I got into metal during the internet age.

The internet definitely adds to the enjoyment for the reason already mentioned -- you're made aware of so many different bands. It's great.

Back when I was a kid just getting into Rock and Metal, I only had a couple dozen albums and a lot more free time. I listened to those albums over and over, read the liner notes and knew the lyrics by heart. These days I have so much music and so much less time that I find I generally don't get to know any of them as well as those early favorites.

The internet has certainly done away with the old paper catalog days; taking a chance based on artwork or hearsay, waiting 4-6 weeks for delivery, etc.

Plus, with all the options (Facebook, Bandcamp, MySpace, iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Spotify, etc) you can hear pretty much anything.

I have to say though, that sometimes the sheer number of bands competing for attention can be overwhelming.

If you only listen to what you buy everything is easier. Just listen to some samplers on the net and if you like it, buy it and listen to it a lot. Thats the solution.

I was lucky to come up with a Top 5 for 2011... cuz my music purchasing was very limited this year (as it has been for the past few years)... so I only acquired five 2011 releases. Geez, it's a good thing I liked all five.

I can relate to what Emo is saying. I remember the days when I had to stay up until one or two o'clock in the morning just to catch a glimpse of my favorite bands in action on the Midnight Special or In Concert. The whole experience, whether it was buying an album, watching a TV show, or listening to an album on the radio was more of an event.

I like that I can discover new bands on the internet.

I still go to local record stores, though I also order from amazon, ebay etc. I'd say the internet only helps me. By choosing not to fileshare, or listen to entire albums on sites like youtube, I still have the experience of going into a store, finding an album I want and buying it and then checking out all the inserts and everything when I get home

Of course the internet has been around longer than me so I don't know exactly what it was like to have not had it available

I enjoy it today for the purchasing power it brings. Plus it's nice nostalgia to think back on the way it used to be. I do miss the old magazines and free weeklies/monthlies that used to be the big source for what to buy. The monthly ROXX used to have a reviewer who anything he gave four guitars or higher to, I bought. Never failed me once.

Problem with the easier buying methods and information is it severely cuts down on the listening times. Though the ipod certainly helps me out in that regard.

And I still get a thrill going to record stores. And these days I feel it even more important to hang onto that experience since I know too soon it won't be there.

Internet has helped me acquire more metal knowledge and become familiar with tons of new bands. Besides, it is fun to be able to listen to some samples before buying the album.

I miss walking into a record store and hearing a brand new album or demo tape being blasted on the stereo system. (OR a recent bootleg sometimes! I recall hearing Megadeth's Hook in Mouth live before the "So far.." LP was out,, or Anthrax covering Suicidal Tendencies' War Inside My Head)
Might not have made me buy THAT particular record, but put me in a good mood to buy something, even a fanzine, and made me feel like I was privy to what nobody sitting at home and only looking at mags or listening to radio knew.

I got into metal in the Internet Age, so I don't know what it was like before. But as I live in a country (South Africa) where it's tricky to get hold of anything but the more popular metal bands in the stores, the internet has been a great help both in hearing what bands sound like and in getting hold of their albums - these days it's a rare occasion when I buy a CD from an actual store instead of ordering it online.