No metal makes a boy narrow. Alas. I for years wanted to do a heavy version of 'Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic', but never got around to it. Then, some (largely) online-promoting band did it...well, sorta...they're, like, new rock. It's still tasty but not as cool as mine would've been.
The other thing about Rush (and many other bands then and since) is their production, particularly of the drums, stayed kinda rock. I mean, some scooped mid (or even the other way, Carcass Heartwork) guitar would've been killer. Of course, that's partly where bands like Dillinger Escape Plan and such come in. Anyways, Neil's drum sounds, especially the kick, didn't have that solid, marching band kind of sound. Enter Pantera and Sepultura: both Vinnie's and Igor's kicks and toms were ---smurfin--- tough-sounding.
And both had some good kick syncopated stuff - a fave of mine is Igor's stuff on Arise. That album is epic, especially cos of his drumming.