So this cd contains more than half of Possessed's professional, published output. Most fans largely prefer their seminal debut, 7 Churches, which is widely considered to have spawned the gent of Death metal from the first wave of Thrash Metal.
Beyond The Gates & The Eyes Of Horror are slightly less brutal and chaotic than 7 Churches, but are not so very different or more evolved. Sure they are slightly more polished, and definitely fall squarely in the realm of Thrash. For me personally, Possessed does lack the catchiness and speedy melody that would catapult them into the top tier of Thrash/Death Metal. I find them stylistically closer to their Bay Area compatriots, Dark Angel, in terms of brutality, musicianship and style, as well as a less catchy Exodus.
So if you're looking for some classic bay area brutal thrash, pick up Beyond The Gates/ The Eyes Of Horror. If you prefer your classic bay area metal more brutal, pick up 7 Churches and Darkness Descends. My personal preferences, as far as this style, would be Scream Bloody Gore, Pleasure To Kill, Terrible Certainty, Fabulous Disaster and Sodom's Tapping The Vein & Decision Day.
Possessed's albums just aren't something I find myself going back to and relistening to very often.