Metallica is no doubt legendary, but they haven't really done anything since 1997. I don't count Garage Inc. or S&M as great accomplishments either. I love Metallica, but I've been listening to them since I was 12. A person tends to get bored after a while. And everything you mentioned was either Black Album, Load or Reload material. Their best stuff is all on Master of Puppets and Ride The Lightning.

SOAD is marginal. I wasn't too hot on their debut, and "Steal This Album" just plain sucks. Toxicity was great, but one album isn't enough to make me a monster fan. And they're pretty dull in concert. I've sat through them twice and their live performance is nothing compared to Slipknot or Mushroomhead.

But, I prefer much heavier stuff than that, for the most part. Iced Earth, Arch Enemy, Sentenced, Moonspell, Dark Tranquility. That's quality metal. You want some good song suggestions?

Arch Enemy - "Ravenous"
Darkane - "Innocence Gone"
Soilwork - "As We Speak"

P.S. DFD, I'm liking the Soultaker sig.