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Fatal Prediction / Demoniac Possession (1987)
A short time after recording their first demo in early 1987, Chilean band Pentagram caught the attention of an underground Swiss label known then mostly for releasing early Messiah material. Two of the three songs were pressed onto the Fatal Prediction / Demoniac Possession 7" EP.
Clocking in at under ten minutes, it's still intense and memorable. This is raw, primitive, and ugly, exactly how this kind of death/thrash should be. Of the two tracks, “Demoniac Possession” stands out more, as it dives headfirst into the hellstorm. “Fatal Prediction” takes a little too long to get moving and feels sluggish in comparison. The faster riffs are the highlight, where the full savagery is unleashed. There's a gloomy edge to them, and the brief lead solos only add to the blistering madness. There are moments that definitely sound like they were influential to later black metal bands. The production is demo quality, of course, but totally listenable. The razor sharp guitar tone gives the whole thing a primal and evil feel.
This stuff is reminiscent of the early Brazilian scene, bands like Sepultura and Holocausto, where death and thrash blurred into something truly feral. There’s a similar sense of chaos here, mixed with the influence of Slayer and Possessed. In fact, the vocals don't sound too far off from Jeff Becerra but this guy sounds more maniacal than evil. Either way, if you're into pure '80s darkness this is highly recommended!
Clocking in at under ten minutes, it's still intense and memorable. This is raw, primitive, and ugly, exactly how this kind of death/thrash should be. Of the two tracks, “Demoniac Possession” stands out more, as it dives headfirst into the hellstorm. “Fatal Prediction” takes a little too long to get moving and feels sluggish in comparison. The faster riffs are the highlight, where the full savagery is unleashed. There's a gloomy edge to them, and the brief lead solos only add to the blistering madness. There are moments that definitely sound like they were influential to later black metal bands. The production is demo quality, of course, but totally listenable. The razor sharp guitar tone gives the whole thing a primal and evil feel.
This stuff is reminiscent of the early Brazilian scene, bands like Sepultura and Holocausto, where death and thrash blurred into something truly feral. There’s a similar sense of chaos here, mixed with the influence of Slayer and Possessed. In fact, the vocals don't sound too far off from Jeff Becerra but this guy sounds more maniacal than evil. Either way, if you're into pure '80s darkness this is highly recommended!
(9 May 2025)
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