12/3    What is the most bad ass heavy metal band ever?
        \_ Slayer
           \_ Dude, Slayer are pussies.  Try the first Napalm Death album.
              \_ Napalm Death is better musically, but there's nothing
                 "bad ass" about them.
              \_ dISEMBOWELMENT
      \_ Iron Maiden.  Yeah, there are bigger bad-asses, but everyone
         followed in Maiden's footsteps.
        \_ King Diamond. Of course, are you asking Heavy Metal proper or
           does death metal count (e.g. Cannibal Corpse)?