Possessed (band) videos and info

Possessed is an influential American death metal band, formed in 1983 in San Francisco, California. Noted for their fast style of play style and Becerra's guttural vocals, they have been cited as a great influence on the death metal genre.^[1] In fact, the band's influence on the genre is so great that they are sometimes called the "godfathers" of the death metal genre and are often considered the first death metal group,^[2]^[3] with the name of the genre possibly coming from their first demo entitled Death Metal.^[4] After breaking up in 1987, and briefly reforming in 1993, the band reformed under original bassist/vocalist Jeff Becerra in 2007.

History

The band originated in San Francisco in 1983, when Mike Torrao and Mike Sus's garage band recruited Jeff Becerra, following the suicide of vocalist Barry Fisk. Brian Montana was recruited on guitar, and the first incarnation of Possessed was created. The following years were spent practicing and working on their sound by performing at local venues. Through their early live performances they met fellow bay-area heavy metal band Exodus; it was Exodus brought the band's four-song demo recording to the attention of Brian Slagel, head of Metal Blade Records.^[5]^[6] Slagel showed interest in the band and offered to put one of their songs on an upcoming compilation, Metal Massacre 6. The track included was titled "Swing of the Axe." Following the release of the compilation, guitarist Brian Montana left the band due to creative differences. He was replaced by Larry Lalonde. Although Metal Blade did not offer to sign the band, the compilation drew the attention of Combat Records. Possessed signed with the label and released the album Seven Churches in 1985.^[7]^[5]

Possessed followed the release with a supporting tour which included a performance with Slayer and Venom at San Francisco's Kabuki in 1986.^[8] On Halloween, 1986, Possessed released their second album, Beyond the Gates. In 1987 the band issued a five-song EP titled The Eyes of Horror which marked a change in direction for the band. The Satanic themes that they had become noted for were completely absent, and the songs had more of a thrash metal style than their earlier death metal. The EP was produced by guitarist Joe Satriani, and most of the songwriting was done by Lalonde, rather than Becerra and Torrao who had written most of the band's earlier material.

Shortly after the release of the Eyes of Horror EP the band disbanded. In 1989, Jeff Becerra was paralyzed from the waist down following a shooting incident.^[9]

Mike Torrao reformed Possessed in 1993 with a new line-up consisting former members of Machine Head and Pro-Pain. The new line-up recorded two demos before dissolving the same year. Mike Torrao has said he feels it was not Possessed, but merely playing under the Possessed name.

In 2007, it was announced that Jeff Becerra would be performing under the "Possessed" name at the Wacken Open Air festival and would be backed by all members of 'Sadistic Intent', one of the bands featured on the Possessed tribute, and would also headline the Gathering of the Bestial Legions III festival in Los Angeles.^[10]

In 2008, Terrorizer magazine announced Possessed would be headlining a tour with Cynic starting in 2009.

Musical style

Possessed is often cited as the first death metal band^[2]^[4]^[3], largely because of Jeff Becerra's grunted vocals, which were heavily influenced by Lemmy.^[1] Guitarist Mike Torrao, who wrote most of the band's music, has repeatedly cited early Exodus and Venom as Possessed's main influences, and denies being influenced at all by Slayer, contrary to popular belief.^[1]^[2] The lyrical content in most of the band's songs focused on Satanism and death. While Possessed's first album, Seven Churches, was praised for its speed and the brutality of the vocals, their second, Beyond the Gates, disappointed both fans and critics alike. Released on Halloween of 1986, the album wasn't as powerful and as influential as its predecessor, and the band's popularity suffered because of it.^[11]^[12] Because of Possessed's earlier material being more popular than their later work, they are most often remembered for their first album, Seven Churches.

Original line-up today

Jeff Becerra continues to play a role in the death, black, and thrash metal scenes of Northern California.^[13] He received a degree in labor studies and plans to pursue a law degree.

Mike Sus went on to get a degree in psychology and is helping injured people to live a normal everyday live. He is also a drug addiction counselor.^[14]

In 2008, Emilio Marquez announced he was leaving the band. Vanik Vartanian was to take his place until a permanent drummer is found.

Discography

Studio albums

Live albums

Compilations

Demos/EP

Line-up

Current members

Former members

Tribute

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Possessed - Seven Churches review, Ed Rivadavia, Allmusic: "The band definitely displayed a strong Slayer influence; but it was ... Jeff Becerra who first introduced the barely decipherable grunting vocal style which would epitomize the death metal genre."
^ ^a ^b ^c Possessed band page, Ed Rivadavia, Allmusic: "The brutal Seven Churches was arguably the first true death metal album and set the stage for the genre's breakaway from thrash."
^ ^a ^b Possessed - Seven Churches review, Metal Observer: "This band gets props from everyone and it isn't surprising, as they essentially invented Death Metal waaaayy back in about 1983."
^ ^a ^b Encyclopaedia Metallum: "Possessed are hailed as the godfathers of the death metal genre ... They're considered the first death metal group with the name coming from their first demo entitled, Death Metal."
^ ^a ^b ^c Possessed Bio @ The Gauntlet
^ Possessed: Biography, Discography
^ Twisted Minds, Possessed history
^ Metal-Rules.com - Possessed: Where Are They Now?
^ Frank Stover interviews Jeff Becarra
^ Blabbermouth.net - Possessed's Wacken Lineup to Feature Jeff Becerra alongside Sadistic Intent Members
^ Ed Rivadavia, Review of Possessed, Beyond the Gates, Allmusic: "[The album] wound up coming as a disappointment to most critics and fans alike . . . transforming a sound previously distinguished for its inexorable power into a ragged, decidedly weaker-kneed replacement."
^ Ed Rivadavia, Possessed band page, Allmusic: "Their second effort, Beyond the Gates, was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween 1986, but didn't have the same impact as its predecessor."
^ Jeff Becerra @ MySpace
^ ^a ^b Possessed - Where Are They Now?, on Metal Rules July 2001
^ Twisted Minds, Possessed - Where Are They Now?
^ The official INaCAGE website

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