I was a HUGE fan of both of these bands back in the day and still like them both.

Megadeth has some good songs here and there, but not really any great full albums IMHO... except for "Rust in Peace", which is one of the greatest albums of all time from anyone, ever.

I can understand some people not being real big on Maiden because of the howling vocals, the weaker later albums, etc. But their guitar harmonies and solos are fantastic and from the self titled debut album all the way to Seventh Son, they are one of my favorite bands.

The only MeloDeath Metal band I can even tolerate to listen to is Dimmu Borgir, most of the rest of it is crap. I've have tried listen to others like Arch Enemy but I just cant do it.

Bands like SkeletonWitch, Warbringer, Overkill, Testament, Pantera, Slayer, Vio-Lence, Death Angel, Fear Factory and MEGADETH. Are what dominates my MP3 player and CD collection. Some of the MetalCore bands aren't too bad either.

Dimmu Borgir isn't melodeath. It was black metal, then it went straight to the pompous trashcan. How can anyone listen to anything beyond Enthrone Darkness Triumphant is a mystery I fight with every day.

On the contrary, I hate 90% of thrash and 99% of metalcore :P

I hate 95% of all metal yet it is probably my favorite genre. There is so much garbage going on in that scene...

When it's good, it's the best.

Yeah, because screaming as if your ass was sprinkled with chilli is sooo METAL isn't it ?

I'm not a Maiden fanatic, but I listen to Hallowed Be Thy Name, Rainmaker, Aces High and Fear of the Dark a lot. 

I can't stand Arch Enemy due to their annoying vocals. Shame really, since I think their lead guitarist is awesome. I'd love it if they were an instrumental band or something...lol

Any Mastodon, Trivium fans here ?

No, screaming out of your ass is not metal.
Maiden is just bad IMO. Lol @ your assumptions of my tastes though. Try harder next time.

Well people have their opinions I guess...What else do you listen to ?

Blind Guardian, Iron Savior (too fucking cheesy not to be liked), Nightwish (mostly old stuff), Avantasia, Helloween, Firewind, some Children of Bodom (pre blooddunk mostly), a huge lot of Swedish melodeath, Draconain, Illnath, Behemoth, Limbonic Art... just off the top of my head...

^^^^ That stuff is considered Metal?