Tag: The Eyes Of Horror

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Possessed (Bay Area Thrash / Death Metal Band) Classic Album – Seven Churches

POSSESSED 1985 - POSSESSED LINE-UP

Everything You Wanted To Know About The Band Possessed, but Were Afraid To Ask!

POSSESSED LINEUP Jeff Becerra and Larry Lalonde pictured
POSSESSED LINEUP Jeff Becerra and Larrt Lalonde
POSSESSED 1985 - POSSESSED LINE-UP
Everything You Wanted To Know About The Band Possessed, but Were Afraid To Ask!

Possessed is a thrash/death metal band formed in 1983 in San Fransico. They are widely credited with inventing the term “Death Metal”. The band’s classic album is “Seven Churches” came out in 1985. Their subsequent albums, “Eyes Of Horror” and “Beyond The Gates” are also quite good.

Some Interesting Possessessed Facts:

Rather than regurgitating info on their Wikipedia page, here are some interesting facts you probably don’t know:

  • Metal Blade Records passed on Possessed (even they appeared on Metal Massacre). Combat Records would later sign the band.
  • Guitarist Larry Lalonde (who played on all three albums) went on to be the guitarist for Primus. Larry met Les Claypool in Blind Illusion, not long after Primus was formed.
  • Possessed is credited by many for coining the term death metal, which is a song on 7 Churches.
  • Jeff Becerra’s guttural vocal style is considered the first “death metal vocals” – which would later become a staple for bands like Obituary.
  • The “Eyes Of Horror” LP was produced by guitar virtuoso Joe Satriani.
  • Singer Jeff Becerra was shot in a robbery in 1989 and paralyzed for life.
  • Jeff Becerra still performs under the name “Possessed” as the sole original member. On stage, he sings in a wheelchair.
  • Larry Lalonde has been a staunch vegetarian since 1983.

Listen To The Full “7 Churches” Album Here On Youtube

RATHER THAT LISTING ON YOUTUBE – PICK UP A VINYL COPY

7 Churches Artwork and Logo

Possessed 7 churches
Possessed 7 churches
Possessed 7 churches
Possessed 7 churches
Possessed 7 churches
Possessed Line Up With Larry Lalonde from Primus - sever churches
Possessed Line Up With Larry Lalonde from Primus

Seven Churches Tracklist

Tracklist
 The Exorcist – 4:50
Pentagram – 3:32
Burning In Hell – 3:07
Evil Warriors – 3:43
Seven Churches – 3:16
Satan’s Curse – 4:12
Holy Hell – 4:10
Twisted Minds – 5:10
Fallen Angel – 3:58
Death Metal – 3:12

Throwback 1985 (JEFF HANNEMAN & P) 

Possessed Line-Up

Jeff Becerra − vocals, bass
Larry LaLonde − guitar (also the guitarist for Primus)
Mike Torrao − guitar
Mike Sus − drums

POSSESSED SEVEN CHURCHES IT’S A METAL CLASSIC


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What Happened To Hirax?

aton W. De Pena and james hetfield

Hirax, Katon W. De Pena, Raging Violence and Beyond

Raging Violence was the first official Hirax album Metal Blade and appeared with their first full-length, “Raging Violence” in 1985. Hirax was Katon W. De Pena (vocals), Scott Owen (guitar), Gary Monardo (bass) and John Tabares (drums).

In 1986, John Tabares left the band and was replaced by Eric Brecht (D.R.I’s. vocalist Kurt Brecht brother). After, they released a 2nd LP “Hate, Fear, and Power” (16 minutes / eight tunes). Later, the band released the live album “Blasted In Bangkok” in 1987.

Be that as it may, with strains and frustrates in the band, De Pena chose to leave and frame another group with Gene Hoglan (previous Dark Angel drummer), and Ron McGovney (former Metallica bassist). They called themselves Phantasm. After a brief tour with Nuclear Assault, they separated. In 1989, after De Pena left Phantasm, the substitution was Paul Baloff (former Exodus frontman), not long after the band separated.

The band “reformed” in 2013 with Katon w. De Pena being the only original member and continue to record and tour to this day

 

Tracklisting

Side A

No |Title | Length

1. “Demons – Evil Forces” 3:25
2. “Blitzkrieg Air Attack” 2:08
3. “Guardian Protector” 1:37
4. “Bombs of Death” 1:47
5. “Defeat of Amalek” 3:08
6. “Raging Violence” 2:53
7. “Call of the Gods” 1:20

Side B

No |Title | Length

8.” Warlords Command” 2:39
9. “Suicide” 2:37
10. “Executed” 1:40
11. “The Gauntlet” 2:03
12. “Destruction and Terror” 2:33
13. “Destroy” 1:07
14. “Bloodbath” 1:55

Total length:30:52

GET THE ORIGINAL 1985 PRESSING OF RAGING VIOLENCE HERE

BAND IS IN 1984…

Katon W. De Pena – vocals
Gary Monardo – bass
Scott Owen – guitars
John Tabares – drums

LISTEN TO THE FULL HIRAX RAGING VIOLENCE

HIRAX BAND PHOTOS

“RAGING VIOLENCE” VINYL AND ARTWORK

GET HIRAX RAGING VIOLENCE ON VINYL

GET THE ORIGINAL 1985 PRESSING OF RAGING VIOLENCE HERE

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Possessed “The Eyes Of Horror” EP Produced By Joe Satriani

possessed band in 1984

The 3rd Album By Possessed, Produced By Joe Satriani

Eyes of Horror was released in 1987. It was produced by guitarist Joe Satriani. This was the last album for 30 years. The original lineup never reformed. Not long after the release of Eyes Of Horror, Jeff Becerra was shot in a robbery attempt and was left paralyzed from the neck down. Not long after, the original line-up went their own ways.

What Happened to Mike Sus, Larry Lalonde, and Mike Torrao?

Mike Sus returned to school, obtained a degree in psychology, and was never active in music again. Guitarist Mike Torrao joined Infanticide, but they never released any songs publicly and broke up in 1997. He now works as a landscaper and plays music only in his spare time.

Most famously, Larry Lalonde would go on to join Blind Illusion, where he met Les Claypool and the formed Primus. Larry downplays his status as an ex-Possessed member and rarely mentions it publicly.

Possessed Band Update 2019

Jeff Becerra continues to tour and record under the name Possessed with an entirely new group of musicians. In 2019 the new line-up released the shockingly good “Revelations Of Oblivion” which has become both a critical and commercial success.

Very courageously, Jeff contains to record and front the band from a wheelchair and does a fantastic job.

Possessed “The Eyes Of Horror”

Track listing

  1. “Confessions”
  2. “My Belief”
  3. “The Eyes of Horror”
  4. “Swing of the Axe”
  5. “Storm in My Mind”
possessed 1987

In 1987 Possessed Was The Following:

Jeff Becerra – Bass & Vocals – Is the only original member from the 1980s lineup. He is now paralyzed following a street robbery, which some have rumored was a drug deal gone bad.

Mike Torrao – Guitar

Larry Lalonde – Guitar – Went on to play in Blind Illusion, where he met Les Claypool and went on to for Primus.

Mike Sus – Drums

Jeff becera 2019
Jeff Becerra who still performs with Possessed