While the metronomic precision of his downpicking right hand has remained a constant for three decades, James Hetfield's vocals have matured over the years, developing from the wail of the early 1980s into the throaty leonine roar of 1990s MTV megastardom. He's also shown a more sensitive side along the way too.

Relentlessly consistent live, James Hetfield is a heavy metal monolith, and the rock frontman that MusicRadar would least like to get into a fight with.

Listen: Metallica - Blackened

Your votes:

"James LaBrie or early Hetfield." (From Mattias via Facebook, thanks)

"James Hetfield." (From François and Sondre via Facebook, thanks)

"Why hasn't anybody said Ozzy Osbourne yet? Also, James Hetfield, Kurt Cobain, Jim Morrison, James Brown, Freddy Mercury, Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson to name but a few of whom I would vote for." (From Dimebag via Facebook, thanks)

"They're probably already listed, but #askmusicradar Matthew Bellamy from Muse and James Hetfield from Metallica." (From @julian3d09 via Twitter, thanks)

Next: Jim Morrison