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Rating: THE REVIEW
Looking back, what was wrong with Possessed?
It's perfectly in line with the Venomian standards, full of fast, filthy, and tight tracks, and others slower and macabre. So why was it, and is it still, strongly criticized by every living being on this planet?
Let's say it came out at the wrong time; In 1985, Thrash was making a name for itself worldwide, and the general enthusiasm for this new musical extremism ended up relegating the three British devils to oblivion, despite Possessed being a more than convincing effort.
Kerrang! wrote "... The tracks are short, and there is a total lack of real inspiration and cohesion within the album...": All this for 4 fillers (Flytrap, Mystique, Voyeur, Suffer not the children) that aren't even that terrible, to be honest.
Yes, because if the other tracks aren't masterpieces, they're close; They certainly wouldn't have looked out of place on Black Metal or Welcome to Hell, quite the opposite.
The unsuspecting Mantas turns out to be an excellent guitarist with numerous and commendable solos that add further dynamism to the classic blind fury of Venom, Cronos growls the usual nonsense about hell and his buddy Satan, while Abaddon, fresh from the discovery of the double bass drum, flaunts it by doubling the usual speed.
What are you waiting for? Make it yours along with the previous 3 albums: Possessed is Venom 100%.
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Summary by Bot
Venom's 1985 album Possessed aligns with the band's signature fast and filthy metal style but was unfairly criticized due to the rising thrash metal trend. Despite some filler tracks, the album contains strong songs comparable to their earlier classics. The guitarist Mantas impresses with dynamic solos while Cronos and Abaddon deliver the expected intense performances. Ultimately, Possessed remains a true Venom album worthy of recognition.Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Venom
Venom are an English heavy metal band formed in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1979, widely credited as a key influence on the development of extreme metal and for popularizing the term “black metal” via their 1982 album.25 Reviews
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By g.g.junior
Venom came from the trash, became famous by mixing punk nonsense with formulas extracted from the little satanist’s manual.
Records like this are what I miss nowadays.
