I tend to lean more towards the technical end of the death metal spectrum, generally. Right now one of my favorite bands, period, is Obscura-Omnivium is an freaking AMAZING piece of technical death metal. Origin is another one of my favorites, really need to buy their newest. Brain Drill makes some crushing tech death, as well as a band called Anomalous: their CD Ohmnivalent is some right INSANE tech death, but with a decent sense of melody and progressive-ness. Turning towards the classics, I love Atheist, Death, and Cynic, although I'm not sure I'd call Cynic a death metal band anymore.
My favorite death metal band? Nile, no ifs, ands, or buts. Simply amazing band.
Other death metal bands I like: Necrophagist (c'mon guys, seven years is too long to wait for a new CD), the Faceless, Deeds of Flesh, Bloodbath, Hail of Bullets, Severed Savior, Neuraxis, Obituary, man, I could do this all day, and I haven't even gotten into melodic death metal. I seem to like more death metal than I thought I did!