Possessed (band)

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Possessed
Origin San Francisco, United States
Genre(s) Death metal
Thrash metal
Years active 1983–1993, 2007–present
Label(s) Combat
Under One Flag
Agonia
Members
Jeff Becerra
Ernesto Bueno
Rick Cortez
Bay Cortez
Vanik Vartanian
Former members
See: Possessed former members

Possessed is an influential American death metal band and was formed in 1983 in San Francisco, California. They are noted for their fast playing style and Becerra's guttural vocals. They have been cited as a great influence on the death metal genre.[1] 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][4] with the name of the genre possibly coming from their first demo entitled Death Metal.[3] After breaking up in 1993, the band reformed under original bassist/vocalist Jeff Becerra in 2007.

Contents

[edit] History

The band originated in San Francisco in 1983. The band recruited Jeff Becerra to take over the lead vocal position following the death of original lead vocalist, Barry Fisk. 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. 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 titled 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 on the EP. The songs had more of a thrash metal style than their earlier death metal. The EP was produced by guitarist Joe Satriani. 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.

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. album.[10]

[edit] Musical style

Possessed is often cited as the first death metal band.[2][3][4] This is largely because of Jeff Becerra's grunted vocals.[1] The band was heavily influenced by Show No Mercy-era Slayer but added a vocal style that really set them apart, and set the stage for death metal's breakaway from thrash metal.[1][2] The lyrical content in most of the band's songs focused on Satanism. Although the style of Possessed's first album, Seven Churches, was praised for its speed and the brutality of the vocals, their follow up album, 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.

[edit] 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 currently helping injured people to live a normal everyday live and he is a drug addiction counselor.[14]

Larry LaLonde joined the Bay-area thrash metal band, Blind Illusion which released The Sane Asylum in 1988. Following that release Lalonde, and Blind Illusion bassist Les Claypool, went on to form Primus in .1989.[15][5]

In 1993, Mike Sus reportedly retired from music to pursue other careers.

As of 2008, Mike Torrao is working with the band INaCAGE[16] in the San Francisco Bay Area.[14]

In 2008, Emilio Marquez announced he was leaving the band due to unforeseen circumstances. Vanik Vartanian would be taking his place for a short period of time until a permanent drummer is found.

[edit] Discography

[edit] Studio albums

Date of Release Title Label
1985 Seven Churches Relativity Records/Combat Records
1986 Beyond the Gates Relativity Records/Combat Records

[edit] Live albums

Date of Release Title Label
2004 Agony in Paradise Agonia Records

[edit] Compilations

Date of Release Title Label
1992 Victims of Death Relativity Records/Combat Records
2003 Resurrection Agonia Records
2006 Ashes from Hell Relativity Records

[edit] Demos/EP

Date of Release Title Label
1984 Death Metal Independent
1987 The Eyes of Horror (EP) Combat
1991 1991 Demo
1992 1993 Demo

[edit] Line-up

[edit] Current members

[edit] Former members

  • Barry Fisk - vocals (d. 1983)
  • Brian Montana - guitar (1983–1984)
  • Larry LaLonde - guitar (1984–1988)
  • Mike Torrao - guitar (1983–1993)
  • Mike Hollman - guitar (1993)
  • Paul Perry - bass (1993)
  • Mike Sus - drums (1983–1989)
  • Colin Carmichael - drums (1991)
  • Bob Yost - bass guitar (1991–1992)
  • Emilio Marquez - drums (2007-2008)

[edit] Tribute

In 2004, a tribute album, Seven Gates of Horror, was released and included covers by Cannibal Corpse, Vader, God Dethroned, Amon Amarth and others. "The Exorcist" (covered on the album by Sadistic Intent and featuring guest vocals by Becerra) had an earlier rendition by Cannibal Corpse on their Hammer Smashed Face EP.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c Possessed - Seven Churches review, Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide "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"
  2. ^ a b c Possessed band page, Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide "the brutal Seven Churches was arguably the first true death metal album and set the stage for the genre's breakaway from thrash"
  3. ^ a b c 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.``"
  4. ^ 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"
  5. ^ a b c Possessed Bio @ The Gauntlet
  6. ^ Possessed: Biography, Discography, and MP3s from Possessed
  7. ^ Twisted Minds, Possessed history
  8. ^ Metal-Rules.com - POSSESSED: Where Are They Now?
  9. ^ Possessed
  10. ^ BLABBERMOUTH.NET - POSSESSED's WACKEN Lineup To Feature JEFF BECERRA Alongside SADISTIC INTENT Members
  11. ^ Possessed - Beyond the Gates review, Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide "...wound up coming as a disappointment to most critic and fans alike ... transforming a sound previously distinguished for its inexorable power into a ragged, decidedly weaker-kneed replacement"
  12. ^ Possessed band page, Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide "Their second effort, Beyond the Gates, was released, fittingly enough, on Halloween 1986, but didn't have the same impact as its predecessor."
  13. ^ Jeff Becerra @ MySpace
  14. ^ a b Metal Rules, Possessed - Where Are They Now? By Arto L, July 2001
  15. ^ Twisted Minds, Possessed - Where Are They Now?
  16. ^ [1]

[edit] External links