Yeah I never really got into Slayer much though, I kinda skipped slayer and went straight to COF , if you think about it they are kidna a gateway band too, then onto Immortal and BOrknagar. Ill always be an Iced Earth fan though, I dont know why , but Ive always liked them. Dantes Inferno is my favorite song by them and is one of my favorite songs period.
Metallica lead me to Iced Earth and Inflames almost the same day actually, from the ultimate metal reviews site.
COf lead straight to Immortal and black metal period.
ITs funny how music has gateways just like drugs. COB lead me to Kalmah and so on. Sorry just reminissing.
Nevermore on the other hand was totally different. I just found DNB and bought it without knowing anything about it at all. That was like 4 or 5 years ago, maybe longer.