Possessed

Possessed is a death metal and thrash metal group from San Francisco, United States, active from 1983 to the present. It is one of the early San Francisco death metal bands and is closely associated with the development of death metal.

History

The band forms in San Francisco in 1983 and first goes through a series of local performances while developing its sound. After the death of original lead vocalist Barry Fisk, Jeff Becerra takes over lead vocals. Through early live shows, the band meets Exodus, who bring its four-song demo to Brian Slagel of Metal Blade Records. One of the demo tracks, “Swing of the Axe,” appears on the compilation Metal Massacre 6.

After original guitarist Brian Montana leaves because of creative differences, Larry LaLonde joins the group. LaLonde later becomes known for his work with Primus. Although Metal Blade does not sign the band, Combat Records does, and Possessed releases its debut album Seven Churches in 1985. The band tours in support of the album and performs with Slayer and Venom at the Kabuki in San Francisco in 1986.

Its second album, Beyond the Gates, follows in 1986. In 1987 the band issues the five-song EP The Eyes of Horror, which marks a shift away from the Satanic themes associated with its earlier work and towards a more thrash-oriented sound. The EP is produced by guitarist Joe Satriani, and much of the songwriting is handled by LaLonde rather than Becerra and Mike Torrao, who write most of the earlier material.

Breakups and reunions

Shortly after The Eyes of Horror, the band disbands. In 1989, Jeff Becerra is paralysed from the waist down following a shooting incident. Mike Torrao later reforms Possessed in 1990 with a new line-up including former members of Machine Head and Pro-Pain. That version records two demos before dissolving in 1993. In 2007, Jeff Becerra performs under the Possessed name at Wacken Open Air with members of Sadistic Intent, and also headlines the Gathering of the Bestial Legions III festival in Los Angeles. Possessed remains identified with Becerra as its original bassist and vocalist and with its role in the early death metal scene.

Musical significance

Possessed is noted for fast playing and Becerra’s guttural vocals. It is often described as one of the first death metal groups, and its influence on the genre is substantial enough that it is sometimes called one of the “godfathers” of death metal. The name of the genre is also sometimes linked to the title of the band’s first demo, Death Metal.