Line-up :
Mike Torrao - Vocals, Guitar
Mike Hollman - Guitar
Walter Ryan - Drums
Paul Perry - Bass
| 1. | The Seventh Sign | 04:05 | |
| 2. | Last Ritual | 04:15 | |
| 3. | Human Extermination | 05:03 | |
| Total playing time | 13:23 | ||
Line-up :
Mike Torrao - Vocals, Guitar
Mark Strausberg - Guitar
Walter Ryan - Drums
Bob Yost - Bass
| 1. | The Martyr's Wake | 03:50 | |
| 2. | The Seventh Sign | 03:28 | |
| Total playing time | 07:18 | ||
Line-up :
Mike Torrao - Guitar
Mark Strausberg - Guitar
Walter Ryan - Drums
Bob Yost - Bass
| All tracks are instrumental. |
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Line-up :
Mike Torrao - Guitar
Mike Sus - Drums
Jeff Becerra - Bass & Vocals
Larry Lalonde - Guitar
Produced by Joe Satriani.
Re-released by Century Media Records with "Beyond the Gates".
Review :
This is by far the thrashiest album I've heard put out by Possessed. It's a pity it's only five songs. There isn't one song where you listen and just go, "Eh..Next track." That's just not a possible reaction to this CD.
The guitar work on this EP is just amazing and I think that's mostly due to Joe Santriani producing it and I've heard he also gave the guitarist lessons. Every song is cocked-full of catchy, timely riffs. Never a dull moment riff-wise. The drumming is your typical thrash drumming and it done well. Nothing too special, but it matches the music perfectly. The vocals sound pretty similar Lemmy at time. They go in nice with the music. They sound so tortured and full of agony which is perfect for Possessed's style of thrash. Nothing special about the bass. It does it part and nothing more.
If you have not heard this EP and are a fan of Possessed, or just a fan of thrash for that matter, I highly recommend you pick this EP up. You will not regret it.
Choice tracks: All.
Throwaway tracks: None.
| 1. | Confessions | 02:53 | [view lyrics] |
| 2. | My Belief | 03:34 | [view lyrics] |
| 3. | The Eyes of Horror | 03:16 | [view lyrics] |
| 4. | Swing of the Axe | 03:59 | [view lyrics] |
| 5. | Storm in My Mind | 04:22 | [view lyrics] |
| Total playing time | 18:04 | ||
| Line-up : Mike Torrao - Guitar Mike Sus - Drums Jeff Becerra - Bass & Vocals Larry Lalonde - Guitar |
| Demo contains all of the songs on Seven Churches except "Holy Hell". | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Line-up :
Jeff Beccera - Vocals, Bass
Brian Montana - Guitar
Mike Torrao- Guitar
Mike Sus - Drums
| Contains the 3 songs which were released on Seven Churches and Swing of the Axe which was later released on the The Eyes of Horror EP. Released like a bootleg 7" in 1989 in the label Death Metal Rec. (look cover). |
| 1. | Pentagram | 03:49 | [view lyrics] |
| 2. | Swing of the Axe | 03:55 | [view lyrics] |
| 3. | Twisted Minds | 05:41 | [view lyrics] |
| 4. | Fallen Angel | 04:28 | [view lyrics] |
| Total playing time | 17:53 | ||
Line-up :
Jeff Beccera - Vocals, Bass
Brian Montana - Guitar
Mike Torrao- Guitar
Mike Sus - Drums
One of the first ever death metal demos.
"Fallen Angel" was recorded during the same session, and did not make the
official demo, but it was just as heavily bootlegged. Fallen Angel was a
one-take track, done quickly at the end of the recording session.
Review :
Or thrash, or even speed metal! This demo is what started it all, in 1984... though at times it sounds more like a tight-as-fuck Venom (Becerra does a wicked Cronos at times!), and it's interesting to note how much thrashier this is than the Seven Churches LP.
Exhibit one: the title track, riff at 1.30 - that is a pure fucking thrash riff, and it's gone in the final version, replaced by a faster, higher-pitched, less overtly bludgeoning thrash riff. But here, it's a raging thrasher not unlike Chemical Warfare. The drum flurry kicks in and the slightly faster, more chaotic riff, and then the solo - though it's kind of interesting that it sounds like there's only one guitar during the solo sections... apparently Brian Montana was completely asleep on the job! Oh yeah and how about that closing shriek before the final solo. Mark Osegueda, eat your heart out. And take Tom Araya with you while you're there. Becerra's vox are fucking awesome.
Evil Warriors: SCREAM OUT IN FRIGHT!! Little silly vocal intro, then the song is roughly similar to the Seven Churches version. As I said, the demo is superficially identical to the LP, including the total fucking ruleage of "Burning in Hell"... it's only if you're a Possessed fucking freak like me that you'll notice the little things like "hey wait a minute, that riff is slightly different". One more example... the melodic counterpoint riff in Burning in Hell is more overt, though under this solo there are definitely two guitars and the solo a lot sloppier and Hanneman-ish and directionless, so let's blame Brian Montana, but after that, the wicked thrash break (you know which one!) is more overt than on the LP.
Thus, to recap... it's thrashier, with the riffs a bit more accented. The vocals aren't quite as out-there... I hear Black Metal on Death Metal, and also a little bit of "blasting our way through the boundaries of Hell...". The solos aren't as cool sometimes, and at times the riff under the solo is missing (Death Metal), oh and Fallen Angel doesn't have any bells.
Wait, Fallen Angel isn't even on this demo!! There's 2 versions or something - I have no idea what the story is but some bootlegs have Fallen Angel, others do not... in any case, it was recorded at the same time.
So is it any good? Of course it's good!!! It's fucking awesome!! What it lacks in sheer must-kill, it makes up for in thrashing goodness. This one definitely qualifies as death metal, just like the album that succeeded it... and just like that one, it's a good solid slab of thrash. Worth getting - historical value: unbelievably high. Musical value: just about as high. The only complaint is that Montana's solos are goofy and not nearly as focused as those of Lalonde, and the guitar tone is far more ordinary... but enough of my bitching... there's only one Seven Churches, but this is damn close.
| 1. | Death Metal | 03:17 | [view lyrics] |
| 2. | Evil Warriors | 04:20 | [view lyrics] |
| 3. | Burning in Hell | 03:20 | [view lyrics] |
| Total playing time | 10:57 | ||
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