Practice Rountine Help?

I usually play guitar at least an hour a day. But I don't really practice anything like scales or theory. I tend to noodle, or learn other people's songs. Which is fun and great, but it's not really giving me any real further knowledge of the guitar (well not as much as I would like).

What would you guys suggest I sit down and practice? I'd like to get to know the guitar neck better, and learn some scales that can be put into practice for solos and leads. Someone suggested making backing tracks, and finding scales that work with the backing track (finding a scale with the same notes in it as the riff backing it).

I play mostly play metal like Cannibal Corpse, BLS/Zakk Wylde, Pantera, Carcass. I've read that pentatonic scales are a good place to start? But hey, you guys are the experts around here! Let me know what you think, or any advice you have! Cheers!

Hello, From England

Hi, my name is Simon. I live on the Wirral in England (Carcass country).

I've been playing guitar since I was 14 (Nirvana's "Nevermind" is what got me seriously into music, like a lot of people my age, then Metallica's "Black Album" etc). As I'm now racing to towards being 34, I "should" be as good as Steve Vai. But sadly, I'm not. I've had periods in my life without a guitar and no real practice regime.

I currently have an Ibanez "Xiphos" 300FX (I did try the more expensive ones, but this one felt the best), a Line6 X3 Live, and a Ibanez BTB 5 string bass. I have owned more guitars than I can recall, and always struggled to find that "one" guitar. But hopefully that'll change soon, as I'm after a Ibanez RG350 or a bargain RG550.

I mostly listen to metal, but I think I have a pretty open attitude to music. I find there is always good music to be found in any genre.

My influences as a guitarist I guess would be; Dimebag, Zakk Wylde, Jeff Loomis, Jack Owen, Rob Barrett, Dino Cazares & James Hetfield.

I play music for a hobby, as I am a web designer by career. I joined this site as I want to improve my playing as I have hit a wall with it. Hopefully this site and it's teachers (and members) will help me achieve what I want to achieve.