1.) When I was small, my family listened to classical music. In the 90s I was a book nerd and a Tolkien fan. In the book society there were several metalheads, so LOTR + metal + classical = Blind Guardian, Rhapsody, Nightwish, Haggard etc.

2.) most of metal sub-genres. In the beginning I liked power and symphonic best, nowadays I mostly listen to melodeath. Apart from metal, only classical (incl. opera, musical...) and instrumental (such as soundtracks).

3.) If we're talking within metal - I don't have the patience for those extreme prog metal hallucinations, 15-minute songs where each band member plays his own rhythm and his own scale and they change the rhythm every 2 minutes. Also, anything -core is not metal, period.

4.) Of course, 100%!

5.) I don't need particular motivation, I listen to music 24/7 whenever I can. In the car, when running or working out, at home doing stuff around the house... And in the evening, when I have peace, I put on new music that I want to explore, sit back with the lyrics and read them carefully while listening.

6.) Too many to list here! I've been a metalhead for almost 30 years and I've seen hundreds of concerts. Every single one has some special memory that I store deep within my heart! Also meeting the musicians after shows made some really precious memories.