My music tastes tend to balance on the edge between heavier rock and, erm, lighter metal (is there any such phrase?!?). I like Iron Maiden, the older Metallica stuff, Ozzy, Black Sabbath, some Deep Purple (not all heavy enough for me though!), Alice Cooper... More recent stuff I've bought includes Soulwax, which is a bit more... I dunno how you'd describe it really...?
Also like more goth-like stuff such as the Sisters of Mercy; I like a couple of songs by The Mission but in general they're not heavy enough for me either. And I listen to Steve Vai, which is more sort of technical semi-rock-jazz-something...?
Since about Feb I've been getting into J-rock, what I like about it is the kind of energy and enthusiasm that these guys seem to have compared with the mainstream UK and American bands that you hear over here. (Obviously not counting the underground lives here.) There seems to be less concern about being 'original' or 'heavier' or whatever, and more of just the pure enjoyment of the music and performing. It's really refreshing.
J-rock bands I listen to include Dir en Grey, Gazette, Psycho le Cemu (they're responsible for the few 'ballads' I can stand!), X-Japan, 12012, Due'le Quartz (now split up), Moi Dix Mois, Penicillin, Guitar Wolf, Kagrra... I'm really pining for more music, too, coz some of those bands I only so far have 1 or 2 songs! I also listen to Malice Mizer (also now split up), which is goth-rock (some is heavy and some much less), some L'arc en Ciel (they are really more pop, but some of their heavier and more pacy songs are pretty cool), B'z (same goes for them), Gackt (again more pop really - although he used to sing for Malice Mizer! - but his music is incredibly diverse; if you like rock/metal try 'Nine Spiral').
If you don't already know them, you might also like Miyavi (ex-Due'le Quartz) and Plastic Tree - not my cup of tea but v. popular I have to say!
If you like less heavy stuff, you could try Glay and Luna Sea, too.
Other bands I really wanna listen to but haven't had the chance yet include Nightmare, MUCC, Blood and Pierrot.
Strangely, (although I play electric guitar), on acoustic guitar I often play bluesy/ragtimey music (*not* country, sorry I just don't like it!!), and I also sometimes listen to this stuff and things bordering on the more folksy and/or acoustic, like Cat Stevens. I like blues-rock music but I can't stand the heavy Delta-blues. I also don't like soul music or R&B. I also play keyboard, on which I am learning classical stuff, purely because I figured if I can learn difficult classical pieces I can learn anything!
OMG sorry, this is such a long post...! I just love music and wanna share the love!!
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