Earlier stuff was great..  I dig everything up to And Justice For All..  There was heavier and better stuff in that era than Metallica, though..  
Absolutely Ditto!    I still listen to Morbid Angel, Celtic Frost and others when the mood hits me.    My wife cannot tolerate it, so I just throw on the headphones.
Side note, I work with the Bassist for an up and coming Metal Group, he is Don Slater.   They are named Battlecross and recently did a Midwest/East Coast/down to ATL Tour.     They are on Metal Blade Records and I have to admit, their music makes me want to be a kid again.    I have been to a couple of shows and they are going to go places.    
http://www.metalblade.com/english/artists/battlecross/bio.php    Don is second from Left and one hell of a Bassist.   These guys ARE Metal, not "Disturbed"... 

Give them an honest try.