How did you get into metal?

Back in middle school, I discovered classic rock through bands such as Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd and began to learn how to play guitar.

I researched general rock music of the past through the Internet and eventually came across Megadeth, who became the first undeniably metal band I started listening to (in contrast to acts such as Zeppelin and Black Sabbath). Soon, I discovered progressive rock/metal through of course, Dream Theater and became more drawn to the more technical side of music as I was (and still is!) an aspiring guitar player. At first, I had an aversion to death metal and most music employing extreme vocals because I had the false impression that most bands under those categories were satanic and immoral. However, I discovered Necrophagist near the end of eighth grade and couldn't help but be fascinated by the intricate guitar playing. Strangely enough, Necrophagist was my gateway drug into the realm of death metal.

Today, I generally embrace metal as a whole. I still do not really enjoy listening to -core and nu-metal but I will always respect the genres and not simply dismiss bands belong to those sub-genres for belonging to them.

\m/ Annihilate people

From progressive metal. I was raised on progressive rock, blues and classical music. When I discovered prog metal, as time passed, I wanted heavier bands than DT and Symphony x. Then I discovered Death and, subsequently, death metal. Love at first sight.

To answer the question, I'm not sure I did.  This is precisely why I'm here though. I do like the odd metal band every know and then, but I've never fully embraced the genre. Having said that, I fear Pekka (with the help of this site) will make a convert out of me soon enough! We'll see...

Sleeper wrote: Oldboy is such a great film and I love that sceen in particular.

I started at alternative and I guess I was just gradually more drawn to heavier and heavier music. First Blink 182, then Green Day, then I Am Ghost, then Nine Inch Nails, so I guess I'd been interested in darker music, but I've always had metal friends who listened to stuff that was too much for me to handle, even though I loved listening to it and seeing the looks of disgust of those who were hearing it. Then I went to Warped Tour and I saw Killswitch, and I bought my first metal CD, "As Daylight Dies". At that point I was also listening to extreme metal bands on YouTube, and thinking it was pretty badass. From there I've just progressed and I listen to a diverse mix I think.

I went fishing with a friend of mine's older brother. He'd brought a boom box and one tape: "Somewhere in Time" by Iron Maiden. I didn't catch any fish that day, but I guess I did get caught myself. I certainly was hooked on metal from that day on.

I got into it because my dad was into it and that's all he would play when he used to pick me up from elementary school. 

If my first albums bought were prog (DSOTM, Crime of the Century and SEBTP were my first three), all bought in 74, in my first 20 stood: In Rock, Led Zep IV, Paranoid, Argus and a few more hard-rocking bands, all leading me  to early HM  >>> I was a jeans-claden youth with leather-coat and boots/running shoes and long hair, but I never cared to sow badges or patches on my jacket - basically I'm still dressed that way today)

Edited by Sean Trane - 07 Apr 2010 at 7:36am

I never understood the hype surrounding Tool, though I don't hate them, I just think they are over rated as hell. Aenima was good, but 10,000 days and Lateralus are like sleep inducing tranquilizers. Even in the day time if I listen to them I will yawn. Again, I don't think it's bad but it's just boring!

I appreciate people stepping out of their boundaries. I mean, as the previous poster said, he likes loud music like RATM which I have no problem with. But I feel my foray into like "dark" and "oppressive" and all that kinda metal is done. Also I don't like those bands that try way too hard to incorporate stuff into their songs to sound edgy and experimental(and not in a good way); Unexpect...Ulver...Arcturus

Though I can say I don't listen to exclusive metal anymore I still enjoy the trip once in a while and I have been thoroughly impressed thus far with 666 International. It's so obnoxious yet intriguing, my head is literally ready to explode.

i got into metal from my dad's record collection as a kid. he had tons of albums from black sabbath, judas priest, and motorhead, plus iron maiden's "killers" lp and ozzy's first two albums, along with a lot of 'almost-metal' like rainbow, deep purple, blue oyster cult, ac-dc, zeppelin, u.f.o., scorpions, kiss, and on and on....

later on in the 80's my dad introduced me to anthrax, metallica, megadeth, exodus and other thrash metal... and i eventually discovered King Diamond/Mercyful Fate and Slayer on my own, which both seemed like a step beyond; more extreme and dark, which suited my tastes perfectly... even at that young age. it just kept progressing from there...

it was the black sabbath albums that really stood out and captivated me as a child, cuz it was so dark and had this evil horror movie-feel that i loved when i was a kid... to this day they are my favorite band.