So this year we are celebrating another great album`s 30th anniversary. This monumental piece of art, POSSESSED`s “Seven Churches” has been named the first death metal album ever. Well, yeah, right, POSSESSED is considered to be the originators of this genre. Their demo 1984 called “Death Metal” is a proof for that, and despite the fact that it was Tom Warrior who`d described the HELLHAMMER`s music as death metal before, it is actually POSSESSED that made this term really popular.
In the mid-80s, metal music was becoming more and more extreme. This is when VENOM was in their prime, and the year of 1986 was the final year that ended,with their fourth studio album “Possessed,” their six year rule.Interestingly, a new and young band from San Francisco just appeared, and chose the album`s title to be their band`s name and thus,symbolically, started a new era. The Death Metal genre was born.

“Seven Churches” is, musically speaking, black/speed metal. You can hear many VENOM/BATHORY influences, but the music of POSSESSEDis more blasphemous and the band`s sound is heavier. Another element which was so characteristic for American bands that considered themselves to be death metal was the amazing production of their albums, the feature which later became the genre`s business card.
The state of Florida has been considered the death metal capital for a long time. This is where plenty of death metal bands emerged. Certainly, the Old Continent, especially Sweden, had a lot to say in this matter too. Anyway, it was POSSESSED, DEATH and MORBID ANGEL that ruled supreme at the time, and these bands were setting the limits of extremity, quality and complexity of music which, with every release became more and more technically advanced.

“Seven Churches” which was technically nearly perfect, was still aimed at playing music as extreme as possible. The most important were emotions and this dark, obscure atmosphere which later weakened, as the technicality and crispness of the music became dominant. “Beyond the Gates” or “The Eyes of Horror” are good releases, but these two lack the darkness so strongly accented on the POSSESSED`s debut album.
Sure, I am aware of the fact that people have different opinions when it comes to this band. I know some guys who think “Beyond The Gates” is POSSESSED`s most infernal album. Anyway, it is hard not to see that that debut`s lyrics are just pure EVIL. Just take a look at “The Exorcist” to see how possessed by devil these guys are: Possessed by Evil Hell/Satan's wrath will kill/He will take your soul. /Cast you to hell/Demons dog domain/Keeping me insane/Evil curse my soul/Burning away.
Well, Jeff when he worked on “Beyond the Gates” was still into the dark themes pretty much and surely he glorified Hell, but the music lost its rough sound a bit – it was different from what the early POSSESSED offered. Well, since the very beginning of the band, it was easy to notice the solo guitar parts of Mike Torrao corresponded so well with the guitar parts of Larry La Londe. This duo worked perfectly together and played an extremely “rich” music.

A large number of twisted and complex riffs, combined with extremely fast guitar solos, the dirty sound and diabolic vocal of Becerry result in a uniquely ghastly atmosphere. This stuff just kills totally, spreading total death and annihilation. Even today, tracks like “The Exorcist”, “Burning InHell”, “Satan's Curse”, “Fallen Angel” or “Death Metal” just crush every listener there is. Not too many bands these days are able to do so!
The A side starts really innocently with the intro by Mike Oldfield`s “Tubular Bells.”This soft introduction becomes malicious - “The Exorcist” – an aggressive, full of Hell and darkness track with the obsessed vocal of Jeff who vomits out the song`s lyrics: Your curse is not my fear/Demons within me hear/I will escape your wrath/666.
The guitar riffs are cutting the air mercilessly. It all gallops like some Demonic wind. It’s a pure death metal orgy. “Pentagram” is another blast between eyes. This track is really energetic with mind-massacring solos. It all just reeks of Hell, indeed. “Burning in Hell” – just as soon as this track starts, it leaves no doubt whatsoever what kind of music it is; as Jeff just screams out, (Death has beckoned you to hell/You can't escape my evil spell/Past the gates, evil fate).

The album as a whole emanates with something malicious and hostile, yet intensive at the same time. “Evil Warriors” is even darker and more obnoxious. It is like some terrible nightmare you can still remember even after you are awake. Supreme evil and unspeakable terror! Mike Sus fucking pounds the drums, the solo duels are really impressive. The title track “Seven Churches” ends this side with a merciless storm of aggression which just smashes listeners so intensely that you are sure this stuff is about to explode.

The B side starts with “Satan's Curse”. This track is like a blow with a spiked glovein your fucking mug; a totally malicious track with ghastly lyrics: Sacrifice your soul will be doomed/your evil friends who have deceived you/Satan's curse enters your soul/Beneath you'll burn - Satan's curie/Sky fades to black, as the heavens diminish/Evil takes over, the world is finished.
“Holy Hell” is another anthem to Hell. A condensed attack of mercilessly cutting guitars makes this song really fast. This is not the drums, but the guitars that make this track so damn fast. Mike and Larry fucking crush and destroy! “Twisted Minds” is one of my favorite tracks. And when you think it cannot get any crazier, this track just attacks with such power that it becomes really difficult to stand straight.
Pressure in your ears rises, your blood boils in veins, and obsessed screams of Jeff send shivers down your spine. “Fallen Angel” means that the devastation ain`t over. There is no slowing down, no. It all becomes more and more aggressive and obnoxious. “Death Metal,” the track which ends this album announces the album`s end complete. Such a condensed dose of brutal music would surely bring legions of the dead back to life.
After 30 years, “Seven Churches” is still strong. This stuff emanates with immense power. Well, rivers of tears gush from my eyes when I think how awesome this music used to be in the past.

It is hard to say where POSSESSED would be today if Jeff`d not been that badly shot. This band was surely doomed to success. What`s left of their music is immortal, but still when we think about where they could be right now, well it just makes me really sad. 
In 1991, Mike Torrao tried to resurrect POSSESSED and recorded a two track demo. Two years later, he composed two more tracks. Sadly, POSSESSED didn’t manage to return,though the stuff was really good, and 100% in the vein of old POSSESSED. With all due respect to Jeff, the vocals of Mike Torrao from these demos are damn fucking awesome.
Whydidn’tMike Torraoand other guys want to reactivatePOSSESSED? Well, I’ve no idea. An apple of discord was surely the fact that Jeff used the band`s name and logo illegally. Thanks to the fact that Beccerais still active now, many people can have the only chance to listen to these tracks live and that’s an amazing experience.
On the other hand, the situation where a person who joined the band last and didn’t compose any song at all, and later went on using the name POSSESSED is no good. PresentPOSSESSED is more like a cover band than a real one.Yet, still, the Waken Open Air in 2007 where they performed in the front of 60 thousand people was impressive. Jeff and the SADISTIC INTENT guys were able to perform the gig in the perfect vein of old POSSESSED.

Well, what else to expect as these guys have naturally become suffused with the atmosphere of the 80s. Well, the fact that SADISTIC INTENT formed just 4 years after POSSESSED had, and have practically been active since then makes this band really trustworthy. The live show they performed was very spontaneous and natural. Even their image was similar to the ones from the “Seven Churches” era.
When we take a look at the front man, condemned to life in a wheelchair, who ain`tgivin` up, keeps fighting, working with POSSESSED, and devoting himself to keep the old fire burning is really admirable. On the flipside, is there going to be any new stuff released, or are there only going to be live shows? Mike Tarraoand Mike Susdon’t say yes. Andthese two guys have the most to say in this matter.
What`ll the future bring for POSSESSED? We`ll see. Right now, let`s enjoy “Seven Churches” that`s been rereleased in the vinyl format through High Roller. This beautifully released album is similar a little bit to the first American editionhas got the engraved album title and the POSSESSED logo.
Well, this time this detail has been omitted and the logo has not been engraved. However, the stuff itself has been transferred off the original master tape which`s a good thing. I should also add this record`s booklet has these infamous pictures of POSSESSED taken in an abattoir. There are some well-known pictures and a couple which you`ve probably never seen before.

Leszek Wojnicz-Sianożęcki