POSSESSED - BEYOND THE GATES - OCTOBER 31, 1986
We’re in the 80s now folks, the initial introduction sounds like the soundtrack to a typical emotional heart wrenching protaganist struggle in an 80s movie rather than the haunting introduction that Seven Churches set the stage with. Rather than push their raw and darkly supernatural sound that shook its listeners to their very core on Seven Churches, it seemed as if in this release they were trying to put out something a bit shinier, even commercial. The riffs are much tighter throughout the course of the album with slightly less diversity and more predictability tempo wise than its predecessor. I also must say that where they have stepped up is finding a balance in having the instrumentals and vocals rarely over power one another, you can tell their focus was to find each other instrumentally rather than stumble into one another. Mike Sus seems to have refined his art on this one and Jeff Becerra is settling into his stride on the vocals with more confidence and character in his ever distinguishable vocals.
Beyond the Gates will always be more of a thrash metal album and was a step back more into that direction, in my opinion, but their influence makes them worthwhile for the death/thrash crossover bands that followed and grew off their sound to search for something darker off the beaten path on even just a lyrical point of view let alone instrumentally. This was the final LP released by Possessed whom had broken up shortly thereafter the Eyes of Horror EP which had an even more so of a thrashier pace and sound under the production and influence of Joe Satriani. Of the demos and material that followed as well as the revolving door of band members when the band had reunited again, Possessed never seemed to be able to revisit their darker roots and stuck to their thrash influences so this will be their last mention on this journey save for their influential storm they set in motion.
Highlights: Phantasm, No Will to Live
Rating: 6/10
Beyond the Gates will always be more of a thrash metal album and was a step back more into that direction, in my opinion, but their influence makes them worthwhile for the death/thrash crossover bands that followed and grew off their sound to search for something darker off the beaten path on even just a lyrical point of view let alone instrumentally. This was the final LP released by Possessed whom had broken up shortly thereafter the Eyes of Horror EP which had an even more so of a thrashier pace and sound under the production and influence of Joe Satriani. Of the demos and material that followed as well as the revolving door of band members when the band had reunited again, Possessed never seemed to be able to revisit their darker roots and stuck to their thrash influences so this will be their last mention on this journey save for their influential storm they set in motion.
Highlights: Phantasm, No Will to Live
Rating: 6/10
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