Paths of Possession, an American melodic death metal band from Tampa, Florida, was formed in 1999 by Randy Buttman, Jay Fossen, Erin "Goat" Fuller, and Richard Brunelle. The group's early work included the independent release of their first demo, Legacy in Ashes, in 2000. After several lineup changes, including the departure of Fuller and the addition of George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher from Cannibal Corpse on vocals, they released their debut album, Promises in Blood, in 2005. The album was produced by Erik Rutan and mastered by Alan Douches, marking a significant milestone in the band's career. They collaborated with notable figures such as Keith Suchland from Dark Faith and performed at events like the Gathering of Lowlifes Festival in April 2005.