[Queefer Sutherland]

Lots of people may loathe me for saying this, but I don't see why Cliff Burton is considered such a great bassist. However, if anyone can explain, more power to you...I honestly could be missing something.

I've just always been pissed off about it. From what I can tell(and admittedly I've not listened to him in ages) it was just a dumbed-down imitation of Geddy Lee, only inaudible with the guitars drowning him out. People say "but check out Pulling Teeth!" and all it is is some simple arpeggio shit, nothing that hasn't been done before. Metallica wasn't about bass, it was about drums and guitar. He simply didn't cut through in the band, far as I'm concerned. I also can't help but think people worship him simply because he's dead.

good bassists in metal are actually quite rare, so I'll just pick anyone at all that's good:
Then: Timi from Mercyful Fate(don't laugh)
Now: B. War from early Marduk was interesting....not too many these days, come to think of it.