Writing anything terribly deep or profound about a four-song EP can be a tall order under normal circumstances, but with Possessor, it’s especially difficult. That kind of thing, those kinds of descriptions…they’re not really their bag. On their latest EP, Stay Dead, the London-based trio conjures up a blend of sludgy thrash that feels more akin to running through a crowd of people and bludgeoning people with the nearest blunt object. And you know what? That’s a hell of a lot of fun. 

Stay Dead is all about a killer guitar riff, and packs quite a few of them into its taut, 15-minute run time. Marinade some classic, crossover thrash in pure quicksand and you might get something that sounds like this. And forget about the band’s own claims that the album was “recorded horribly“; their sludge sounds more polished and potent here than it ever has. As a result, you’ll find yourself involuntarily headbanging along with from the opening few seconds.

But the self-described “occult metal” band also does a nice job showing off its sinister side. The bulk of the lyrical content in the terrific, two-part closer, “Lights Out / Crypt of the Sorcerer,” for example, consists of a thrice-repeated chant: “I summon before me / this endless winter / as all around lays dead on the ground.” And when you factor in the filters and effects that color Graham Bywater’s vocal performance throughout, it actually starts to sound like he’s calling back to us from the beyond.

These lyrical themes aren’t anything we haven’t heard before, but by setting them largely over short, to the point, up-tempo songwriting bursts, Possessor’s found a way to freshen things up a bit and have a good time with them. And much the same can be said of Stay Dead as a whole. There’s nothing truly groundbreaking here, but honestly? Sod groundbreaking. This EP’s a blast.

Keep it heavy,
Dan

Stay Dead is available now on Medusa Crush Recordings. For more information on Possessor, visit the band’s Facebook page.