Retro Raunch Revisit

Having ridden a wave of growing popularity from their first 3 albums, this 4th release from the band (the last for guitarist Mantas who left in 1986, rejoined in 1989, and left for the final time in 2002) received mixed reviews & had fans split. Many felt it was a regression from an earlier sound, having lacked punch with too much of an emphasis on trance-like atmosphere and a melody that had swapped out aggression and lost its way. The production was criticized for being too dull & not dark enough but defenders of this release have stated their appreciation for the speed/thrash/proto-death exploration as songs about sleaze & evil were still intact and the effort is still listenable. If Possessed missed the mark upon its intentions/expactations, the passage of time has seen it become atleast more admired than initially so as it falls within the classic era of their original unholy trintiy. Happy 35th Anniversary.