you have made a good point. proto-death is a valid argument and a fair classification since like black metal, death metal also originated from thrash. seven churches is proto-death. now their follow up "beyond the gates" is very much a straight up thrash metal album. no argument there. probably why so many fans considered "beyond the gates" a down grade. but i didn't mind it, though. i think "beyond the gates" is a decent album. b.t.g. was a tad generic, but still good.
hell, possessed weren't even the first to use the term "death metal" lol. noise records put out a comp in '84 called death metal, but i believe the title was probably due to the lyrical themes of most the songs on it and the cover art too i guess. you gotta admit that is some wicked sick album art, death metal or not