Discovered 1985's Live after Death, by Iron Maiden. That did it for me. After that, nothing else by Iron Maiden themselves was good enough, intense enough, alive enough.

After that, when I was around 11 years old, a friend introduced me to Rhapsody's early songs. People may superficially state how cheesy this band is. But to me they are more authentic than any other power metal band. Also, they really create the right atmosphere with engaging and "deep" songwriting.

That was followed by two blind purchases, one was Yngwie Malmsteen's Trial by Fire - Live in Leningrad, and the other one was Dream Theater's Train of Thought.

These would dictate my taste in the following years, combined with an earlier and constant influence my dad had on me with Classical music and 70's Prog Rock (Yes, Genesis, EL&P, King Crimson, etc).

The three gateway bands which launched me into the extreme metal I now love were Opeth and Arch Enemy at 19 years of age. Finally Death was my gateway band into Death Metal, at 21.

At 25, I don't think much of those three bands besides the fact that they were important as intermediaries in my discovery of deeper music. I appreciate extreme metal from its sense of contemplation and philosophy, and not only because of its raw aspect. I certainly do not subscribe to the moronic idea of listening to extreme metal just for its brutality and bass sound...