Revelations of Oblivion
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album|
| name = Revelations of Oblivion
| type = studio
| artist = Possessed
| cover = Revelations_of_Oblivion.jpeg
| alt =
| released = May 10, 2019
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = NRG studios, Titan Studios
| genre = {{hlist|Death metal|thrash metal}}
| length = 54:15
| label = Nuclear Blast
| producer = Jeff Becerra
| prev_title = Ashes from Hell
| prev_year = 2006
| next_title =
| next_year =
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Revelations of Oblivion
| type = studio
| single1 = No More Room in Hell
| single1date = March 16, 2019
}}
}}
Revelations of Oblivion is the third studio album by death metal band Possessed. It was released on May 10, 2019 via Nuclear Blast.{{cite web|url=https://www.metalsucks.net/2019/05/10/shit-that-comes-out-today-may-10th-2019/ |title=Shit That Comes Out Today: May 10th, 2019 |publisher=MetalSucks |date=2019-05-10 |accessdate=2020-02-19}} The album entered the UK Rock & Metal Singles and Albums Charts at #7 and the Billboard Top Current Album Sales chart at #59 in its first week.{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/rock-and-metal-albums-chart/20190517/112/|title=Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40 | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/current-albums/2019-05-25 |title=Top Current Album Sales the week of 05-25-2019 |magazine=Billboard |date=May 25, 2019 |accessdate=April 26, 2021}}
It is the band's first full-length studio album in 33 years, preceded by 1986's Beyond the Gates.{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/video/possessed-frontman-discusses-inventing-death-metal |title=POSSESSED Frontman Discusses Inventing Death Metal |publisher=Metalinjection.net |date=2019-03-26 |accessdate=2020-02-19}} The album was announced on March 16, 2019 alongside the promotional single "No More Room in Hell".{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/av/new-music/possessed-announce-first-new-album-since-1986-with-new-song-no-more-room-in-hell |title=POSSESSED Announce First New Album Since 1986 With New Song "No More Room In Hell" |publisher=Metalinjection.net |date=2019-03-16 |accessdate=2020-02-19}}
Per Metalinsider's Metal By Numbers weekly column, the album sold 200 units in its first week.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-5-15-amon-amarth-go-berserk|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200219200407/https://www.metalinsider.net/columns/metal-by-numbers/metal-by-numbers-5-15-amon-amarth-go-berserk|archive-date = 2020-02-19|title = Metal by Numbers 5/15: Amon Amarth go berserk | Metal Insider|date = 15 May 2019}}
The album marks the band's first full-length release for label Nuclear Blast, for which they signed in May 2017.{{cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/upcoming-releases/possessed-signs-to-nuclear-blast-first-album-in-32-years-coming-in-2018 |title=POSSESSED Signs To Nuclear Blast, First Album In 32 Years Coming In 2018 |publisher=Metalinjection.net |date=2017-05-12 |accessdate=2020-02-19}}
The album's art was created by Zbigniew Bielak; Bielak had previously provided artwork for Absu, Deicide, Ghost, Gorguts, and Paradise Lost.{{cite web|url=https://www.nuclearblast.com/en/music/band/discography/details/5857459.4102998.revelations-of-oblivion.html |title=Nuclear Blast USA |publisher=Nuclearblast.com |date= |accessdate=2020-02-19}}
The album features a host of new additions to the band, featuring only Becerra from the classic 80's lineup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.metalinsider.net/releases/youll-want-to-pounce-on-possesseds-first-lp-in-three-decades|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190519173901/https://www.metalinsider.net/releases/youll-want-to-pounce-on-possesseds-first-lp-in-three-decades|archive-date = 2019-05-19|title = You'll want to pounce on Possessed's first LP in three decades! | Metal Insider|date = 7 May 2019}} It is the first Possessed album to feature drummer Emilio Marquez and bassist Robert Cardenas of Coffin Texts, guitarist Daniel Gonzalez from Gruesome, and guitarist Claudeous Creamer.{{cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/05/07/album-review-possessed-revelations-of-oblivion/ |title=Album Review: Possessed - "Revelations of Oblivion" |publisher=Decibel Magazine |date= 7 May 2019|accessdate=2020-02-19}}
The album also marked the band's first "cinematic" music video in their history. A music video for "Graven", directed by Scott Hansen and featuring a cameo by the band's friend, actor Peter Stormare, was released on May 23, 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/video/possessed-unveil-graven-music-video|title = POSSESSED Unveil "Graven" Music Video| date=23 May 2019 }} A live video for the song "Shadowcult" was released the prior April.{{Cite web|url=https://metalinjection.net/video/possessed-unleashes-live-version-of-new-song-shadowcult|title = POSSESSED Unleashes Live Version of New Song "Shadowcult"| date=14 April 2019 }}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Angry Metal Guy
| rev1score = {{rating|3.0|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.angrymetalguy.com/possessed-revelations-of-oblivion-review/|title = Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion Review|date = 10 May 2019}}
| rev2 = Metal Storm
| rev2score = 8.5/10{{Cite web|url=http://www.metalstorm.net/pub/review.php?review_id=15022|title = Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion review}}
| rev3 = Distorted Sound Magazine
| rev4 = The Rock Pit
| rev5 = Heavy Music HQ
| rev5score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.heavymusichq.com/possessed-revelations-of-oblivion-review/|title=Possessed - Revelations of Oblivion Review|date=9 May 2019}}
| rev6 = Metal Utopia
}}
Critics praised the album and Becerra's return, with Blabbermouth calling the album "a monstrous reaffirmation of this absurdly influential band's original ethos that it almost defies belief."{{Cite web|url=https://www.blabbermouth.net/cdreviews/revelations-of-oblivion/|title=Revelations of Oblivion - POSSESSED|date=15 May 2019}}
Decibel Magazine praised the mixing of the album, calling Peter Tägtgren's mix "near perfect" and stating that Tägtgren was "able to get the modern edge out of Possessed while also preserving the magic of Randy Burns."decibelmagazine.com/2019/05/07/album-review-possessed-revelations-of-oblivion/ Decibel would go on to name the album the 6th best metal album of 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2019/11/12/spoiler-here-are-decibels-top-40-albums-of-2019/|title = SPOILER: Here Are Decibel's Top 40 Albums of 2019|date = 12 November 2019}}
Exclaim! praised the album's original '80s death metal sound but also pointed out the symphonic elements of "Omen" and the technicality of tracks like "Abandoned".
Exclaim! concluded:
{{Blockquote
|text=Possessed deserve to be spoken of in the same breath as Black Sabbath and Metallica when it comes to influence. Simply put, nobody does this as well as them and probably no one ever will. 'Revelations of Oblivion' was exactly the reminder we all needed.{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/possessed-revelations_of_oblivion|title = Possessed Revelations of Oblivion | Exclaim!}}
|author = Max Morin
}}
Track listing
{{track listing
| total_length = 54:15
| title1 = Chant of Oblivion
| length1 = 1:53
| title2 = No More Room in Hell
| length2 = 4:48
| title3 = Dominion
| length3 = 4:25
| title4 = Damned
| length4 = 5:00
| title5 = Demon
| length5 = 5:16
| title6 = Abandoned
| length6 = 5:20
| title7 = Shadowcult
| length7 = 4:43
| title8 = Omen
| length8 = 6:41
| title9 = Ritual
| length9 = 4:47
| title10 = The Word
| length10 = 5:09
| title11 = Graven
| length11 = 4:19
| title12 = Temple of Samael
| length12 = 1:49
}}
Personnel
;Possessed
- Jeff Becerra - vocals
- Daniel Gonzalez - lead guitar
- Claudeous Creamer - rhythm guitar
- Robert Cardenas - bass
- Emilio Márquez - drums
;Production
- Jeff Becerra - executive production
- Daniel Gonzalez - production
- Peter Tägtgren - mixing, mastering
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |
| Chart (2019)
! Peak |
|---|
| {{Album chart| BillboardAlbumSales |81|artist=Possessed}} |
| {{Album chart| BillboardIndependent |17|artist=Possessed}} |
| {{Album chart| BillboardHeatseekers |2|artist=Possessed}} |
| {{Album chart| BillboardTastemaker |11|artist=Possessed}} |