Some great suggestions here. I'm pissed someone beat me to Probot.
Question: how many of you really dig the "cookie monster" vocals that are on so many metal tracks these days? It seems to me like a cop out, like "hey I can't sing but I can sound like cookie monster so I'll do that." I really like metal singers who can actually sing. That's why I'm interested in:
Strapping Young Lad (their drummer is insane. and fat.)
Shadows Fall (yes I know they scream, but they also sing, and the singing isn't of the cookie monster variety)
Killswitch Engage (I like Howard better than Jamie, and again they do scream but also sing)
In Flames (because that guy can scream in tune)
Sevendust (cuz they're from Atlanta and they rock)
Mudvayne (because they have silly bass work and truly interesting song structure. I agree that LD 50 is their best so far)
Tool (duh)
And the new Megadeth is absolutely excellent. I think they are one of the all time greats. Dave Mustaine is a vastly underrated songwriter, and will likely be remembered at least in metal circles as one of a very few true pioneers in thrash metal.
And for those who get hung up on genres: I think we all know that if it feels like metal and it rocks balls then who the fuck cares what some record store dork classifies it as? Hell, I saw Godsmack open for Metallica a month or so ago and enjoyed it. I saw Linkin Park and Limp Bizkit blow UP a crowd (along with Deftones, Mudvayne, and Metallica) at Turner Field in Atlanta a coupla summers ago. Sure they don't have the greatest reputation or integrity in the biz, but if it jams then who gives a shit?