It seem to me that a LOT of people here haven't really listened to that much metal. If all you can come up with is Kirk Hammet, Zakk Wylde, etc, I don't see how you can have listened to too much metal.

Some of the best metal gutiarists I can think off:

Joe Stump (Joe Stump's Reign of Terror, Shooting Hemlock, etc)
Yngwie Malmsteen (Rising Force, Steeler, Alcatrazz)
Tony Macalpine (Ring of Fire)
George Bellas (Ring of Fire)
Luca Turilli (Rhapsody)
John Petrucci (Dream Theater)
David T. Chastain (eh, he's chastain, what can i say)
Michael Angelo/Batio (Nitro, solo work)
Rusty Cooley (Revolution, Outworld)
Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big)
Jason Becker (Cacophony)
Marty Friedman (Cacophony, Megadeth)

And these are only a FEW.