Possession was a thrash metal band (with speed metal, black metal and death metal tendencies) from Kansas. They released one full-length album and 2 EPs in the mid-90s (as well as a 2-disc compilation of all recordings in 2020), and despite their innovative, genre-bending sound, managed to stay very underground. To evade a controversy with secular metal label Metal Merchant–and some alleged wrongdoing on the part of the label–Possession self-released their recordings, to much critical acclaim but to no commercial success.
Ironically, what made them a listener’s and critic’s favorite, yet kept them in the underground, was precisely their unique take on extreme metal. While firmly planted in thrash territory, they evoked the heaviness of death metal, the foreboding dark tone of black metal, and the high-pitched vocal wails from traditional/speed metal. Perhaps it was just too much to take in.
They also didn’t pull back any punches when it came to lyrics. One of their favorite topics of critique was Christian teaching that overemphasized the demonic. If you remember the 1990s, and the high emphasis on spiritual warfare, you can understand why their warnings were not a popular message.
While Possession’s output was minimal, their impact was significant. Their recorded input was influential (if mostly unknown) and members turned up in a host of other Christian extreme bands including Frost Like Ashes, Elgibbor, and Unblack Metal Fist, among others.
