The Eyes of Horror
Possessed · 1987
18 min · 5 tracks · death metal
A relentless barrage of aggressive riffs and guttural vocals that define the raw energy of late '80s death metal.
Top tracks — play these first
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Confessions — This track encapsulates the album's frantic energy with its rapid-fire guitar work and unrelenting pace, setting the tone for the entire record.
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The Eyes of Horror — The title track features haunting melodies intertwined with aggressive rhythms, effectively showcasing the band's signature blend of thrash and death metal elements.
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Swing of the Axe — With its memorable hooks and powerful riffs, this song exemplifies the band's knack for combining catchiness with brutality, appealing to both thrash and death metal fans.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases complex structures and aggressive energy, solidifying its place in death metal's evolution.
What we noticed
- Each track features rapid tempo changes, often shifting from blast beats to slower, more deliberate sections.
- The guitar work includes intricate solos that frequently interrupt the aggressive riffing, creating a dynamic contrast.
- Vocals are predominantly guttural and layered, with occasional higher-pitched screams that punctuate the intensity of the music.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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7/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- concise energetic flow throughout
- front-loaded intensity and aggression
- darkly atmospheric urgency
- short bursts of relentless energy
Maybe skip if you
- prefer lengthy immersive albums
- seek melodic or soft sounds
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in January 1987, The Eyes of Horror was Possessed's third studio album and marked a transition towards a more refined sound following their influential debut, Seven Churches. At this point in their career, they were establishing themselves as pioneers in the death metal genre, building on the momentum garnered from earlier releases.
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Confessions 2:53
- 2 My Belief 3:34
- 3 The Eyes of Horror 3:16
- 4 Swing of the Axe 3:59
- 5 Storm in My Mind 4:22
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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