VENOM · Possessed | RED/BLACK/WHITE INSOMNIA LP

Red/black/white insomnia vinyl, 140g, standard cover.

Background information about 'Possessed'

When you talk about the unholy trinity of extreme metal, Venom are right there at the altar, grinning with devilish intent. Possessed — their fourth studio assault, originally unleashed in 1985 — is the sound of a band refusing to slow down even as the world around them was changing. This isn't just a record; it's a declaration of war from the Newcastle hellraisers who had already given the world Black Metal and At War with Satan.

What makes Possessed so damn special is how it captures Venom in that perfect sweet spot between their raw, primitive early chaos and a slightly more refined (and I use that word VERY loosely) attack. Cronos sounds absolutely feral throughout — his bass rumbles like a wounded beast while his vocals snarl and spit venom (pun fully intended) across every single track. From the opening assault of Powerdrive through the menacing title track Possessed to the closing anthem Too Loud (For the Crowd), this album is relentless. The remastered 2019 versions breathe new life into these tracks without sterilizing that essential filth that makes Venom who they are. Mantas and Abaddon are in top form here too — the riffs are razor-sharp and the drumming has that unmistakable chaotic swing that no machine could ever replicate.

The 2026 reissue on this stunning red, black and white insomnia vinyl is a thing of beauty — a visual representation of the nocturnal madness contained within. Tracks like Satanachist and Burn This Place (To the Ground) still hit with the force of a sledgehammer nearly four decades later, while deeper cuts like Mystique and Voyeur reveal the band's twisted versatility. This is essential listening for anyone who wants to understand where thrash, black, and death metal all intersect in one glorious, unholy mess.

For fans of:
Motörhead, Bathory, Hellhammer, Celtic Frost, Sodom

Track listing

1. Powerdrive (Remastered 2019)
2. Flytrap (Remastered 2019)
3. Satanachist (Remastered 2019)
4. Burn This Place (To the Ground) (Remastered 2019)
5. Harmony Dies (Remastered 2019)
6. Possessed (Remastered 2019)
7. Hellchild (Remastered 2019)
8. Moonshine (Remastered 2019)
9. Wing and a Prayer (Remastered 2019)
10. Suffer Not the Children (Remastered 2019)
11. Voyeur (Remastered 2019)
12. Mystique (Remastered 2019)
13. Too Loud (For the Crowd) (Remastered 2019)

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