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Here's my list. I'll definitely second the Dream Theater bid. I'll concede that their lyrics can get a bit...odd...at times, but musically they're just out of this world. Lyrics aren't really what I pay too much attention to anyway. Amazing, amazing stuff to listen to.
You might also give epic symphonic metal a look. It's kind of rare in the States overall, but you can find it if you look. Some band suggestions would be (from most melodic to most metal): Rhapsody, Nightwish, Blind Guardian, Symphony X, or Iced Earth. Nightwish can get kind of heavy on the Christian symbolism, especially on their later albums (Century Child and Once) though I'm agnostic with Jewish tendancies and those are still my favorite two albums of their five. Iced Earth is probably the most intense. They have some pretty graphic imagery and definitely the least orchestration. Blind Guardian's stuff is largely based on the writings of JRR Tolkien, so if he's a fan of LotR/The Hobbit it might be a good tie in. Symphony X and Rhapsody are kind of middle of the road in terms of content, and, incidently, my least favorite of the five that I list, but I know they tend to rate higher in general than the ones I like personally. Good luck!
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