Excellent choices, Tiberius. I'm in the same boat. Can get down to some Tool, Slipknot, etc.. but was never able to get into bands like Slayer and Megadeth.
Still, I loves me some melodic metal. Nightwish. Kamelot. Epica. Or even some of the harder stuff from Killswitch Engage, Parkway Drive, August Burns Red, Insomnium, etc..