Top 20 Definitive Rock/Metal Songs of all time

As an introduction, why don't you try these... (no particular order)

Metallica - Enter Sandman

System of a Down - Chop Suey

Kittie - Funeral for Yesterday

Helmet - Wilma's Rainbow

Tool - Vicarious

Kyuss - Gardenia

Life of Agony - Love to Let You Down

Motörhead - Ace of Spades

Rammstein - Mein Herz Brennt

Deftones - Knife Prty

Marilyn Manson - Beautiful People

Public Enemy - She Watch Channel Zero

Run DMC - Walk This Way

Smashing Pumpkins - Today

Birtday Party - Sonny's Burning

Hüsker DÜ - Don't Wanna KNow If You Are Lonely

Afghan Wigs - Gentlemen

Pearl Jam - Jeremy

Nirvana - Negative Creep

Dead Kennedy's - Holiday in Cambodia

Peter and the Test Tube Babies - The Jinx

Holiday in Cambodia is a great great song, but its hardcore punk, not metal or rock.

I could never narrow this list to 20, but I will give you 20 great ones...

Also, since you are looking for something other than opera metal, I will leave out the Nightwish, Within Temptation, Sirenia, After Forever, Leaves' Eyes, Epica, Amberian Dawn, Xandria etc etc because I bet you already know those.

No particular order

Suicidal Tendencies - How Will I Laugh Tomorrow

Black Sabbath- Killing Yourself To Live

Judas Priest - Sinner

Iron Maiden - Wrathchild

Deep Purple - Stormbringer

Uriah Heep - Lady In Black

Metallica - The Four Horsemen

AC/DC - Hells Bells

Axe - Knock Down Drag Out Rock N Roll Party

Frank Zappa - Camarillo Brillo

Styx (yes I said Styx, here comes the hate mail) - Heavy Metal Poisoning

Motorhead - Killed By Death

Amorphis - Killing Goodness

Ozzy Osbourne - You Can't Kill Rock and Roll

Point Blank - Nicole

Rainbow - Stargazer

Led Zeppelin - The Rover

Suicidal Tendencies - Suicides an Alternative

Otep - Confrontation

Mercyful Fate - Evil

Hope this brings you enjoyment.