I don't think anyone who listens to music just to be cool actually enjoys it, even if they're listening to great bands like Iron Maiden. Iron Maiden <3
Rock isn't dead either, just in a certain phase. I have hope that rock will become the mainstream again in some years when lots of bands that are not being noticed right now become cool all of a sudden. Metal is a subgenre of rock to me, no matter what others say that they're separate - they're not I tell you, RRAAWWWWW! Excuse me. I don't mind screaming in music; I love several screaming bands. I agree that the number of bands that make it into the big-time has declined sharply, but we still have the old rockers :D Alice Cooper hasn't croaked yet.
Another thing that might make you happier - the best 'screaming metal' bands like Bullet for My Valentine and Avenged Sevenfold have moved towards a more and more hard rock sound with each album. I don't mind either way. I adore them :D I dunno about Slipknot, never listened to them.
Idiotic acts like Pitbull and Nicki Minaj may ruin it for everyone, but I keep to my rock'n'roll so it doesn't affect me much :3
W.A.S.P. are an 80's band and their new album is coming soon. You should give it a look if you miss 80's metal because they rule \m/
Or is that not the controversial band I thin of?