For metal, good quality (low action, tremelo system and good quality build) and low cost I would recommend Ibanez. You can't go wrong with this brand, when you get to a certain level you can always upgrade the pickups to personal preference. However, if you are able to stretch toward the $600 end you should be able to pick up a second hand Ibanez Prestige or a good RG model - these are excellent pro-level guitars (again you can change the pickups from stock whenever you know what you want in tone).