"These have been the best days of my life," said Jeff Becerra, lead singer of the legendary band Possessed, in the interview you are about to read. At 55 years old, Becerra has been in top form since the group returned to the spotlight with the acclaimed "Revelations Of Oblivion" in 2019 and acts as a bastion of death metal, bringing to the stage the old school vibe that won over fans around the world. Despite this legendary status, he emphasizes the importance of supporting new artists, highlighting that they are the future of metal. For him, giving space to new bands is essential to keep the genre alive and constantly evolving. Finally, in reflecting on Possessed's trajectory, Becerra expresses the hope that the band will be remembered as a genuine and passionate force on the music scene, who fought relentlessly to bring their art to the public - and their continued commitment to releasing new work and performing live demonstrates their determination to keep the group's spirit alive and relevant for future generations.

Marcelo Vieira

Possessed is often credited as the pioneering group of death metal. Can you tell us about the creative process behind developing this distinctive sound, particularly on the "Seven Churches" album?

To be honest, we were just kids. I wrote 'Burning In Hell' when I was 11. At that time, I read a lot of Edgar Allan Poe and the Book of Revelation [from the Bible]. I always liked references to Lucifer and Satan in music. I was a very dark and rebellious kid. I grew up in a Catholic church, going to Mass three times a week from an early age. I did catechism and had a deep understanding of what the Bible meant to people and what it really was. Catholics are very scholarly, and this has nothing to do with handling snakes or exorcising demons. My parish was quite academic, with Latin Masses, and the priest had studied at Harvard. I even seriously considered becoming a priest, but I wanted to have children and loved metal, so it didn't make sense. My struggle with God and my 17-year journey to truly find Him are present in my lyrics. I believe that by deconstructing religion, I found God in a different way, looking at people and seeing that if there is a God, He is in them. We should respect each other, regardless of politics or religion. If we were kinder, the world would be much better.

"Seven Churches" was highly acclaimed for its speed and brutality, but "Beyond The Gates" (1986) received a mixed reception. Can you share more about the creative decisions and challenges that influenced the direction of the second album?

Possessed is very controversial because we were the first death metal band. When I got shot, many people started boasting about being the first, but no one does that in front of me. I know what we did. While Venom had black metal and there was speed metal and thrash metal, we decided to establish ourselves as death metal because that moniker hadn't been used yet. I wrote the song 'Death Metal' as an anthem and promoted ourselves as the fastest, most satanic, and heaviest death metal band on the planet. At that time, we achieved that. After we released our demo, other death metal bands started to emerge, and then we realized we were part of a movement. After I got shot, I felt like I was kicked out of the movement I created and had to fight to get back in. It's not that I want praise, I just don't like lies or historical revisionism.

Would you like to discuss the impact of the traumatic event in 1989, when you were shot and became paraplegic? How did you navigate through this difficult period and continue to contribute to the metal scene?

I dealt with it like anyone else would: you either live or die. First, I tried to kill myself with drugs and alcohol for five years. That doesn't help the recovery process, as PTSD is real. I spent some time in a shelter, then rented a small house and isolated myself, playing bass and writing music. It was like a bad drug experiment, but since I didn't die, I quit. I enrolled in a community college; took an IQ test while detoxing and got a scholarship. I got high grades, became class representative, joined honor societies, and became a webmaster. This brought my soul back. Before, I felt like I was crawling through the desert without water. After college, I felt a thirst for life and was ready to start again, optimistic. I'm an eternal optimist. We all have our rock bottom, and I believe we can relate to that. Everyone has their spiritual journey, and hopefully, we come out of it stronger.

Physical and mental health is crucial for musicians to continue making music and performing live. How do you see the importance of taking care of your health as a touring musician, and what does it mean to you personally?

I don't know if I'm the best person to talk about this because at home, I don't drink, don't do anything, I'm quite calm. But I can say that it's important to take care of yourself. You can't drink and party every day and then go on tour, or you'll collapse. Touring is the hardest job in the world. I've worked in construction, but touring is even harder. It's exhausting, challenging, and brutal, especially for someone my age. You have to love it. Many bands break up because they can't handle touring, but a band is only truly a band when it hits the road. That's what makes metal unique and authentic.

After a long hiatus, Possessed returned to the spotlight with the release of "Revelations Of Oblivion" in 2019. How has the band's music evolved over the years?

Mostly, Daniel Gonzalez [guitarist] and I wrote that album. We're kind of like [Paul] McCartney and [John] Lennon. It's been an honor and quite an experience because I'm very influenced by the musicians around me. Daniel is amazing. He's a trained sound engineer and extremely professional. It's always a pleasure to work with him. Everyone in the band is a veteran, except for Chris [Aguirre II], our drummer, who had his first European tour. This brought new and fun energy to the band. Of course, it's hard work and sometimes frustrating, but it's like making a movie or any other difficult project.

Can you give us any updates on the progress of the new Possessed album mentioned in your recent interviews?

I'm not halfway through yet, but if I weren't touring, I could finish it in six months. I don't want to rush things and also depend on the other band members. Sometimes I feel like they are an obstacle, but other times I feel like I'm the one holding things back. I'm trying to release it this year, but I'm not sure.

What can fans expect in terms of musical direction and themes?

It's different, but still Possessed. It's more similar to "Beyond The Gates" than "Seven Churches". It's like a fusion of the last two albums. I'm experimenting with vocals and harmonies while still keeping the characteristic growl. It's a "headier" album, and I think it's turning out very well.

Looking at Possessed's career, what do you believe is the band's legacy within metal?

I hope people know that we won't live forever. When I die, I want to be remembered as a genuine guy who loved playing music and fought his whole life for it. I hope they build a shrine in my memory! [Laughs.] Jokes aside, I want to be remembered and not forgotten. That's why we need to release these albums.

What do you hope fans take away from the band's music?

I hope they have a lot of fun. I want the money they pay to see us to be rewarded with an unforgettable experience. For me, I would do [shows] for free. I'm definitely not in this for the money. I want people to be happy, enjoy the music, and leave their troubles behind, headbanging with Possessed.

What is the importance of giving space to new bands and helping to promote local scenes?

I strongly support new artists. I love new bands because they are the future. Many people say that extreme metal always sounds the same, but that's because they keep listening to the same old bands. However, the future lies in the new bands, and there's always that new band that could be the next Megadeth or Sepultura. The importance of new bands is that they are the future. We need them to keep the music alive and ensure it never dies.

Finally, is there anything you'd like to express gratitude for or acknowledge about your time in the band?

I want to thank everyone who buys tickets and supports Possessed. Without the fans, I would be lost. I received thousands of letters asking when I would be back. Those letters were like a ray of hope in moments of uncertainty. I think the prospect of coming back with Possessed brought me back to the light of music, life, and family. It's been a journey, an odyssey. The fans have always been there guiding me. These have been the best days of my life.