In the order they come to mind...

Veil of Maya
Born Of Osiris
Animals as Leaders (I think this counts as experimental / instrumental metal?)
Messhugah
Pantera
Deicide
IWrestledABearOnce
The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza
Lamb of God
The Dillinger Escape Plan

It's hard for me to choose favorites, because I listen to a wide array of metal. No exceptions. Here are a few bands that I love in no particular order.

1. Lamb of God

2. Devildriver

3. Pantera

4. Amon Amarth

5. Black Dahlia Murder

6. Suicide Silence(I know that some of you will feel the need to say "But, deathcore isn't metal. It's garbage." **** that. It's heavy, and I like it. I don't care what genre or sub-genre a band falls into. If I like how they sound, I'm listening.)

I listen to those bands the most. There are a ton of other names that I could post, but chances are that there's only a few songs I like by each. Just like Iron Maiden. I love Maiden, but in moderation.

In no particular order:

Iron Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, Dream Theater, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Symphony X, Kamelot, Edguy, Circus Maximus, Andromeda, Age of Nemesis, AC/DC, Black Sabbath, Black Majesty, Vanden Plas, Dio, Deep Purple, Masterplan, Nocturnal Rites, Excalion, Racer X, Satriani, Vai, Yngwie, Vinnie Moore, Twilightning, Gamma Ray, Silent Force, Black Magesty, Royal Hunt, Stratovarius, Blind Guardian, Pyramaze, Falconer, Primal Fear, Firewind, Mystic Prophecy, Thunderstone, Pagan's Mind, Wolfcry, Warmen, Kotipelto, Concerto Moon, Thought Chamber, Cellador, UFO, MSG, Pantera, Testament, Laas Rockit, Forbidden, Slayer, anything with Jani Liimatainen, Dark Moor, Dream Evil, Avenged Sevenfold, oops that was more than ten...sorry

Lamb Of God
Otep
Machine Head
Strapping Young Lad
Dimmu Borgir
Slayer
Hatebreed
Norma Jean
Job For A Cowboy
Toxic Holocaust

Down is blues? Wtf. I can see how some of their stuff has a kinda bluesy feel to it, but to actually say they are blues... Idk maybe it's just a matter of perspective or something like that. I get what you're saying with Sabbath and GNR tho.

I'm not that big on today's metal
 

only because I hate death metal like Lamb of God and ****.

However, my list would be...

1. METALLICA
2. AVENGED SEVENFOLD
3. DISTURBED
4. KORN
5. BLACK SABBATH
6. IRON MAIDEN
7. JUDAS PRIEST

other than that, don't know.

Lamb of God is many things but death metal it is not. If you're going to hate something at least know what it is.

But, but. Anything with harsh vocals is automatically death metal. Duh

Oh shit is that how it works? Well I guess I gotta move Tom Waits over to my Death Metal music directory...

1. Dissection
R.I.P. Jon Nödtveidt

2. Kreator
Destruction and Sodom never stood a chance...

3. Destroyer 666
Fusing two of the best genres out there results in total dominance

4. Deicide
Glen is sick - both in mind and music production

5. Lord Belial
Simply beautiful black metal

6. Marduk
World Funeral owns

7. Norther
Melo-death at its best

8. Satyricon
The more commercial albums were great; Volcano and Now Diabolical

9. Rotting Christ
The Greek accent is...yeah

10. Candlemass
Good sound if you're in the 'relaxing' mood