these lists always prove controversial but here goes:
10) Dave Pybus (Cradle Of Filth, ex-Anathema) - I can see me being ridiculed by tr00 metallers here but he's really solid and has this awesome ruble below Cradle Of Filth's riffage and a nice rockier technique for his anathema years. Pretty underrated.
9) Tyr (Emperor touring bass player) - Bit obscure but just watch him on "Emperial Live Ceremony" the dude has some CHOPS! He can more than keep up with Ihsahn's guitar craziness and that's enough for me! =D
8) Orion (Behemoth) - +250 bpm 16th notes with his fingers. Nuff said.
7) Sean Beasley (Dying fetus) - Crazy picking, tapping mayhem while GROWLING! Love this guy!
6) Troy Sanders (Mastodon) - Don't even like Mastodon but troy's really inventive with a cool technique and I respect his skills a very great deal =D
5) Rex Brown (Pantera) - Dimebag was the best part of that amazing band but without rex's laid-back groove anchoring THOSE RIFFS down it just wouldn't have been the same...
4) Cliff Burton (Metallica) - I know most people put him higher but I never focussed on the 'Tallica's bass playing too much when I was getting into them. Was too low in the mix! But after gaining more educated ears you can't listen to Burton without appreciating what he did for the bass player in heavy metal.
3) Steve Harris (Iron maiden) - Another case of "don't like the band, love the bassist!" I love his technicality and the rumbling gallop he brings to things, I just don't much like Maiden =P
2) Martin Mendez (Opeth) - He's so awe-inspiring! He slings that fucking Jazz bass and just let's the glorious bass flow... He can play in such a crazy number of styles yet still retain his own unique style. He can do slap, fast metal stuff, folky stuff, jazz... Gaaawd...
1) Alex Webster (Cannibal Corpse) - Could there be anyone else for number 1? Nevermind that he's such a humbke and down-to-earth dude but as a musician he is unrivalled n the extreme metal genre for technique, theory knowledge, innovation and songwriting. He pretty much invented the 16th note, 3 finger pattern within death metal and has a unique, low treble, low bass, high mid tone that let's his ludicrously heavy rumble breath within the confines of that hyper-blast music he so pioneered. Much respect!
