The Obsessed
Encyclopedia
The Obsessed is a doom metal
band from Maryland
led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich
, who also fronted Saint Vitus
, Spirit Caravan
, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand and W.I.N.O.
. Formed in 1976, they first split up in 1986 when Wino Saint Vitus
, but reformed four years later. After releasing three albums (including the one
that was originally recorded in 1985), The Obsessed broke up for a second time in 1995. However, they will reunite again in April 2012 at the Roadburn Festival
.
's Metal Massacre VI. The Obsessed also managed to record their debut album in 1985 for Metal Blade, but it never officially surfaced.
. Wino recorded three albums, an EP, and a live album with Saint Vitus. Hellhound Records
(Vitus's then current label) released The Obsessed
, an album that The Obsessed had recorded in 1985, which prompted Wino to leave Vitus and reform The Obsessed with a new rhythm section consisting of Scott Reeder and Greg Rogers
. The band was quickly signed to Hellhound Records
and soon released Lunar Womb
. Scott Reeder later left to join Kyuss
, whereupon he was replaced by Guy Pinhas. Columbia Records
signed them for their third and final album, The Church Within
(1994, see 1994 in music
), which received rave reviews. Despite a large amount of promotion on behalf of Columbia Records (including a 25-minute documentary on the history of The Obsessed), the album did not sell as well as expected. After the demise of The Obsessed, Wino went on to form Spirit Caravan
and more projects before reuniting with Saint Vitus
in 2003 (and again in 2008), while The Obsessed's rhythm section became the basis for Goatsnake
.
announced that The Church Within lineup (featuring Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas) will reunite to play their next edition on April 14, 2012.
Doom metal
Doom metal is an extreme form of heavy metal music that typically uses slower tempos, low-tuned guitars and a much "thicker" or "heavier" sound than other metal genres...
band from Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
led by Scott "Wino" Weinrich
Scott Weinrich
Robert Scott "Wino" Weinrich is a doom metal guitarist and vocalist. Active since 1976, when he started his first band War Horse, Weinrich is best known for being the frontman and guitarist of the doom metal bands The Obsessed and Saint Vitus...
, who also fronted Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
, Spirit Caravan
Spirit Caravan
Spirit Caravan was a Maryland doom/stoner metal band featuring the guitarist and vocalist Scott Weinrich.-Biography:Scott "Wino" Weinrich formed Spirit Caravan after the breakup of The Obsessed. The remainder of the band consisted of Dave Shermann on bass and vocals; and Gary Isom on drums...
, Place of Skulls, The Hidden Hand and W.I.N.O.
Punctuated Equilibrium (album)
Punctuated Equilibrium is the first solo album by American singer/guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich, released in January 2009 on Southern Lord.-Track listing:# "Release Me" 5:52# "Punctuated Equilibrium" 2:46# "The Woman In The Orange Pants" 3:25...
. Formed in 1976, they first split up in 1986 when Wino Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
, but reformed four years later. After releasing three albums (including the one
The Obsessed (album)
The Obsessed is the first album by The Obsessed, released in 1990 by Hellhound Records. All the songs were recorded in 1985 for an intended album for Metal Blade Records, which had never been released. The release of this album prompted singer Scott "Wino" Weinrich to leave Saint Vitus and reform...
that was originally recorded in 1985), The Obsessed broke up for a second time in 1995. However, they will reunite again in April 2012 at the Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
.
Early career (1976–1985)
The band formed originally under the name Warhorse in 1976 in Potomac, Maryland, led by Wino. In the late 1970s they became known as The Obsessed. Later on the group moved into a band house in Rockville, Maryland where some of their most creative and hardest music was written. Before this move, however, original guitar player John Reese departed from the band. The band became a trio and remained that way until the early eighties (i.e., 1982) when Vance Bockis and later Norman Lawson joined the band. During this time they released the Sodden Jackal EP (Spring 1983) and had one track ("Concrete Cancer") featured on Metal BladeMetal Blade Records
Metal Blade Records is a record label which was founded by Brian Slagel in 1982. The U.S. corporate office for Metal Blade is located in Agoura Hills, California. It also has offices in Arizona, Germany, Japan, Canada, and the UK. The label is distributed in the U.S. by Sony BMG Music...
's Metal Massacre VI. The Obsessed also managed to record their debut album in 1985 for Metal Blade, but it never officially surfaced.
Splits, first reunion and aftermath (1986–2010)
The band broke up in the late 80s and Wino went west to California to join up with Saint VitusSaint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
. Wino recorded three albums, an EP, and a live album with Saint Vitus. Hellhound Records
Hellhound Records
Hellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
(Vitus's then current label) released The Obsessed
The Obsessed (album)
The Obsessed is the first album by The Obsessed, released in 1990 by Hellhound Records. All the songs were recorded in 1985 for an intended album for Metal Blade Records, which had never been released. The release of this album prompted singer Scott "Wino" Weinrich to leave Saint Vitus and reform...
, an album that The Obsessed had recorded in 1985, which prompted Wino to leave Vitus and reform The Obsessed with a new rhythm section consisting of Scott Reeder and Greg Rogers
Greg Rogers
Gregory Rogers was an Australian sprint freestyle swimmer of the 1960s and 1970s, who won a silver and bronze medal in the 4x200m and 4x100m freestyle relays respectively at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics...
. The band was quickly signed to Hellhound Records
Hellhound Records
Hellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
and soon released Lunar Womb
Lunar Womb
Lunar Womb is the second album by The Obsessed. It was released in 1991 by Hellhound Records. It was reissued in 2006 by MeteorCity. The painting on the cover is entitled Saturn Devouring His Son by Francisco de Goya.-Track listing:...
. Scott Reeder later left to join Kyuss
Kyuss
Kyuss is a rock band, originally from Palm Desert, California. After forming in the late 1980s and releasing an EP under the name Sons of Kyuss in 1990, the band shortened its name to Kyuss. Over the next five years the band released four full-length albums, and one last split EP in 1997 with...
, whereupon he was replaced by Guy Pinhas. Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
signed them for their third and final album, The Church Within
The Church Within
The Church Within is the final album by The Obsessed. It was released in 1994 by Columbia Records and Hellhound Records. The back reads "No Love Stronger/No Pain Greater/No Hate Deeper/The Church Within." Columbia released two singles to support this album, "Streetside"/"Blind Lightning" and "To...
(1994, see 1994 in music
1994 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so....
), which received rave reviews. Despite a large amount of promotion on behalf of Columbia Records (including a 25-minute documentary on the history of The Obsessed), the album did not sell as well as expected. After the demise of The Obsessed, Wino went on to form Spirit Caravan
Spirit Caravan
Spirit Caravan was a Maryland doom/stoner metal band featuring the guitarist and vocalist Scott Weinrich.-Biography:Scott "Wino" Weinrich formed Spirit Caravan after the breakup of The Obsessed. The remainder of the band consisted of Dave Shermann on bass and vocals; and Gary Isom on drums...
and more projects before reuniting with Saint Vitus
Saint Vitus (band)
Saint Vitus is an American doom metal band from Los Angeles, formed in 1978. They consist of founding members Dave Chandler and Mark Adams , alongside sporadic singer Scott Weinrich and recently added drummer Henry Vasquez...
in 2003 (and again in 2008), while The Obsessed's rhythm section became the basis for Goatsnake
Goatsnake
-Biography:Goatsnake was formed in 1996 after the disbanding of The Obsessed. After The Obsessed's disbanding, the rhythm section consisting of Guy Pinhas on bass and Greg Rogers on drums began jamming with guitarist Greg Anderson )))...
.
Second reunion (2011–present)
In September 2011, the Roadburn FestivalRoadburn Festival
Roadburn Festival is an annual international rock festival in Tilburg in the Netherlands held since 1995.-2012 edition:The event will take place in Tilburg from April 12 to 15 at 013 and Midi Theatre.It was sold out in 7 minutes.Thursday, April 12...
announced that The Church Within lineup (featuring Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas) will reunite to play their next edition on April 14, 2012.
Albums
- The ObsessedThe Obsessed (album)The Obsessed is the first album by The Obsessed, released in 1990 by Hellhound Records. All the songs were recorded in 1985 for an intended album for Metal Blade Records, which had never been released. The release of this album prompted singer Scott "Wino" Weinrich to leave Saint Vitus and reform...
(Hellhound RecordsHellhound RecordsHellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
1990) - Lunar WombLunar WombLunar Womb is the second album by The Obsessed. It was released in 1991 by Hellhound Records. It was reissued in 2006 by MeteorCity. The painting on the cover is entitled Saturn Devouring His Son by Francisco de Goya.-Track listing:...
(Hellhound RecordsHellhound RecordsHellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
1991) - The Church WithinThe Church WithinThe Church Within is the final album by The Obsessed. It was released in 1994 by Columbia Records and Hellhound Records. The back reads "No Love Stronger/No Pain Greater/No Hate Deeper/The Church Within." Columbia released two singles to support this album, "Streetside"/"Blind Lightning" and "To...
(Hellhound RecordsHellhound RecordsHellhound Records was a German record label during the late 80s and 90s, self-described as "The Heaviest Label On Earth". They became known for putting out doom metal, with artists such as Saint Vitus and The Obsessed. In the early 90s Hellhound signed a number of Maryland doom bands such as...
/Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
1994)
EPs/Singles
- Sodden Jackal 7" (Invictus Records 1983)
- "Streetside" 7"/CD (Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
1994) - "To Protect and To Serve" 7"/CD (Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
1994) - Altamont Nation 7" (Bong Load Records 1995)
- Instrumental 7" (Doom Records 1996)
- Sodden Jackal 7" (with different mixes) (Doom Records 1996)
- split 7" with Mystick Krewe of ClearlightClearlight (band)Clearlight is an instrumental heavy metal band from New Orleans, Louisiana. They are also known as The Mystick Krewe of Clearlight due to other bands using the same original name.-History:...
(both sides Lynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd SkynyrdLynyrd Skynyrd is an American rock band prominent in spreading Southern Rock during the 1970s.Originally formed as the "Noble Five" in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1964, the band rose to worldwide recognition on the basis of its driving live performances and signature tune, Freebird...
covers) (2001 Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
)
Compilations/Live/Reissue
- History of The Obsessed (Doom Records 1997)
- Live at the Wax Museum (Doom Records 1997)
- IncarnateIncarnate (album)Incarnate is a compilation album released by doom metal band The Obsessed. It consists of tracks taken from a number of rare and unreleased sources, namely: their Sodden Jackal and Altamont Nation 7"s, the Hellhound Records What the Hell! compilation, and some unreleased demos...
(Southern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord RecordsSouthern Lord is an American record label that was founded in 1998 by Greg Anderson, specializing in what could broadly be classified as experimental heavy metal, particularly the doom metal, stoner rock, and drone metal sub-genres. Some of the more notable artists on the label include Earth, Om,...
1999) - The ObsessedThe Obsessed (album)The Obsessed is the first album by The Obsessed, released in 1990 by Hellhound Records. All the songs were recorded in 1985 for an intended album for Metal Blade Records, which had never been released. The release of this album prompted singer Scott "Wino" Weinrich to leave Saint Vitus and reform...
reissue w/live '84 CD (Tolotta RecordsTolotta RecordsTolotta Records was a record label run by Joe Lally of Fugazi. It was based in Arlington, Virginia and has released bands from Washington, D.C. and the surrounding area, such as Dead Meadow and Spirit Caravan. The label was founded in 1994 and came to an end in 2002 when Spirit Caravan broke up and...
2000) - History of The Obsessed Volume II (Doom Records 2002)
- Lunar WombLunar WombLunar Womb is the second album by The Obsessed. It was released in 1991 by Hellhound Records. It was reissued in 2006 by MeteorCity. The painting on the cover is entitled Saturn Devouring His Son by Francisco de Goya.-Track listing:...
Reissue (MeteorCity RecordsMeteorCityMeteorCity Records is an American record label based in Idaho. MeteorCity was founded in 1997 by Jadd Shickler and Aaron Emmel in Albuquerque, New Mexico...
2006)