At least, that’s what the critics and certain fans would have you believe. While people have started to warm up to Possessed’s second album, it was not well-received back in 1986. The band took flak for the terrible production and rushed songwriting, which shows on the record’s tepid second half. What hurt Beyond The Gates the most is that it had to come after Seven Churches, and the expectations were too high to meet.
Taking away the side-by-side comparison to Seven Churches, Beyond The Gates is an album that works in spite of itself. The production is muffled and raw, making each instrument sound like it was dipped in chocolate pudding before recording. For the Satanic-heavy lyrics and vicious riffs from guitarists Mike Torrao and Larry LaLonde, it works wonders, though. A clean production would not fit with the band’s blasphemous aura they devised for themselves on Seven Churches.
When it came time to get content together for a new album, the band could not follow through 100 percent. The effort is there, especially in the stupendous first half, starting with an ominous intro leading its way into the rhythmic beat-down of “The Heretic.” Drummer Mike Sus has a prime role in this opening cut, with his fills at the end getting the lone spot several times. “Tribulation” doesn’t skimp on the guitar solos, and “No Will To Live” shows ambition and technical drive in its seven minutes.
“No Will To Live” is the last remarkable tune from Possessed, but it’s in the dead center of the record, meaning there’s still five tracks left. They have their moments, but it’s like the band decided to regress and stick to three-minute structures that go for the jugular and leave an untidy mess behind. “Seance” and the title track have their high spots to counterpoint the lame instrumental “Dog Fight” and boring pace of “Restless Dead.” Good thing that vocalist/bassist Jeff Becerra’s bile snarl could withstand even the most lame-duck sections.
Beyond The Gates would be Possessed’s last call, as they would fall apart a few years later. Becerra rebooted the band in 2007 with all new members, and as of early 2012, continues to tour around the world with it. They still play songs from Beyond The Gates, an album that couldn’t match Seven Churches, but deserves more respect than it gets from many. For almost succeeding in the improbably task of following up Seven Churches, Beyond The Gates gets the nod for this week’s Retro Recommendation.
