Beyond the Gates (Possessed album)
Beyond the Gates is the second album by death metal band Possessed. Taking a different direction from their debut, Seven Churches, Beyond the Gates has a more technical feeling and, due to poor production, a muddy sound.
| Beyond the Gates | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 31, 1986 | |||
| Recorded | March 1986 | |||
| Studio | Prairie Sun Recording Studios, Cotati, California | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 36:46 | |||
| Label | Combat (North America) Under One Flag (UK) | |||
| Producer | Carl Canedy | |||
| Possessed chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [1] |
| Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal | 5/10[2] |
| Kerrang! | [3] |
Reception was mixed, with some critics and fans being very disappointed by the album for the sound and production, while others were satisfied with the new direction of the band. Over the years, fans have slowly appreciated Beyond the Gates and have even considered it being an "underrated masterpiece" and "overlooked classic".
Beyond the Gates became a sign of Possessed's decline, as they only released the EP The Eyes of Horror before they officially disbanded the following year. This became the band’s last full length album, up until the release of their third studio album Revelations of Oblivion, 33 years later.
The vinyl release of the album featured an enhanced gatefold-style format: the "gates" of the front cover opened outward, exposing several flaps that opened further to reveal a large, nine-panel illustration of a line of demonic creatures approaching over a desert landscape. Lyrics were included on the inner sleeve.
Track listing
Published by Take Out Music.
All lyrics are written by Jeff Becerra; all music is composed by Mike Torrao, except where indicated
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" (instrumental) | Carl Canedy | 1:23 |
| 2. | "The Heretic" | 2:40 | |
| 3. | "Tribulation" | Larry LaLonde | 4:48 |
| 4. | "March to Die" | 3:12 | |
| 5. | "Phantasm" | LaLonde | 4:23 |
| No. | Title | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6. | "No Will to Live" | 6:47 | |
| 7. | "Beyond the Gates" | 2:55 | |
| 8. | "The Beasts of the Apocalypse" | 3:13 | |
| 9. | "Seance" | LaLonde | 3:03 |
| 10. | "Restless Dead" | 2:59 | |
| 11. | "Dog Fight" (instrumental) | 1:23 | |
| Total length: | 36:46 | ||
Personnel
- Possessed
- Jeff Becerra – bass, vocals
- Mike Torrao – guitars
- Larry LaLonde – guitars
- Mike Sus – drums
- Production
- Carl Canedy – producer
- John Cuniberti, Tom Size – engineers
- Tom Coyne – mastering
- Steve Sinclair – executive producer
References
- Rivadavia, Eduardo. "Possessed - Beyond the Gates review". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- Popoff, Martin (November 1, 2005). The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal: Volume 2: The Eighties. Burlington, Ontario, Canada: Collector's Guide Publishing. p. 267. ISBN 978-1-894959-31-5.
- Miller, Paul (30 October 1986). "One Step Beyond...". Kerrang!. No. 132. London, UK: United Magazines ltd. p. 23.