That's exactly when I did too. I remember being at college, browing the net, looking at cobhc.com and seeing the red HCDR background. A few months later, I downloaded AYDY, tabbed IYF, became an overly obsessed fan and saw my first show in Jan 06.
This thread lacks the definition of a fan. When I first heard it isn't the same as when I became a fan, most of occasions.
I don't remember exactly.. I first heard of them in fall 2008 I think. I liked IYF, LB and Downfall when I searched for them on YT, but it took me a few more months to start listening more to them and within a few months they became my favorite band.
One day,I came up with the masterpiece Kissing the Shadows and I was like : " Omfg is this a song written by human beings?? They must be Gods or something" :O Since that moment my life changed entirely..It's about 5 and a half years of obsession...I just love them..
I really became a fan of the Beatles in 1968 when they got popular around my hometown. I mean at the time, they were something different. Something cool and hip. I liked the upbeat tune, instead of the usual somewhat downtrodden tunes of most of the music at that era. I first saw them live in 1974 when I was traveling from coast to coast on a business deal. Up until then my status as a real fan wasn't concrete, but that changed all that.
only 2 but they introduced me to a style of music that ive now be addicted to. bands like wintersun, opeth, (old) in flames, (old) soilwork, etc.
Damn it's been 5 years already but that's when I really got into em, I used to know the band since long before that.