Possessed

Possessed is widely cited as the first true death metal band, forming in San Francisco in 1983. Their 1985 debut, 'Seven Churches', is a foundational text that transitioned thrash metal's speed into the darker, more guttural territory of death metal.

The band's sound identity is defined by Jeff Becerra's pioneering vocal style, which moved away from traditional singing toward the 'death growl', and the inclusion of future Primus guitarist Larry LaLonde, whose work here was far more aggressive. Their career was interrupted by a long hiatus following a tragic shooting that left Becerra paralyzed, but the band's legacy grew exponentially in their absence, influencing everyone from Death and Morbid Angel to the Norwegian black metal scene. Critically, they are viewed as the 'godfathers' of the genre, bridging the gap between Venom's aesthetic and the technical extremity of the 1990s. Their 2019 comeback, 'Revelations of Oblivion', was remarkably well-received, proving their sound remains vital and distinct from the subgenres they helped spawn.