My Journey Into the Realm of Heavy Metal

When did you start listening to Heavy Metal? My journey into this thrilling genre began at a formative age, influenced by personal connections and a pivotal moment that changed my music landscape forever.

Introducing Heavy Metal

My formative years were marked by youthful curiosity and a penchant for rebellious music. My dad raised me as a 'grungehead,' but my best friend Alyssa turned me towards bands like Slipknot and Otep. Even though I loved Alyssa dearly, her passing was a significant loss.

Starting at the age of 6 (or 7), my world of music began to expand. Prior to this, a diverse range of music was the norm in my household. Oldies rock, 50s and 60s rock, early 70s country, Ray Stevens gospel music, and Christmas music were my main exposure. However, when my parents divorced, heavy metal music seeped into my life, becoming a lifeline for me and my brothers. From that point on, heavy metal has remained a constant presence in my life, and I still indulge in hard rock and heavy metal to this day. I have a firm belief that pop music is 'sissy music.'

Early Exposure to Heavy Metal

Interest in heavy metal dated back to the early 1980s when I was 12 or 13. However, I didn't actively engage with it until my late 30s when my cousin started wanting to go to concerts at the age of 16. Around that time, when I came across an album of Black Sabbath's Master of Reality, I heard the iconic intro to 'Sweet Leaf.' This marked the first heavy metal song that I ever heard. After that, I fell in love with bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Dio, Metallica, and Deep Purple, but there will always be a special place in my heart for Black Sabbath's first four albums.

Another significant moment in my journey was when Metallica's album Killing Is My Business... and Business Is Good! (Kilmob) was released in 1984 in Canada. The album had hit stores the previous year in the U.S., but it was only released in Canada the following year, making it a memorable period in my teenage years.

Discovering heavy metal didn't just change my music taste; it shaped my worldview and provided a form of escape from the hardships of my early life. It's a genre that, despite its beginnings as a result of a personal connection, has grown into a lifelong passion.