POSSESSED “Seven Churches” /CD/

Re-release of the second full-length studio album, including the first EP, by legendary American Death/Thrash Metal.
Never ones to think twice about flirting with supernatural evil forces, San Francisco's Possessed scheduled their second album to be released on Halloween 1986. Maybe they should have been a little more wary, as the recording that should have built upon the solid foundation laid down by the previous year's genre-forming debut "Seven Churches" (still regarded as one of Death Metal's inaugural cornerstones), wound up coming as a disappointment to a lot critic and fans alike. Taking a different direction from their debut, "Seven Churches", "Beyond The Gates" has a more technical feeling and, due to poor production, a muddy sound.
In most observer's eyes, "Beyond The Gates" represented an almost indefensible step backwards; transforming a sound previously distinguished for its inexorable power into a ragged, decidedly weaker-kneed replacement. Perhaps the record's feeble production was to blame, although it's hard to lay the blame entirely on experienced producer Carl Canedy in light of his previous triumphs with Anthrax and Overkill. More likely, it was a combination of difficulties: poor funding, rushed recording conditions, questions over musical direction, and simple lack of preparedness (all common problems for starving, under-pressure-to-deliver Extreme Metal bands) that doused the flames. At all, reception was mixed, with some critics and fans being very disappointed by the album for the sound and production, while others were satisfied with the new direction of the band. Over the years, fans have slowly appreciated "Beyond The Gates" and have even considered it being an "underrated masterpiece" and "overlooked classic".
"Beyond The Gates" became a sign of Possessed's decline, as they only released the EP, "The Eyes Of Horror", before they officially disbanded the following year. This became the band’s last album until the release of their third studio album, "Revelations Of Oblivion", 33 years later.
This re-release contains the "The Eyes Of Horror" EP as a bonus.
Century Media Records Ltd./Rawforce Records, 1987/2001 (RAWFORCE 100-30). Made in Chile.


Tracklist:
1. Intro / The Heretic 4:01
2. Tribulation 4:47
3. March to Die 3:12
4. Phantasm 4:20
5. No Will to Live 6:45
6. Beyond the Gates 2:54
7. The Beasts of the Apocalypse 3:12
8. Seance 3:02
9. Restless Dead 2:58
10. Dog Fight 1:25
11. Confessions 2:56
12. My Belief 3:36
13. The Eyes of Horror 3:18
14. Swing of the Axe 4:03
15. Storm in My Mind 4:23
Total playing time: 54:52 min.

The third live album by legendary American Death/Thrash Metal band.
Cult live gig officialy released for the first time.
All tracks were carefully restored and remastered by Achilleas Kalantzis (Vio Lence, Defiance, Varathron).
The release includes extensive liner notes, interview with Jeff Becerra, and rare, never before published pictures.
Cover and booklet art made by Thomas Pinheiro (Malevolent Creation, Defiance, Lobotomy).
Recorded live at Balboa Theater, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
VIC Records, 2024 (VIC321CD). Made in Netherlands. First press.


Tracklist:
1. The Exorcist 4:47
2. Pentagram 4:10
3. Satan's Curse 4:44
4. Holy Hell 4:43
5. Burning in Hell 3:28
6. Evil Warriors 4:13
7. Seven Churches 3:37
8. Death Metal 3:59
Total playing time: 33:41 min.


https://vicrecords1.bandcamp.com/