Possessed share an update on their upcoming new album

Jeff Becerra, the frontman of Possessed, has updated fans on social media regarding the status of the songwriting and recording sessions for the group’s 2019 “Revelations Of Oblivion” LP follow-up, as per Blabbermouth.

I’m working on song nine for the new album. It’s a huge undertaking, and I know not everyone will enjoy my work—but it’s not about that. I write from the heart, and while I don’t need everyone’s approval, I truly hope those who listen will enjoy it.

In 1982, Mike Torrao (guitar) and Mike Sus (drums), who lived in San Pablo and El Sobrante, formed a garage band called Possessed with vocalist Barry Fisk and former Exodus bassist Jeff Andrews. This was the beginning of the band in the San Francisco Bay Area. The quartet had started creating some songs together, but the lineup would end when Fisk shot himself to death in front of his girlfriend’s Tara Hills, California, home. Andrews then decided to stop playing with the group.

In the nearby city of Pinole, bassist and singer Jeff Becerra had just broken up with his band Blizzard. Michael Miner played drums in that band, and Larry LaLonde and Danny Boland played guitars. They were all in the same graduating class of high school. Becerra joined Possessed after being contacted by Torrao and Sus, taking on the roles of bassist and vocalist. Brian Montana responded to the band’s job posting for a new guitarist, resulting in the formation of Possessed‘s second iteration.

Possessed actively participated in the Bay Area thrash scene and performed at local venues during 1983 and 1984 in order to hone their sound. In 1984, they recorded the three-song “Death Metal” demo. Brian Slagel, the head of Metal Blade Records, was introduced to the band’s demo recording by Exodus following their performances with Metallica. Slagel expressed interest in the group and proposed to include their song “Swing of the Axe” on “Metal Massacre VI”, an upcoming compilation. Guitarist Brian Montana departed the band after the compilation’s publication because of artistic disagreements, and Blizzard guitarist Larry Lalonde took his place.