Your journey through metal

[strings255]

Not going into depth, but how has your tastes of metal music changed over time? Just been looking over my collection and have gone through quite a few sub-genres.

Started with industrial and thrash. Rarely listen nowadays.
Then prog/power, same as above.
Gothenburg/death. Occasionally listen to it.
Folk/Viking. My main interest, still looking for more bands.
Black. New interest, getting into it more recently.

Personally, metal is similar to my classical collection. There's always something new, unexplored, never ending, and finding that 'new' band that you never thought you'd find which is an awesome feeling.

 

[Baroque]

Started with Heavy, still listen to it.
Then Prog/power, still listen to it, only not as much.
Thrash, still listen to it. Even moreso, my favorite subgenre.
Death, still listen to some of it. Prefer Death/thrash or the band Death.
Black. new to it still, I like a handful of bands. Prefer Black/thrash or the band Windir.
Doom. new to it still, I like a handful of bands. Prefer Heavy/Doom.

 

[Draehl]

Bush > Korn > Metallica > Opeth, who proceeded to blow the doors wide open on music for me with their variety of influences/recommendations. I don't listen to them much anymore, but I greatly thank Mr. Akerfeldt for that.

 

[Pestarzt]

I was frustrated growing up because the nü metal / hardcore / metalcore stuff people were showing me wasn't quite what I was looking for. But then I heard some Satyricon and I was sold.
So it went from black metal to some doom metal later (during my existential crisis / depression period), to folk metal somehow and then I began listening to everything else.

 

[Tewch]

Mine isn't as expanded, seeing as I'm still a teen.

It started off from System of a Down, up to Metallica, and now, as you can obviously guess, CoB. I'm getting into Pantera recently as well.

 

[Selrisitai]

Mine isn't as expanded, seeing as I'm still a teen.

It started off from System of a Down, up to Metallica, and now, as you can obviously guess, CoB. I'm getting into Pantera recently as well.

I did not notice your signature initially and I was thinking, "CoB? Uh. . . Call of Booty?"

My taste started not with metal, but with rock. Or more specifically, Power Pop. Think, Blink 182, Sum 41, the Offspring, and I expanded into Ska with bands like Goldfinger, Less Than Jake and Save Ferris.
I was always searching for something better, something melodic, something musical that I had never experienced. Rock was all I knew, and as good as it was, it really was musically BARREN compared to metal, a genre to which I had never listened.

One day I was on AOL Instant Messenger, and in search of music like typical, I was talking to a guy, saying, "Hey, what type of music do you listen to when you wanna get fired up? What makes your blood pump and makes you ready to tackle mountains into the ocean?"

He sent me this: "Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames."

I started listening.

"Uh, this is-- pretty awesome, are there words?"

Up to this point, lyrics started almost instantly in songs I listened to, so ten seconds in, and I was uncertain.

"Yeah, there are lyrics."

I listen.

On a cold winter morning, in a time before the light. In flames of death's eternal rain we rise toward the fight.

Me:

Music like this-- exists?

"Send-- do they have more? SEND ME MORE OF THIS! This is amazing!"

So he sends me a few more, and THUS began my journey into power metal, with minor sub-genre forays.

Now my folder is FILLED with Dragonforce, Twilightning, Solar Fragment, Blind Guardian, Sonata Arctica, Stratovarius, Skiltron, Primal Fear, Dream Evil, Dragon Guardian, Dragonland, Dungeon and more.

Bands like Sabaton, In This Moment, Mechanical Poet and Machinae Supremacy are not exactly power metal, but they're melodic and metal, so they're in.

Initially, as long as it was melodic, I was good. Then I became appreciate of guitar solos (thanks to Dragonforce) and complex musical arrangements (thanks to Aquaria).
Now, if a note plays more than twice in a song, it's too dull for me. I'm still totally into POWER METAL, but rather than my taste in genre changing, my taste in quality and technicality changed.
Now, the super layered, melodic music of Blind Guardian's latest albums (Night at the Opera, Sacred Worlds) and the always moving and shifting and melodic music of Pathfinder are my favorite to listen.


That is where I am now. Give me Angra! Rhapsody of Fire! The more it sounds like a film score mixed with metal and opera, the better. (Double bass THUNDER never hurts, either!)

 

[sillyducky]

I never really had an opinion about music,but when I was a teen I got introduced to metal n some rock.me liked and since then I can never look back

 

[neuroatrophy]

In middle school I started out with nu-metal, with the thought that mudvayne (LD 50 era) and early slipknot were there heaviest things to grace this planet. Towards the end of middle school, I discovered metallica and tool and I began to search for new music.

My search was initially limited until I discovered a website for guitar tabs that also had a growing forum. This forum had a daily mailing list with megaupload links(unfortunately this email list disbanded years ago). Through this, I discovered bands like Dream Theater, Opeth, Dillinger Escape Plan, Orphaned Land, Lamb of God, Nighwish, Children of Bodom, Nevermore, Kalmah, etc.

From that point on, I began a long search for new metal bands. At this pint, Tool, Opeth and Dream Theater are probably the bands I listen the most to, but my listening is in no way limited to them alone. My favorite genres at this point are thrash, prog, melodic death metal and currently I am getting into black metal.

 

[End of Glory]

First Heavy Metal with Iron Maiden and I still listen to it.
Moved on to Melodic Death Metal with early In Flames, Dark Tranquillity and Amon Amarth, I do not listen to any of them anymore.
Then I got into Thrash with Testament, Metallica, Slayer, Anthrax. Still listen to them except from Metallica.
Later on I got into Death Metal with Immolation, Cannibal Corpse, Autopsy, Suffocation, Dying Fetus. I still listen to it and it's my favorite genre.
Last but not least I got into Black Metal with Satyricon, Darkthrone, Dimmu Borgir, Mayhem and Dark Funeral. Still listen to it but not Satyricon anymore.

 

[AlienZombie]

1st metal album I ever heard was Napalm Death - Harmony Corruption. Dug it, but didn't jump into the deep end right away as a result. Started with the likes of Metallica/White Zombie/Megadeth/Pantera. Eventually I got into more extreme stuff and now I'll listen to most subgenres but gravitate towards folk/viking metal, death (and its variations) & black. Used to to be big into thrash, but not as much anymore. BTW, I'm nearly 35 yo and my metal interest has only increased with time.

 

[muzmaze]

Well, Ive been around, probably much older than many here and have experienced and tasted so much metal. Its still an ongoing cycle. Ive played guitar since I first heard EVH way back. Think the key however to the bands that I like are having both great vocals, not always the greatest voice / range but vocals used the right way. The voice is just another instrument, nothing else imo. Well mixed prominant percussion / bass sound is the other must. As much as I love Harris in Maiden...he and they have failed up to a point to capture their sound and talents properly imo. Doesnt take away from their greatness. Up to this point the overall highlites from the start.

Starts with as did for so many others the hard rock / metal classics.
-Van Halen
Maiden
Priest
Rush

Discovered some Scandinavian metal bands.
-Pyramaze
Communic
Lasttribe
Pagans Mind
Dream Evil

Then towards what i consider my heavier melo-death epic at times folky metal.
-Amon Amarth
Tyr
Fejd
Suidakra
Svartsot

Currently, at any time ill still listen to all these mentioned bands. Discovered that Scandinavian metal scene is and has become the goods for my overall tastes. Prefer epic bands and songs that delve into history, tales, folklore etc. This could be anything from Maidens "Alexander the Great" to Amon Amarths "Runes to My Memory". Also noticed that as ive aged / matured my metal music tastes have become much heavier. Recently reverted back to some clean vocal, catchy power metal provided by Dream Evil...I cant stop listening to them right now. It constantly changes, depends on the mood moment etc.

Basically, I consider myself very picky and very select and think there is so much crap out there, yet love to keep searching and looking for that next band that may appeal or surprise. Not always new bands, e.g. I just discovered Dream Evil a few months ago lol. Still enjoy attending concerts and metal festivals. The latest was taking my Son (proper age no worry) to this past summers Mayhem Festival. Seeing Amon Amarth for the first time was a huge highlite for me and the overall experience was a blast. My rule over the years is if it gets your pulse moving and makes the fur rise then its good music no matter the genre.

 

[crimsonfloyd]

14- got into nu metal & alt. metal like Korn, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine.

15- My mom said I needed to hear Black Sabbath. Got into Sabbath and Metallica, but mostly I was listening to prog rock around this time.

16- This is where things get kinda backwards. Got into goth and darkwave which eventually led me to Anathema and My Dying Bride. From those bands I got into Opeth. Since I was already into prog Opeth was a natural progression for me.

17-18- After Opeth I started to get into more extreme metal like Dissection, Emperor, Enslaved, etc.

19-22 Got SUPER obsessed with black metal and basically listened to it nonstop. I've followed black metal closely ever since.

Didn't expand my horizons too much between 22-25. Mostly cuz of work and girlfriend.

26/27- Finally realized how amazing traditional metal like Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dio etc. are. Also got into some more death metal.

28- Really this is the first year I've learned to appreciate thrash acts like Slayer and Megadeth and also have regained an appreciation for early Metallica.

So it's funny I've been listening to metal for more than a decade and am only appreciating the greatness of many of the "gateway" bands for the first time in the last three years.

 

[Onder]

14- got into nu metal & alt. metal like Korn, System of a Down, Rage Against the Machine.

15- My mom said I needed to hear Black Sabbath.

Nice.

 

[crimsonfloyd]

Yeah I think it was her nice way of saying, "there's a much less crappy version of this that you could be listening to."

 

[Yelloweyedemon]

I was listening to whatever everyone was listening when I was young (90's mainstream cr*p), untill I had to stay in my uncle's house for a day. He had a huge collection of music I had no idea back then, and I just thought "pff, old music". So I picked a random vinyl, and set it on a random song... Easy livin - Uriah Heep.

When I returned home I was a different person.

Genres I listen: classis old school rock, heavy metal, thrash metal (old school with very few exceptions), some melo. death, and some of 80's glam/hardrock-rocknroll

 

[TechnicalBarbarity]

1990, I was a wee little laddie when my older cousin signed up for the marines, and when he took off he left me his tape collection and guitar(which he took back)... i used to listen to those tapes all day on my trusty Sony "Transound", which is still alive and kicking to this day.

A few years later one of my dads friends heard me listening to Nirvana, and introduced me to Black Sabbath. He let me borrow their first 6 albums and even let me have his copy of We Sold Our Soul for Rock 'n' Roll. The man was a huuuge Sabbath fan, idolized Geezer, he would always bust out his bass guitar and record collection (which i didnt give a shit about at the time) ... I remember not liking Sabbath much and just could not get into them. Heh, how times have changed.

edit: If im not mistaken, a couple of his old records are still by my dad. Wow, theres a chance i might have some original pressings in the attic, what the fuck!

 

[Serjeant Grumbles]

I was listening to whatever everyone was listening when I was young (90's mainstream cr*p), untill I had to stay in my uncle's house for a day. He had a huge collection of music I had no idea back then, and I just thought "pff, old music". So I picked a random vinyl, and set it on a random song... Easy livin - Uriah Heep.

When I returned home I was a different person.

Genres I listen: classis old school rock, heavy metal, thrash metal (old school with very few exceptions), some melo. death, and some of 80's glam/hardrock-rocknroll

Did you seriously just censor 'crap'?

 

[YTSEJAM420]

The first metal I ever got into was Hair Metal (which I am ashamed of listening to know)Then Heavy Metal (iron maiden, judas priest, and black sabbath) which I still listen to then Thrash metal like Metallica which I still listen to then Melodic Death Metal(wintersun,Cob,kalmah,ensiferum) which is my favorite genre and then I started getting into prog metal like dream theater.

 

[zerostatic]

My dad was a pot-head rocker and he would blast stuff like Zeppelin, Floyd, Uriah Heep and Black Sabbath.

I listened to some Metallica as a teenager and the PS1 Videogame Test Drive 5 launched me into metal. There were a bunch of Fear Factory tunes on the soundtrack so I started listening to them.

Listening to Fear Factory led me to other nu-metal bands like Soulfly and Static-X. In college I started listening to old Sepultura stuff and Godflesh.

Another influence was Napster before you had to pay for it and audiogalaxy. I belonged to a Fear Factory group on Audiogalaxy and people from all over the world would send me music like Vader and Meshuggah and Children of Bodom.

Some of my first metal shows were the following:

Soulfly and Slayer on the God Hates Us All Tour.

Iced Earth and Megadeth on the World Needs a Hero Tour.

Kreator, Strapping Young Lad and Vader in Chicago. Kreator was touring on the Enemy of God Album, and I think Vader was promoting The Beast.

After moving to Vegas in 2005 I kinda fell out of the metal scene. I wore a Vader shirt to work on a staff development day and a long term substitute teacher who was into metal started asking me if I attended any local shows. He then told me about the local/indie record store that has a kickass metal selection.

Nowadays I listen to mostly Thrash, Traditional and Death Metal.

 

[Manic Ferocity]

I was always drawn to heavier music but I started off with nu-metal when I was around 9-11. I bought Metallica's ...And Justice for All at 13 and was completely blown away at how heavy it was. Then I got into Iron Maiden, Slayer, Megadeth, Children of Bodom, etc. I didn't understand the appeal of death metal at first until I read some reviews on a now defunct site I used to regularly browse. This encouraged me to "read between the lines," so to speak, and discover the appeal of the genre.

I had a similar experience with black metal but my aversion to it wasn't as music-related as death metal. I was around 13 and listening to the aforementioned bands when I came across a segment of a documentary describing the Norwegian black metal scene. I'd never seen anything so evil before and began researching it out of morbid curiosity. I sampled Mayhem's Deathcrush later on that night and felt that sense of "guilt" as if I was listening to something I shouldn't, and even more so because I actually found the music enjoyable. I avoided it for another two years until around the time I got into death metal. I finally caved and bought In the Nightside Eclipse. I didn't like it at first but after sleeping on it and waking up in the middle of the night, I walked outside with my headphones on in a super violent storm. Putting it into context like that it was got me into black metal and I tried similar methods to get into other albums.

I didn't get into more traditional forms of metal outside of Judas Priest, Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, etc. until much later. I still have yet to really scratch the surface in terms of how much shit is out there that I still haven't heard.