Possessed was formed in 1983 in San Fransisco, USA. They recorded some demos and were inluded
on the Metal Massacre VI compilation disc from Metal Blade Records in 1984. This exposure
led to a signing with Combat Records and in 1985 they released their debut album "Seven Churches",
an album that became the biggest seller for the label. It was recorded during Easter break
since they were still in highshool. The producer's name was Randy Burns and the studio
Prairie Sun Studios.
Possessed are supposedly the first band who ever used growling vocals and thus the first
death metal band. Due to internal struggle the band split up soon after the release of the
mini-album "The Eyes Of Terror" in 1987.
This was not completely the end of Possessed as a name since Mike Torrao continued writing
and recording music under the same name, also taking over the vocal duties. They went
through several line-up changes (among the coming and going were Duane Connley and Colin
Carmichael from Sanguinary). The final line-up in 1991 consisted of Bob Yost (bass),
Walter Ryan (drums) and Mark Strausberg (guitar) in 1991. With this personnel they recorded
a two-song demo. Yost and Torrao continued with a three-song demo released in 1992. In 1993
they opened up a few shows for Machine Head in the Bay area when they were on their way up.
Torrao later on laid Possessed to rest to start up another metal project called Iconoklast.