Possessed "Beyond The Gates/The Eyes Of Horror (2009 Japan Reissue, King Records, KCIP-91422)"

Beyond the Gates is the second album by death metal band Possessed. Taking a different direction from their debut, Seven Churches, Beyond the Gates has a more technical feeling and, due to poor production, a muddy sound.

Reception was mixed, with some critics and fans being very disappointed by the album for the sound and production, while others were satisfied with the new direction of the band. Over the years, fans have slowly appreciated Beyond the Gates and have even considered it being an "underrated masterpiece" and "overlooked classic".

Beyond the Gates became a sign of Possessed's decline, as they only released the EP The Eyes of Horror before they officially disbanded the following year. This became the band’s last full length album, up until the release of their third studio album Revelations of Oblivion, 33 years later.

The vinyl release of the album featured an enhanced gatefold-style format: the "gates" of the front cover opened outward, exposing several flaps that opened further to reveal a large, nine-panel illustration of a line of demonic creatures approaching over a desert landscape. Lyrics were included on the inner sleeve.

Tracklist:

1. Intro / The Heretic 04:01  
2. Tribulation 04:47  
3. March to Die 03:12  
4. Phantasm 04:20  
5. No Will to Live 06:45  
6. Beyond the Gates 02:54  
7. The Beasts of the Apocalypse 03:12  
8. Seance 03:02  
9. Restless Dead 02:58  
10. Dog Fight 01:25  
11. Confessions 02:56  
12. My Belief 03:36  
13. The Eyes of Horror 03:18  
14. Swing of the Axe 04:03  
15. Storm in My Mind 04:23  

Time: 54:52  

Beyond the Gates (1986) & The Eyes of Horror (1987) combined as one release (1988).

On the CD version the song listing indicates 'Intro' (1.) & 'The Heretic' (2.) as two separate tracks when in reality they are combined as one track (1.), as a result the entire number order is off by one. The correct order is entered here.

Recording information:

Tracks 1 to 11 recorded at Prairie Sun Recording Studios, CA. Mastered by Tom Coyne at Frankford Wayne

Tracks 12 to 16 engineered by Tom Size and John Cuniberti at Fantasy Studio, CA.