For some reasons (maybe im getting too old at 42) i have a real hard time finding modern bands i really dig, set aside a few exceptions, sometimes just for a song or two.
I usually prefer classic 70's and 80's rock and hard rock stuff, the heaviest of my spectrum being Iron Maiden, Megadeth, NightWish (only with Tarja) and such, being a big fan of Early Sabbath as well.
And all of those are showing a lot as influences in my playing as well.
I cant say the bands of today aren't good, it's just not the same vibe as it used to, and my take on it is that it's because the times have really changed, new generations don't go trough the same stuff we older guys did, and all of it is reflected in the music, and it's probably very normal anyways, like i couldn't relate to what my parents liked musically, and they used to hate the stuff i listened to...
The wheels of time are a turnin...
This is me playing some impro mixed pentatonic scales on a backing track, this is just one of the practice routines i do: