iron Maiden

Hatebreed...although it's hardcore. And if thats not acceptable..White Zombie...By the way..much of Metallica's music post enter sandman is "rock" not metal

The absolute best Heavy Metal band of all time was ABBA with The Monkees running a close second.

Lamb of God!!!

i dont care what genre of metal they are- but they are metal!!

System of a Down

i'll take system for death metal

Don't forget about Megadeth still doing after all these years

SLAYER

No Vacancy (from School of Rock).

Past: Metallica (1986), Pantera, Black Sabbath
Present: Unearth, Shadows Fall, Kilswitch Engage, August Burns Red, Devildriver, Machine Head, Trivium

Prog. Metal- Dream Theater, Kamelot, Opeth

DRAGONFORCE!!!!!!!! if it counts

In no specific order

IRON MAIDEN ( fave songs Children of the Damned, Infinite Dreams)

BLACK SABBATH-( sabbath stones)

METALLICA- Wherever I may roam with the symphony orchestra...............wow wow wow

but I think every person has a different approach to metal and what it means or what part of their music they prefer....I like songs for instance that change in rhythm and melody, no true head bangers...
and you??

iron maiden

judas priest megadeth helloween

it's METALLICA!!!! dont let new metallica overshadow what they've done during the 80's...remember that back then radio and mtv were playing michael jackson, berlin, banarama,etc...and the boys in metallica were still able to take over the world with no help from the airwaves!!!! second place is a total toss up---maiden, priest oh yea, sabbath gets the grand prize no matter what, then we rank first, second, etc

As I Lay Dying
These aren't always as heavy, but:
Inhale Exhale
Still Remains
Destroy the Runner

Black Sabbath. the first and still the best.

Motorhead!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!...

IMO
1 Black Sabbath
2 Blue Oyster Cult
3 Metallica
4 Judas Priest
5 Iron Maiden
6 Motorhead
7 Megadeth
8 AC/DC
9 Slayer
10 Pantera

Pantera

the best one right now, for me, is Killswitch Engage....they are amazing....

I think Megadeth is. Dave Mustaine fought through so much to get so far. He had to disband the band because he was no longer able to use his left hand due to an injury. But through determination and intense shock and physical therapy he regained the use of his hand and never lost his speed, style, and drive.

Check out Megadeth's latest albums.

2004-The System Has Failed

2007- United Abominations