Jeph has mentioned several great bands in QC: Agalloch, Russian Circles, Mastodon, The Sword, Isis, & Arch Enemy among others. Bands are starting to experiment with new sounds and getting more & more talented. Main stream bands like In Flames & Dragon Force show that Metal can have a more pop feel without getting into shitty 80's Hair Metal cheese or Nu-Metal posturing.
Underground: Ash & Elm, Divinity Destroyed, Skyforger, Royal Hunt, Turisas, With Daggers Drawn, Code, Machine Men, JT Bruce, Dimension Zero, & Dragon Land
Mainstream: The Gathering, Manowar, Amon Amarth, Meshuggah, Rhapsody of Fire, Blind Guardian, Sonata Arctica, Sworn Enemy, The End, At The Gates, & Gojira