I've been playing guitar since age 14. I was definitely influenced to play after watching all the early Hard Rock and Metal videos as part of the first "MTV Generation." I remember wanting to be on Headbanger's Ball someday…

The first concert I can honestly say I went to was a local band in Princeton, WV, called "Black Dawn." I have no idea what year it was (1993 maybe?). After that, it was either Cannibal Corpse or At The Gates in Huntington, WV – can't recall which was first. I went with my brother, Derrick. What stood out the most about both shows was how tight the performances were. Both bands sounded just like their albums, which really impressed me.

Right now I'm playing a variety of guitars: Schecter 7-string, Washburn Greg Tribbett Custom and an Agile Baritone. Also getting ready to purchase a Gibson BFG Les Paul. Although I don't yet have the BFG in-hand, I've got a feeling it's going to be my favorite simply because I've had a couple of Gibsons before, and I tend to like the overall quality of them. Although I have to admit, they are not always the best playing choice for extreme metal.
As far as amps, I'm using a Peavey 6505 as my main amp in Bloodline Severed, and have a Peavey ValveKing 100 at home for practice/jamming riff ideas for Vials of Wrath. Also using a matching 6505 cab with the head, but have a Peavey XXX Cab paired with the ValveKing.

Wow. Thats tough. I guess it depends on which phase I was in during a certain time period.
I started out listening to "hair bands," so back then it would have been Motley Crue, Def Leppard and Guns 'n' Roses I guess. However once I discovered Metallica and Megadeth, that really pushed me in a different direction. It was challenging, but fun, to learn covers by the early Thrash masters. And anyone who says they play metal guitar and are not influenced by Hammett, Mustaine, and even Iomi doesn't have a clue!
After that, I just kept getting into faster and darker music. My first real band, Endless Descent, was heavily influenced by early Death Metal pioneers like Morbid Angel, Deicide and Cannibal Corpse. Then as Black Metal began to rise, Emperor, Satyricon and lots of Scandinavian/Swedish bands were in heavy rotation on my CD player. I would have to say that my current playing style most closely resembles that of the "Gothenburg" sound, but is still evolving as I'm listening to some "Black-Gaze" (hate that term, though). I'm experimenting with more drone/ambient type stuff with my VoW project.
Can't say why I've chosen any of these bands or types of music, really, other than personal preference. I guess I can just associate with the darker, more underground stuff more than the mainstream.

I've been in and out of bands since I was 18. What I consider to be the first real one was Endless Descent, which my brother and I formed when I was about 21. It lasted for about three years, and we only played a few local shows. However, we did seem to make somewhat of an impact in our area being one of only two or three Death Metal bands.
It was while I was in this band, though, that I became a Christian and was compelled to give up music for quite some time. It wasn't until several years later that I joined Bloodline Severed and continued playing metal as it gained acceptance in the Christian music scene.
I met them through some mutual friends and family in our church.
During some time away from Bloodline, I started the Vials of Wrath solo project to have a creative outlet musically. Sort of like "Christian Black Metal," it has been called "Unblack Metal" - a term I'm personally not too fond of, and to some seems like an oxymoron. The way I see it, it's the style of music I'm best at playing, so if I chose to use my skills in that way and write lyrics that glorify God, then so be it. VoW was meant to be mostly a studio/solo band, so there are no plans for shows anytime soon. But I'm not going to put any restrictions on it...
Currently, I'm back in Bloodline Severed - playing short weekend "tours" to promote our release on Red Cord Records, "Letters to Decapolis."

"October Rust" by Type O Negative.
I don't know what it is about that album, but it instantly takes me to another place when I hear it. For me, it's the soundtrack for Autumn and has been ever since I first heard it when it was released. It's also one of the closest things to mainstream music I probably listen to on a regular basis.
Oddly enough, I can't say Type O has been a big influence on my own playing style, but that particular album is so cool to me that at one time I had three copies of it in case one was damaged or lost, I would have a backup (and then a backup of that one)! Is that obsessive?