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Possessed is a death metal band that formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California. After breaking up in 1993, the band reformed under original bassist/vocalist Jeff Becerra in 2007. They are noted for their extremely fast playing style and Becerra's guttural vocals and have cited as an 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][5], with the name of the genre coming from their first demo entitled, ``Death Metal.`` Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... El Sobrante is a census-designated place located in Contra Costa County, California. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Larry Ler LaLonde (born Reed Lawrence LaLonde on September 12, 1968 in Richmond, California) is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Tim Alexander. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... Year 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar). ... El Sobrante is a census-designated place located in Contra Costa County, California. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ...

History

The band originated in San Francisco in 1983 . The band recruited Jeff Becerra to take over the lead vocal position follwoing 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.^[6][7]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. ^[8][9] Exodus is an American thrash metal band formed in 1980 in San Francisco, California by singer/drummer Tom Hunting, guitarists Tim Agnello and Kirk Hammett, and bassist Carlton Melson. ... Metal Blade Records is an independent record label which was founded in 1981 by Brian Slagel. ... Larry Ler LaLonde (born Reed Lawrence LaLonde on September 12, 1968 in Richmond, California) is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Tim Alexander. ... Metal Blade Records is an independent record label which was founded in 1981 by Brian Slagel. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Seven Churches was Possesseds debut album, released in 1985 through Combat. ...

Possessed followed the release with a supporting tour which included a performance with Slayer and Venom at San Francisco's Kabuki in 1986.^[10] 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 Satanism 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. Slayer circa 2004. ... This article or section needs copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone and/or spelling. ... This page is a candidate for speedy deletion. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... Joe Satch Satriani (born on July 15, 1956, in Westbury, New York, USA) is an American guitarist and former guitar instructor. ...

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.^[11] Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

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. Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The subject of this article may not satisfy the notability guideline or one of the following guidelines for inclusion on Wikipedia: Biographies, Books, Companies, Fiction, Music, Neologisms, Numbers, Web content, or several proposals for new guidelines. ...

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.^[12] Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Wacken Open Air (W:O:A) is the largest exclusively metal music festival in the world. ... Sadistic Intent is a death metal band from Los Angeles, California. ...

Musical style

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Possessed combined the heavy, gloom style of Black Sabbath with the speed of early thrash metal in their music. The band was also influenced by Slayer's Show No Mercy album. Jeff Becerra's vocals were noted for its unique gruff style.^[13] The guitar work was fast paced matched with an equally fast drumming style. The lyrical content on the band's earlier albums focused on Satanism. Later works were similar Thrash metal. Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... For other uses, see Black Sabbath (disambiguation). ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Slayer is an American thrash metal band founded by guitarists Jeff Hanneman and Kerry King. ... Show No Mercy is the debut album by the thrash metal band Slayer, which was released in December 1983 through Metal Blade Records. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ...

Original Line-up Today

Jeff Becerra continues to play a role in the death, black and thrash metal scenes of Northern California^[14]. He received a degree in labor studies and plans to pursue a law degree. Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ... Black metal is an extreme heavy metal subgenre. ... Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. ...

Mike Sus went on to get a degree in Psychology and is currently a drug addiction counselor.^[15] Psychology (from Greek: ψυχή, psukhē, spirit, soul; and λόγος, logos, knowledge) is both an academic and applied discipline involving the scientific study of mental processes and behavior. ...

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. ^[16][17] Thrash metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music, one of the extreme metal subgenres that is characterised by its signature high speed and aggression. ... Originally a progressive rock band formed in high school by guitarist Jerry Cantrell, Blind Illusion had morphed in time to a thrash metal band in the 1980s. ... The Sane Asylum was the first and only album to be released by Californian metal band Blind Illusion. ... Leslie Edward Les Claypool (born September 29, 1963 in Richmond, California, USA) is a singer/bassist, best known for his work with the alternative rock band Primus. ... Primus is a Grammy-nominated American rock band formed in California in the mid-1980s. ... Year 1989 (MCMLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1993, Mike Torrao and Mike Sus retired from music to pursue other careers.^[18].

Legacy

Possessed have been cited as an influence by many death metal bands and are considered one of the earliest in the genre.^[19] Their debut album, Seven Churches is often cited as the first death Metal album.^[20] Death metal is a subgenre of heavy metal. ...

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. A tribute album is a recorded collection of cover versions of a specific artists songs. ... Cannibal Corpse is an American death metal band founded in 1988. ... The tone or style of this article or section may not be appropriate for Wikipedia. ... Statistics Genre: Death metal Country: Holland Status: Active Time: 1990- Background God Dethroned is a death metal band from the Netherlands. ... Amon Amarth is a viking-themed melodic death metal band from Sweden founded in 1990 in Tumba, named after a location in J. R. R. Tolkiens Middle-earth. ... Hammer Smashed Face is Cannibal Corpses first EP. It was released in 1993 through Metal Blade Records. ...

Line-up

Current members

• Jeff Becerra - vocals (1983-1989, 2007)
• Ernesto Bueno - guitar (2007)
• Emilio Marquez - drums (2007)
• Rick Cortez - guitar (2007)
• Bay Cortez - bass (2007)

In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... The electric bass guitar (or electric bass) is a bass string instrument played with the fingers by plucking, slapping, or using a pick. ...

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 (1991-1992)

In music a singer or vocalist is a type of musician who sings, i. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... Larry Ler LaLonde (born Reed Lawrence LaLonde on September 12, 1968 in Richmond, California) is a guitarist who currently plays in Primus along with Les Claypool and Tim Alexander. ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Guitar (disambiguation). ... There are a range of musical instruments that can be collectively be regarded as bass instruments since they are in the bass range. ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Bass may refer to: Look up bass in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

Discography

Studio albums

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

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1985 (MCMLXXXV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar). ... Seven Churches was Possesseds debut album, released in 1985 through Combat. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1986 (MCMLXXXVI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link displays 1986 Gregorian calendar). ... Beyond the Gates is the second album released by death metal band Possessed. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ...

Live albums

Cover	Date of Release	Title	Label
	2004	Agony in Paradise	Agonia Records

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Agony in Paradise is a live album from the American death metal band Possessed. ...

Compilations

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

Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... Victims of Death is the first compilation album by the American death metal band Possessed. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Resurrection is a demo album by American death metal band Possessed. ... Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link displays full 2006 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Ashes from Hell is a 4-track EP from American death metal band Possessed. ... Relativity Records was a record label. ...

Demos/EP

• Death Metal (1984)
• The Eyes of Horror (EP) (1987)
• 1991 Demo (1991)
• 1993 Demo (1993)

Possessed were a seminal death metal band formed in 1983 in El Sobrante, California, a San Francisco Bay Area suburb. ... Year 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar). ...

References

1. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/seven-churches?cat=entertainment Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
2. ^ http://www.metal-archives.com/
3. ^ http://deathmetallover.blogspot.com/2006/03/history-of-death-metal-phase-i-upto.html
4. ^ http://blogs.guitarworld.com/metalkult/classic-demos/demo-download-possesseds-1985-death-metal/
5. ^ http://www.metal-observer.com/articles.php?lid=1&sid=1&id=3690
6. ^ http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/549/Possessed.html
7. ^ http://www.ugo.com/channels/music/features/bandsondemand/artist.aspx?artist=Possessed&cat=Metal&full=Possessed
8. ^ http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/alley/1409/possessed/posmain.htm
9. ^ http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/549/Possessed.html
10. ^ http://www.metal-rules.com/where/Possessed.htm
11. ^ http://www.voicesfromthedarkside.de/interviews/possessed.htm
12. ^ http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=71193
13. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/seven-churches?cat=entertainment Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
14. ^ http://www.myspace.com/jeffbecerra
15. ^ http://www.metal-rules.com/where/Possessed.htm
16. ^ http://www.geocities.com/sunsetstrip/alley/1409/possessed/posmain.htm
17. ^ http://www.thegauntlet.com/bio/549/Possessed.html
18. ^ http://www.metal-rules.com/where/Possessed.htm
19. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/seven-churches?cat=entertainment Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
20. ^ http://www.answers.com/topic/seven-churches?cat=entertainment Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide

External links

• Possessed at MySpace