I´m really more into BM, but before BM there was death metal and I listened to it quite alot and my favorites where Entomed and lots of american death despite its more childish and in "your face" attitude often lacking nuaces. But then again I wasn´t to old at the time and I thought it was pretty cool and rebellious.

Discovered death metal through Entombeds Clandestine therefore it´s one of my favorites, but Left Hand Path is probably better, I even like Woverine Blues despite all its critcism.
I also really like Morbid Angels Blessed Are the Sick which showed the death metal doesn´t have to fast to visously good like Altars of Madness is.
Deicides selftitled debute is a terriffic album, admittedly a little chidish with all it´s repetitions but at least for me it turned out to be fantastic and even though i rarely listen to i these days I still know the lyrics by heart.

Honorable mentions goes to: Hypocrisy - Osculum Obscenum, Death - Human, Cannibal Corpse - Eaten Back to life