About muthaeffin’ time Brazil’s Psychic Possessor’s 1988 debut, Toxin Diffusion, was finally released on cd. Thank you to original label Cogumelo and Marquee Records for finally getting this done. In the 1980’s I fell in love with the Brazilian metal scene. I used to trade vinyl with Brazilian pen pals I would find in ‘zines. They could not find easy to get records from the likes of Slayer, Testament, etc.. For me, I just wanted harder and faster and was already into Sepultura, early on. The albums I was sent were all the original classic bands: Chakal, Sarcofago, Vulcano, Mutilator, MX-you name it I had it.

I actually bought Psychic Possessor’s debut, Toxin Diffusion, at the local record store and it became one of my favorite albums ever. I memorized the album front and back and know the lyrics to all the songs. Psychic Possessor were a very obscure band and were made up of a bassist, Lauro Neto on bass, Ze Flavio on guitars/vocals, Arthur Justo on drums. Anyway I could never really classify them. They are a mixture of early death/thrash and a bit of crossover music. Very original and I could not tell you any influences, really, because no one ever sounded like them, or rather they never sounded like anyone else.

The music was also not the most complicated but christ it was heavy and most of all one of the catchiest Brazilian metal albums, if not the catchiest. The title track open with a dirty and heavy guitar tone, which has more of an early death metal edge to it. Fast, hard, and an amazing bass thumping guitar tone throughout. Excellent chorus and some very deep vocals that sound like they were being sung in some radioactive dump. “Manipulation” with its thumping bass guitar and very cool double bass drums. Simple, effective, but the drummer was pretty awesome. Played very tight and he hit the drums with a lot of force. He would go on to play for Vulcano years later. The songs would range from fast to mid-paced to hardcore gang chant stylized mid-paced tunes. “First District” has such heavy guitars, and bass, as well as the 1.25 isolated drum part and then the bass and vocals coming in with the catchy pattern. Makes me want to just circle-pit mosh incessantly. “S.S. Convoy” also very catchy and heavy-terrific. Korg, from Brazil’s Chakal, sings on “T.V. Suckers”. A brutal and fast song and his vocals were always scathingly original. This expanded edition contains 2 bonus demo songs. “Zombie Night” and “Breath Till Drop”, which sound more like boombox rehearsals and the songs were tightened up for the full-length.
The entire album is remastered and sounds louder and prouder. It sounds brilliant.

The packaging is second to-non. Thick digipak, multiple panels, lyrics, pictures and all the original drawings from the vinyl. It is a thing of beauty. I will cherish this forever, since I no longer have a record player hooked up. Beautiful reissue and thank you Armando, from Marquee Records. Thank you, thank you, thank you. This reissue of Psychic Possessor’s – Toxin Diffusion is a Buy or Die!!

[Visit the band's website]

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