Black Sabbath without question! I guess the other two would be Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. Truthfully, I can take or leave the "metal" label. I'm fine with calling it HARD ROCK! However, these three epitomize the genre BETTER than anybody else ( :wave: ), to my thinking. As I write this, Eddie Trunk is playing 'Snowblind'. Perfect timing ( :thumb: ).

I'm going to provide a "mainstream" answer and pick:

- Iron Maiden - Bonus points because they continue to produce good material after all these years, and Bruce has an amazing voice.

- Metallica - The first five Metallica albums (the "Black Album" is debatable, I know) are some of the best metal albums I've ever listened to. I still prefer "Ride The Lightning" to "Master Of Puppets", but all are enjoyable. "Kill 'Em All" is a very underrated album - It's a little messy in some parts, Metallica was still young and inexperienced, but "The Four Horsemen" remains my favourite Metallica song.

- Alice In Chains - I dislike the label "Grunge" so I usually associate each band with a specific genre. IMO, Alice In Chains are alternative rock mostly but very close to metal and some songs are undeniably metal.

I'm still not a fan of Sabbath. Many songs are catchy, some albums are good, but I just don't like Ozzy Osbourne as a singer.

What is Metal these days? How is it defined in 2015?

Which bands fit the premise that we're supposed to choose from?

Put up against some of the extreme black metal ****, Black Sabbath sounds like The Beach Boys for cripes sake.

It is all those things and more.

No matter how much I love the Metal genre being constantly splintered if I have to choose three bands then familiarity, consistency and nostalgia win every time. If a band does experiment and I love that aspect of music you have to come to the conclusion that they can experiment no more if you only have three to choose from.

Iron Maiden 1980-1988
Black Sabbath (even the whole mad solo years)
Napalm Death. (don't even want to put it in brackets especially as an ex bassist is a good friend) oh I just did....

In the words of the great Meatloaf, 2 out of 3 ain't bad.

Never been that into Maiden or something?

Love me some Maiden.

Oh you don't like Sabbath then? Or are you blaspheming on me?

Sub in Judas for Napalm and all is good, but you knew that.