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    Critical Mass #2/Possession
    Possession — Scourge and Fire cover

    Possession

    Scourge and Fire

    (1997)

    Reviewed by Tom Edmondson

    Discogs
    Label PossessionCritical Mass #21997
    black metalspeed metalthrash metal

    Speaking of authentic bands, next to Horde Possession has written the book on authentic. You know this is true when Thomas Pascual, an authority on black metal bands, speaks well of them (see ad). But I'm sure there are some Christian metal fans out there who still find Possession a little hard to take. I doubt this bothers Possession. It appears to me that they are aiming their message to those outside of the church. And I'd say that of all the bands trying to reach out to the non-Christian metal world Possession has the greatest chance of making an impact.

    Now, about this disc. It has only three songs and is only about 3" from edge to edge. It comes in a little paper cover that reminds me of a large matchbook. One song is new, "Scourge And Fire". It is an intense barrage of Speed Metal which has lots of Scripture imbedded in the lyrics. Once again I'm reminded of bands like Kreator, older Carcass, etc. The second song, "Danse Macabre" has more of a Classic/Black Metal sound and appeared on their original demo. The third song's title is not given because it is a cover tune and they want to make you wonder. I'll not give it away except to say that probably few of you own a Mercyful Fate album. Speaking of MF. On this disc, when Nyk does a falsetto wail, it sounds less like Dale Thompson now and more like King Diamond.

    This three song E.P. is offered free to those of us who already own Eternally Haunt or as a bonus to those of you who order EH from them for only $11 (okay, so I sound like an advertiser again. It's only because of what Metal Merchant did to them). So, order this disc and let it whet your appetite until their next album comes out.

    More from Possession

    1995Eternally Haunt1993The Unnameable Suffering

    Also in Critical Mass #2

    1996MortificationEnVideon1996Frank's EnemyNeoblasphemies1996Eleventh HourDistorted Visions of Unreality1997LamentTears of a Leper1997Various ArtistsMassive Frequency Overload: U.S. Hard Compilation1996WhitecrossFlytrap