Im think you're totally right. Most death/blackmetal just get me tired, because I think just tuneless noise and someone barking intelligible satanic crap over it is just fucking boring and cliched. 'We are fast and loud and kick ass!!!', Yeah, right....
I think metal kicks ass when something gets 'done' with it, be it played very tight and heavy, or bringing in progressive elements, because I think those elements make it earcandy, sometimes even for the curious.