Possessed are an American death metal band from the San Francisco Bay Area, formed in 1982. Widely regarded as one of the earliest pioneers of death metal, Possessed helped lay the foundation for the genre with their aggressive fusion of thrash metal speed and darker, more extreme themes.
Emerging from the early Bay Area thrash scene, Possessed pushed the boundaries of extremity in the mid-1980s, with many historians and musicians crediting them as one of the first bands to exhibit true death metal characteristics.
Possessed’s sound is defined by fast, chaotic riffing, harsh vocals, and dark lyrical themes centred on occultism and possession. Their early work bridged the gap between thrash metal and the emerging death metal style.
The band’s raw intensity and pioneering approach influenced countless extreme metal acts that followed, particularly in death metal’s formative years.
Seven Churches (1985) – groundbreaking debut album often cited as one of the first death metal albums, combining thrash speed with demonic themes and raw aggression.
Beyond the Gates (1986) – more experimental follow-up with darker atmospheres and expanded song structures.
Agony in Paradise (2004) – live album capturing the intensity of their early era performances.
Revelations of Oblivion (2019) – long-awaited comeback album returning with modern production while preserving their classic aggressive style.
Possessed are considered one of the founding forces of death metal, with their debut album in particular serving as a blueprint for the genre. Their influence can be heard across early Florida death metal and global extreme metal scenes.
Fans of bands like Death, Morbid Angel, and Slayer will likely find Possessed’s raw, pioneering style essential listening.
All Possessed releases we carry are official physical formats only, focusing on CD and vinyl editions sourced from authorised labels and distributors.
We also stock official Possessed clothing and accessories, allowing fans to represent one of the most historically important bands in extreme metal through authentic merchandise.
Possessed are pioneers of Death Metal and paved the way for the 1980s Bay Area Thrash scene, so if you fancy exploring more like-minded artists, have a look through our DEATH METAL and THRASH METAL categories. You might also like to read our blog on the different subgenres of Metal \m/
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