Metallica - Metallica (Black) Went backwards from there but this was THE ONE that truly opened my metal/hard rock experience.
Tool - Lateralus Got into Maynard through APC's Mer Des Noms which a good friend bought for me when I was in the hospital, but Lateralus coming out when I was already into metal further served to get me into proggy music with a hard edge, less middle of the road than Metallica.
Enigma - MCMXC a.d. (1990) This soft soundscape experimental slightly electronic album opened many doors for me. Soft music, experimental, and electronic.
Astral Projection - ? Cannot name an album as I stole a bunch of the web early on, but this was the band that got me into electronica. I had always loved some singles from Prodigy and Crystal Method, but this band really brought electronica to me and showed me how complex and satisfying elcronic music could be. (was a metal music snob till that point, lol)
Nine Inch Nails - Downward Spiral A musical awakening coupled with a sexual awakening. Could it be any better. Helped fill in time between Metallica and Ozzy, and more experimental stuff till Tool came into the picture. A good fusion of metal and electronic that build bridges for later. It's biggest influence, it helped me get over and appreciate artitisc gratuties and uglinesses in music. IE proliferic swearing, self hating thoughts, shock value. Helped me loosen up and accept more things.
Honorable mentions.
Offspring - Smash. Huge fun and great grunge attitude.
Marilyn Manson - AntiChrist Superstar Does it get anymore shock than that? (Without gangsta, lol) And a lot of good ideas political and moral to come down the pipe form him.
Ozzy Osbourne - Ozzmosis Again went backwards from this one. First foray into metal without Metallica holding my hand.
Opeth - Blackwater Park A fitting conclusion to my search for metal and symphonic artistic beauty.
The Tea Party - Transmission Get a nod for favorite locals. Their rich and instrument heavy bordering on the orchestral influenced sounds for me from spanish guitars to string heavy choruses to indian melodies.
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