In a recent interview with Alex Stojanovic of MetalMasterKingdom, Possessed frontman Jeff Becerra discussed the band's progress on the highly anticipated follow-up to their 2019 release, Revelations of Oblivion. Speaking about the band's upcoming material, Becerra revealed: "I have like two songs left [to finish]… It sounds very different, very cool, very heavy. But a lot more tempo switching. And it's cool."
His excitement for the new material was clear, though he was quick to assure fans, "Possessed will never sell out. I'd rather die. But it's still very, very heavy. It's probably gonna be one of our darkest albums. And also something that you don't have to grit your teeth to get through the whole thing."
When discussing the band's songwriting dynamic, Becerra shared insight into how the process has evolved: "We all write. I think I wrote 63 or 64 percent of the last album, so 50 percent and that extra music. 50 percent would be lyrics if we're doing it at 100. Even though it's not really broken down that way, it's easier to explain that way." He also emphasized the importance of collaboration within the group, highlighting the increasing contributions of guitarist Claudeous Creamer and bassist Robert Cardenas: "Me and Dan [guitarist Daniel Gonzalez] are kind of the main guys, but more and more, on this one you're seeing Claudeous and Robert coming out and showing off the riffs."
Reflecting on the band's current lineup, Becerra explained how their chemistry has only grown stronger over time: "This [version of] Possessed has been around more than three times as long as the first one, so, yeah, we work well together. And they're not afraid to say, ‘Hey, no, this is not good' to me and vice versa. But we're looking for what's good or what is mendable or what is perfect as is. And so I think we're all super picky about what we do."
As for when fans can expect the new album, Becerra shared a tentative timeline, noting that Possessed isn't known for quickly churning out records: "Well, Possessed is definitely not one of those bands that just puts out album after album. That's why I don't think we're label darlings. But I want to put this one out as soon as possible, definitely within the next year — that's very conservative; should be sooner — and then immediately keep writing the third one." With three albums on their current contract with Nuclear Blast, the band's future looks solid, and Becerra expressed appreciation for the label's support: "Nuclear Blast has been really kind and understanding with health and touring. They help with everything. They're really, really gracious."
