The American name POSSESSED may not shine in the headlines as brightly as it used to, but no one has forgotten their relevance. It was this five-piece from California that came to be recognised as the pioneers of death metal as a genre. Heavily influenced by thrash and speed metal, POSSESSED brought blistering pace, savage guitars and growl vocals to the scene as early as 1984. With their „Death Metal“ demo and début album „Seven Churches“, they paved the way for heavy music to reach a far wider audience.
With JEFF BECERRA the only member left from the classic formation, POSSESSED are still utterly soaked in old-school spirit. Dirty, fast-paced rhythms, a raw sound, massive guitar lines and songs that are simple yet powerful – even after more than four decades, the band still sounds just as organic as they did on their earliest recordings. One look at the band’s promo pack says it all – the font, the vibe, the imagery – it all breathes simplicity and old-school class.
Despite frequent line-up shifts, management issues, and the looming presence of death and impermanence throughout their career, POSSESSED have held on to their devotion to raw, unadulterated death metal. Having undeservedly lingered in the shadows of Florida’s stars for far too long, POSSESSED returned in 2019 with a new studio record, „Revelations of Oblivion“, released by none other than Nuclear Blast Records. Securing a three-album contract, the band seemed to receive the long-overdue recognition for their contribution to metal – and now they’re back to performing live on a regular basis.
