ARTE Concert and Hellfest Open Air Festival have shared a captivating video from this year's festival, showcasing the reunited Bay Area death metal legends Possessed in all their glory.
The footage is set to an introductory narrative that sets the stage for Possessed' storied history and its impact on the extreme metal genre.
Before death metal became a genre in its own right, there was Possessed.
We meet true legends of the scene at Hellfest.
As early as the 1980s, this Bay Area band laid the groundwork for a sound that was darker, more violent, and more radical than anything that had come before.
With the 1985 release of Seven Churches, the Californians created a seminal album that would leave an indelible mark on the history of extreme metal.
However, the band's story took a drastic turn in the late 80s.
Plagued by internal tensions and then struck by tragedy—an assault that left Jeff Becerra paralyzed—the band vanished for nearly two decades.
When Possessed finally re-emerged in the 2000s, it wasn't merely to trade on nostalgia.
Driven by an intensely passionate Jeff Becerra, the band quickly regained its full live power.
Now backed by a formidable lineup, Jeff Becerra continues to keep the band's legacy alive with impressive energy.
With a new album already announced for 2026, their appearance at Hellfest promises to be an unmissable event for extreme metal fans.
Filmed on June 21, 2026, at the Hellfest Open Air Festival in Clisson, Possessed performed the following setlist: "The Heretic" "Satan's Curse" "Tribulation" "Demon" "Pentagram" "Beyond The Gates" "Domination" "Seven Churches" "Restless Dead" "March To Die" "Graven" "The Exorcist" "Death Metal" The video showcases Possessed in all their live intensity, performing a set that is sure to satisfy both old and new fans of the band.
Their reunion at Hellfest serves as a testament to the enduring power of extreme metal music and its capacity to bring people together through shared passion and energy.
In related news, legendary Iron Maiden vocalist Paul Di'Anno has announced the release of his final solo album on colored vinyl.
Warhorse is now available worldwide through BraveWords Records.