Rock & Pop, would this be a good guitar for playing metal? Les Paul?

The advantages are great sustain with a carved maple top and a warmer metal tone, but the disadvantage is a chunky neck which makes soloing at high fret numbers more difficult. But if you like it, then go for it! Epiphones are a much better value then Gibsons. You might want to try out an Ibanez, Jackson, and ESP too. Personally, I'm an Ibanez fan.