What's the album that first got you into extreme metal?

Obituary - Slowly We Rot. I got the cassette when I was like 10. I actually hated them at first. I always pictured them as nerds when I listened to it.  It was because I saw a picture of what I thought was them in an interview and they had short hair and glasses. I guess I was looking at the wrong page or something. Before that I listened to what everyone's older brother was listening to at the time. Pantera and Korn.  AHHAHAHA Even at that age I hated the rap elements of Korn but I thought that was just how it was with bands. I didn't think it was possible to listen to an album all the way through without cringing. I knew I liked heavy music though and I would always ask my friend's older brother (who always seemed to get like 5 cds a week) what the most heavy band I could listen to was. That's what made me get the Obituary tape.  Believe it or not I can thank Phil Anselmo for getting me into the more obscure stuff. His involvement with Necrophagia and how he talked about Venom and Darkthrone were what made me start digging for stuff. I guess that's the key. I used to make fun of people when they would say they like Mudvayne or when one of my friend's would say "you'll like these guys, it's your type of music" and bring over Killswitch Engage. But now I feel like a nerd for saying anything. Now I realize that not everyone has the patience to go looking for the albums that spawned these bands. Or they don't care enough to find music that's different than what's on the radio. I can't tell you how many times I've asked someone what they listen to and they reply "whatever's on the radio." Music isn't everyones hobby. HA!

I think I would have to say Messhugah- Destroy/Erase/Improve. That was probably the first "extreme" album I bought that pushed me over the edge. I mean, I inherited tapes and vinyl of quiet riot, slayer and other shit like that from my older siblings and was really into metallica and pantera (and classic rock), but who hasn't heard/listened to all that shit. I think with that Messhugah purchase in high school I really crossed the line and started to explore more heavier and extreme shit. From there it just invloved reading liner notes and interviews with bandmembers, really paying attention to sound and what I liked...moving through the steps... I guess also Deicide-Once Upon the Cross was another one. I used to listen to that album all day everyday.