Hard music is still there, but it is umm....evolving in a way. Metal bands used to be based on bad assed guitar riffs, and now they lean more towards a heavy beat. Bands like Slipknot and Taproot are getting some media coverage, and they are definitely heavy. But i see what you're saying. I haven't heard in the past couple of years ANY bands that can compare to the guitar-metal styles of Metallica and Slayer and Megadeth, etc. just my two cents.