Best song on Possessed - Seven Churches?

Spinning this 1985 album right now.

I vote "The Exorcist" as the best track here. I love the part where Beccera shouts "I will escape your wrath...666!" Awesome!

"Death Metal" and "Burning in Hell" are the runners-up.

I voted for Death Metal, although the legendary riff in The Exorcist totally kills !!!

I have not heard the album, but it's awesome that Jeff Becerra still sings after being paralyzed and having to be on stage in a wheelchair

Death Metaaaaaaaaal!

THE EXORCIST. Also i like to say that BEYONG THE GATES and EYES OF HORROR are underated. They dont have the brutality like SEVEN CHURCHES but the songs are still great.

I know I'm derailing the topic a bit, but my friend who just got back from Wacken met Jeff. Apparently at Heathrow, on the way, Jeff randomly asked him if he was going to Wacken and they ended up sitting next to each other having a laugh on the entire plan journey. Apparently Jeff was a very talkative man.

Evil Warriors.

This songs owns!

A close second would be:

Deeeeaath Metaaaaaaaal

\m/

Smindas wrote:

I know I'm derailing the topic a bit, but my friend who just got back from Wacken met Jeff. Apparently at Heathrow, on the way, Jeff randomly asked him if he was going to Wacken and they ended up sitting next to each other having a laugh on the entire plan journey. Apparently Jeff was a very talkative man.

Cool. For shore your friend looks metal if not Jeff would not have known that he was going to WACKEN. We metal people always find each other because we are the best, F*** THE REST

Listening to this CD right now. Still can't figure out how these guys are often called "The First Death Metal band.". They sound like straight up thrash metal with proto-death style vocals. Vemon on speed, if you will.

I honestly think DEATH were the first true death metal band.

I agree. SBG was the first real death metal album. But like Venom has a song named "Black metal" and influenced that genre, Possessed's "Death Metal" song coined that genre.

I bought this album a few years ago after seeing all the hype on the boards, and man, I thought it was TERRIBLE. I was scratching my head so hard trying to figure out what people saw in that album, and still do. I'll never understand it I guess.

Rexorcist wrote:

I bought this album a few years ago after seeing all the hype on the boards, and man, I thought it was TERRIBLE. I was scratching my head so hard trying to figure out what people saw in that album, and still do. I'll never understand it I guess.

I guess it's appeal was that it was so much more aggressive and raw than any other thrash band from that era (1985). As I said, Venom on speed. There are some great riffs and solos as well. I read that Larry LaLonde was a student of Joe Satriani, which would explain some of the odd guitar licks.

Actually old Bathory is Venom on speed. In fact, Quorthon has a few songs titled the same as Venom's.

I went with "The Exorcist" because it just sets the tone for the album. I also like "Satan's Curse" just as much, as well as "Burning In Hell" for it's verse flow. When I was in high-school, I devised an early (and very sucky) band with friends. I named the group "Satan's Curse" from the song of the same name on "Seven Churches." I thought it was "metal" and all...lol I drew an awesome logo for it with the "T" as a knifeblade with the rubber grip handle (you should have seen it, Rex...you'd be proud...lol) I made a huge banner with it. Anyhow, I trashed it years later when I thought about how stupid it sounded as I grew into my mid-20's.

Rex, you mentioned how let down you were when you heard "Seven Churches." I can relate a story about some friends of mine. I found the "Seven Churches" record on vinyl in the 80's in Chapel Hill (down the street from UNC). I loved the record as a teen. Well, later on down the line, 3 friends and I got together and went to see METALLICA/QUEENSRYCHE on the "Justice" tour in Greensboro. So I had taped off some of my records to play on the trip to G'boro. "Seven Churches" was one of them. I told my friends, "Hey, this is POSSESSED. I really like 'em." All 3 of these guys were looking around like, "What the &#$@ is this #@&%?" lol I was insulted that they didn't like it. But looking back I can understand why. It was definitely for the 80's. It's very raw and the band had yet to really gel.

Also, like Scott, I don't call this "death metal." It's Speed/Thrash along the lines of VENOM. Back then I remember mags/fanzines calling it Black Metal (the earliest form). Anyway, I don't want to get into a genre war with anyone, so I'll leave it at that.

Larry Lalonde was actually a student of Joe Satriani. In fact, that was one of the arguments I used with my friends who didn't like them that day. I said, "Hey, this guy took lessons from Satriani." They weren't convinced...lol I actually saw Larry with BLIND ILLUSION on "The Sane Asylum" tour...

HALLOW'S EVE/BLIND ILLUSION/AT WAR
Wednesday, September 21, 1988
The Switch
Raleigh, NC

It's amazing that I don't even listen to this band anymore, but as I type this stuff out, I can "sing" the lyrics to "The Heretic" word for word. Music and lyrics are more powerful than most people think. I also thought their EP The Eyes Of Horror from '87 had some excellent tunes like "Confessions" and "Swing Of The Axe."

The Exorcist for me. But the whole album kills.

Also...

It was mentioned elsewhere in this thread that it's debatable as to whether "Seven Churches" should really be noticed as the first death metal album and that the honor should go to "Scream Bloody Gore."

I'd rather go with "Bloody Vengeance" from 1986 by Brazil's Vulcano.

Far more intense and aggressive (than SBG) and overall much scarier. The vocals absolutely slay. The production is iffy and has that horrendous echoey '80s sound but in my opinion it only adds to the overall vibe.

Still though I give the honor to "Seven Churches."

I guess so George. I suppose I'm one of those "just a tad to late for the 80's" but wish I could have been there for some of it" guys. lol (Although I still think I would have thought this album sucks)

This is one of my brother's all time favorite albums. I thought the music was pretty rippin' but I could never get past the WOOOOARRRRGH vocals.

It was kinda funny a few years later when Larry LaLonde turned up in Primus, all the old thrashers were like "EEK! This is the guy from POSSESSED? WTF?" Hahaha.

I know a guy who went to a Primus show and he actually brought his old SEVEN CHURCHES LP for Larry to autograph. He said when Larry saw it he actually laughed and said "Wow, I don't see too many of THESE anymore"

My vote went for The Exorcist.

You know, back in the day there was no such thing as death metal. Possessed, Death, etc were all thrash. Although Chuck Schuldiner used Possessed's vocals and music as a blueprint for Death and was stated in many interviews in the past.

I'll have to go with The Exorcist. That song kills! Death Metal is also a great track and would be my second choice.

I vote "The Exorcist". This is actually one of my favorite albums of all time, I love it. True classic. I agree with Ult on it being more thrash though. Death truly was the first death metal band, I have their early demos and what they were doing was amazingly innovative for 84/85.

i voted for the exorcist. i must dig it out as i have not listened to it since i went to my cousins wedding of all places

The Exorcist is my favorite. I truly enjoy every song on that album though. In The Exorcist I love when Jeff sings

Words of insanity
Scream out the final plea
Evil voices scream out
Help me!

I’ve heard this album mentioned over and over - everywhere.
It arrived. The photo of the guitar play is awesome in the inner sleeve.
Has that gothic “ Celtic Frost “ sound. The 1985 riffs are great. Fact.
I guess, the Exorcist, referred to the 1973 horror movie.
Seven Churches refers to the Bible’s last book. Says it somewhere.
Anyways - the guitarist is great. He really drives the ship.
What’s their next best ?

Glower wrote:

I’ve heard this album mentioned over and over - everywhere.
It arrived. The photo of the guitar play is awesome in the inner sleeve.
Has that gothic “ Celtic Frost “ sound. The 1985 riffs are great. Fact.
I guess, the Exorcist, referred to the 1973 horror movie.
Seven Churches refers to the Bible’s last book. Says it somewhere.
Anyways - the guitarist is great. He really drives the ship.
What’s their next best ?

They only have three full length albums, and an ep. Seven Churches is their best but can't go wrong with any of them. Their newest one was just released a couple years ago, and though the only original member is Jeff, it's an amazing album. But I would definitely get Beyond the Gates next, then the ep Eyes of Horror, and then their latest effort Revelations of Oblivion.

My vote went to Holy Hell. That song kills, and is not only my favorite on the album, but one of my all time favorite songs period. Really surprised the vote went the way it did, thought the title track would have won it and it didn't even get one vote lol