I am a self-admitted ex-headbanger.
I grew up as a little kid on def leppard, van halen, quiet riot and motley crue (fave bands between age 8-12)
then
I was big into sabbath and early brit metal, l;ike Judas priest and Maiden.
After that I got into the thrash metal (metallica, megadeth, slayer, and whatever thrash was played on headbanger's ball!!!!)
I was really into testament for a while. don;t know why now.
Megadeth was my favorite though. I would play peace sells over and over and over and over again.
Once I found jane's addiction and sonic youth around age 16 I left the metal world behind. hair metal was just so fucking horrible and stupid.
I can still enjoy all my old metal faves. They still hold up.
Fight Fire With Fire by metallica on Ride The Lightning, is so fucking great.
(song only)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=xjlgUx7_aN0
It starts off all pretty and melodic and then goes fucking apeshit around 40 seconds in!!!!