Classico dopo classico della musica estrema rispolverare "Seven Churches" dei Possessed è un obbligo. Leggende metropolitane del rock dicono che gli stessi Slayer decisero di scegliere il loro modo di esprimersi con borchie, pelle e simboli blasfemi dopo essere stati ad un concerto di questa band Californiana (se tutto questo sia vero non lo so).

La cosa certa che il Death Metal (genere da me particolarmente non molto amato) sia stato influenzato in maniera decisiva da questa formazione. "Seven Churches" è il loro primo disco, pubblicato nel 1985, decisamente il loro migliore lavoro, data la genuinità e  il carisma giovanile, che non li fa scendere nel raggruppamento di metallers di una certa età "convinti predicatori" e alquanto ridicoli.

L'album è suonato  velocemente senza scendere a compromessi, un buonissimo ascolto scatenato e divertente, ritmi martellanti e chitarre pesanti scandiscono ogni singola  parte del lavoro con "ragazzate" giustificate dalla giovane età dei musicisti e dalla voglia di scioccare il pubblico non ancora  molto abituato ad ascoltare temantiche  di questa portata.

I chitarristi Torrao e Lalonde sono furie, non ancora  abilissimi musicisti si cimentano  nella loro migliore parte scalmanata con ritmiche semplici ma incisive, particolareggiate con l'aggiunta di trilli sinistri e cambi di tempo martellanti. La loro arma micidiale sono gli scambi di assoli, fuoriscala e dissonanti, dando un tocco in più alla loro musica riuscendo ad immedisimare l'ascoltatore in maggiore maniera  in un'atmosfera fatta di fiamme e fuochi dell'inferno.  
Il batterista Sus con  il suo tempo thrasheggiante e sottolineo senza il bisogno di blast-beat, riesce a rendere il disco un ascolto più facile, non è eccessivamente monotono e nemmeno mostruosamente tecnico, dato che nella moderna musica estrema non è preso molto in considerazione. In "Seven Churches" l'ascoltatore non è esausto dopo l'intera durata del lavoro a causa di ritmi incomprensibilmente veloci e tecnici, ma piacevolmente soddisfatto.
La colonna portante della formazione però è il cantante Becerra, anche lui con una voce estrema a vecchio stile, dalla scuola Venom, che nonostante il suo gutturale riesce a rendere i testi comprensibili all' orecchio. Particolarmente carismatico è stato un maestro per molte nuove leve del death  metal.

Dai titoli delle dieci  traccie si possono capire molte cose: "Pentagram", "Burning in Hell", "Evil Warriors", "Holy Hell""Fallen Angel", "Death metal", "The Exorcist". Questi quattro ragazzi del diavolo erano interessati quanto l'astrofisica, cioè, avevano solo voglia di divertirsi, toccando tematiche scomode e fuori luogo solo per fare scalpore e magari per fare discutere di loro con dell'ottima pubblicità .

Uscito nel lontano ottantacinque "Seven Churches" ai moderni Death Metallers può sembrare una piccola realtà fortunatamente lontana. Secondo il mio avviso è invece un esempio da riportare alla luce. L'album può contenere errori, può avere dei  bruschi cambiamenti di metronomo ma ha la particolarità di essere interamente suonato e cantanto da esseri umani, senza l'ausilio di computer o tecniche di avanguardia. I dischi moderni sembrano essere suonati da musicisti  maniacalmente perfetti, vere e proprie macchine di precisione ma di tanto in tanto ascoltare i loro concerti può dare qualche spiacevole sorpresa. I Possessed con questo album hanno dimostrato di essere ciò che erano con tutta la loro grinta, questo è il motivo che rende questo disco un classico.

Questo lavoro può essere apprezzato anche da chi disdegna il metal estremo.

Elenco tracce testi samples e video

01   The Exorcist (04:52)

Possessed by evil force satan's wrath will kill
He will take your soul cast you to hell
Demons dog domain keeping me insane
Evil curse my soul Burning away

Satan's hell will burn terrored cries are heard
Ever lasting eternity warriors of hell
Unleashed men of sin hatred hell within
Sinners hate will die the exorcist

I can see the light I don't want to burn
Help me save my soul let me live
Your curse is not my fear demons within me hear
I will escape your wrath 666
This is not my way doom, sorrow for eternity
Lights shine below in hell forever burning
Words of insanity scream out the final plea
Evil voices scream out help me

Demons in my body gone sicken thoughts left beyond
Haunted by evil memories nightmares and sin
My mind is burnt and black shadowed no way back
Fear of living in hell axed my mind

Memories held within satan's gone in sin
Grasping to relieve the pain scared for life
Exorcism takes control beneath my body help my soul
Save my soul from evil hell your spell is lost

02   Pentagram (03:34)

There's a sacred city not far from here
Where the earth is bare and the sky is black
Tormented souls are stricken with fear
And the sinners all know that there's no way back

Flying to the pentagram
There's a lot you'll want to see
Sacrifice the crying Ram
And drink the blood with me

Giant kingdom down below
Where the lord of darkness sits and waits
For a poor lost mortal to come in
When he lowers down his gates

Prison of death where time stands still
Forever life of pain
Walking dead assault and kill
The people would be slain

You can't escape your destiny
So take my hand and fly
To an evil land of fantasy
Inside of satan's eye

03   Burning in Hell (03:10)

04   Evil Warriors (03:44)

When you wake up in the night and you stare into the dark
Your eyes will scream for sight evil left its mark
You'll be looking all above looking all around
But if you want to see them you have to look down

Tortured by thoughts stricken with fear
Blasted to hell the end is near
As you wait upon your fate your throat is full of pain
And when you try to scream you know it's all in vain
Nothing you can change destiny is complete
Silence seems so strange as you start to feel the heat
Forever to burn infinite pain
Demons of darkness warriors domain

You think you're so secure protected from above
Gaze into the hell fire I know you'll fall in love
They'll hunt you down at night your Flesh is what they want
Your eyes will scream for sight when Evil comes to haunt

Cursed by nightmares when you sleep
They'll cut your throat and blood will seep
Fighting through the mist forever trapped in hell
Crushed with satan's fist you can't escape his spell
Sanity will pass reality is just a word
Evil does its task with its mighty sword
Open your eyes and die by the hand of mass
Escape and you'll defy my long awaited grasp

They want to steal your soul death will steal away
Your wrongs will take their toll below the crust you'll lay
Spell has cast no hope forgotten thoughts of good
Your neck awaits a rope and things go like they should
Enslaved in forever torment blood drips from your eyes
There is no way to repent from your wicked lies
Blades of metal cut off your head
Served as a meal satan is fed
Masters of evil blasters of hell
No one can stop them we're under their spell
Red eyes are glowing with you in sight
And if your knowing scream out in fright

05   Seven Churches (03:15)

Seven churches down in hell
In the land where satan fell
Vows of satan's sacred scripts
Bring out the evil from its crypts

Seven Churches
Seven Priests
Seven Hearts on which they feast
Watch the gods, take revenge
Rot in hell, For your sins
Sacrifice, to the sky
Terrors strikes, you will die

Taste the blood of the dead
As the sky turns to red
Rot in heaven rot in hell
Reach for the land from which he fell

Seven bibles
Seven crosses
Seven saints mourn for their losses
Watch the gods take revenge
Rot in hell for your sins
Sacrifice to the sky
Terror strikes, you will die

Holy water turned to blood
destroy the earth devils flood
pounding death from my hands
Spreading satan through the lands

Seven Prayers
Seven Bells
Seven Churches rise from hell
Watch the gods take revenge
Rot in hell for your sins
Sacrifice to the sky
Terror strikes, You will die!

06   Satan's Curse (04:15)

07   Holy Hell (04:12)

Holy hell,
Death to us
Satan fell,
Unholy lust
Devil's water,
Starts to flood god is slaughtered,
Drink his blood
Our bonding,
Trust is at hand go we must,
To satan's land
Prey for death
And cry for life
Reapers breath will breath new life

Satan's child,
He is born
And to death,
He is sworn
Days of hate
And days of pain
Andless term of satan's reign
Endless dreams,
In the night eternal sleep,
Eternal fright
Defiled crosses,
Oh black mass
Satan's reigns,
Me at last

All of heaven,
All of earth
You'll meet your god
Chained to torment,
Chained to pain like a dog

Evil days
And evil nights are black as death
Hearts of sinners,
Hearts of stone reapers breath

There was blood
And there was pain ecstasy
Rage of magic,
Rage of witches sorcery

Fell the power,
Feel the heat down below
Kill the people,
Kill them dead take their soul

Blackened masses,
Blackened crosses ritual
Cut the heads,
Cut the throats take the fall

08   Twisted Minds (05:10)

Twisting my mind,
Insane ripping out your brain,
You're slain
Grieving the sunset,
Terror and your last breath is nearer
Revenge!

Draining your soul out,
Bloodies awaiting the final sentence
Grasping Your last piece of mind slip into madness,
Our kind
Revenge!

Life is strange,
It's one big name live or dead,
Is all the same
Hidden secrets,
Inside my head decaying bodies my blade is red
Rotting world so full of clones sickening
Feeling inside my bones
Madness creeps up from behind sanity is drained,
My state of mind
Mentally insane,
Maladjusted minds lunacy within,
Evil twisted minds

Cast my wishes from the grave
Below the earth my body enslaved
Cults of people down in hell skulls
Are splitting from their spell
Forgotten souls arise at night
Rule the world with unchallenged might
The sun sets into the sea of blood
Chanting satan as they drone
Mentally insane,
Maladjusted minds lunacy within,
Evil twisted minds

Twisting my mind,
Insane ripping out your brain,
You're slain
Grieving the sunset,
Terror and your last breath is nearer
Revenge!

Draining your soul out,
Bloodies awaiting the final sentence
Grasping Your last piece of mind slip into madness,
Our kind
Revenge!

09   Fallen Angel (03:58)

Decieving angel full of hate
Outcasts will rebel
Below the crust, the dark kingdom
Also known as Hell

Fallen angel distrusts god
Exiled down below
His burning lust to power all
Starts his own domain

Poisoned minds, evil plague
Wicked shrines, where you beg
Merciless angel fell
Soul won't rest, into hell

Flames of fury burning hot
Glowing in his eyes
Down below forever rot
Until his soul can rise
Hellsent souls become his slaves
Working against all
Bringing pain the masters raves
Lucifer they call

Poisoned minds, evil plague
Wicked shrines, where you beg
Merciless angel fell
Soul won't rest, into hell

10   Death Metal (03:14)

Arise from the dead and attack from the grave
The killing won't stop until first light
We'll bring you to hell because we want to enslave
Soul will be frozen with fright
We'll break through the crust, leave from our crypts
Protected by eternal life
Lay down the laws from our satanic scripts
Bringing you nothing but strife

Death metal!

Ruling your cities, controlling your towns
Entrapped in your worst nightmare
Piercing your ears with the horrible sound
Casting my elusive stare
Lucifer laughs, his needs are fulfilled
The Flames are now burning hot
Bodies are burning, the people are killed
Torture the reason we fought

Death Metal!

Kill Them Pigs!

Now we take over and rule by death metal
Enjoy our long wanted reign
Blood's what we want and we won't settle
Until we drive you insane
Attacking the young and killing the old
Bleeding with every heart beat
Darkness has feelen and your soul is sold
Claws will dig into your meat
When the sun doesn't rise and the day is like night
Know that your life is at its end
Rendered helpless so scream out fright
Death metal came in the wind

Death metal!

Carico i commenti...  con calma

Altre recensioni

Di  Snake97

 Un album grezzo e violento, fondamentale per la nascita del Death metal.

 La voce di Becerra è originale ed è fonte d'ispirazione per molti cantanti Death metal.