I was in middle school trying to download some linkin park on limewire or something and stumbled across Ride the Lightning. The ferocity and elegance of those twin guitar harmonies in the intro really awakened something in me. What album or song was your gateway to the heavy halls?
A friend of mine used to play Stratovarius - Black Diamond and Children of Bodom - Lake Bodom occasionally on car rides and I had to look them up .. and then more stuff like it. Melodic death metal is still my favourite genre :)