UFOMAMMUT - Crookhead (EP Review)

Release Date: October 31st 2023. Record Label: Supernatural Cat Records. Formats: DD/Vinyl.

Crookhead - Tracklisting

Crookhead

Supernova

Vibrhate

Members

Poia – Guitars/FX

Urlo – Bass, Vocals, FX and Synths

Levre – Drums/FX

Review

Legendary Spaced Out Doomsters UFOMAMMUT return with Crookhead. A deliciously aggressive new EP which sees the band return with a slightly vicious sound that harks back to their EVE days. The EP offers three tracks running around nineteen minutes in length. UFOMAMMAUT play their classic style of down-tuned Space Rock driven Doom/Stoner Metal grooves that has a stunning Psychedelic Fuzz Rock backdrop if more distorted than ever which you can feel within the confinements of the opening title track.

Opening track Crookhead runs for nearly nine minutes with UFOMAMMUT spending the first couple minutes laying down the heavy Psychedelic and Sci-fi based instrumental groundwork before the robotic vocals appear and glitchy soundbytes allow the song to become a more powerful DOOM METAL entity with flashes of Occult based gloomy sounds appear. With this UFOMAMMUT, the progressive sludge elements are never too far behind with an eerie waves of Sonic Distortion and sludgy acoustic guitars shows a more creative flair from the band. The song is one of the strongest musical compositions the band have written in some time with how the musical uptempo changes into different flavours of Doom, Sludge and Stoner Metal.

Second track Supernova is what everything you would expect from UFOMAMMUT with this being a full-on Sonic Doom experience with the band once again delving head first into their earlier albums with perhaps a more modern flair heard on their critically acclaimed last album Fenice. There's more focus on experimentation with the vocals with Psychedelic Sludge grooves being more powerful despite the "LESS IS MORE" approach with their delivery for this song alone. Flashes of Post-Doom and Post-Metal sonic trickery work amazingly well with this being my favourite track on the album. The underbelly of Industrial Rock/Metal can be heard in certain places with UFOMAMMUT experimenting with different styles of Sci-fi based Ambient Metal with a thrilling blast of intense instrumental grooves and ambient beats.

The final song Vibrhate is the more experimental based track on the EP with long extended moments of Distorted Drone and pummelling Sludge Metal sounds. This track has the standout vocals on the EP which is also perhaps one of the most intense vocals from the band for a very long time. The Ambient/Psychedelic parts of the track are amazingly deep and intense with the different levels of down-tuned Sludge, Stoner and Doom Metal grooves that accompany this Sonic based journey.

Crookhead despite its short running time is another standout release from UFOMAMMUT who have gone from strength to strength over the last few releases. With first rate production values which is what you would expect from the masters and perhaps true innovators of the Cosmic Doom/Stoner Metal scene, Crookhead is a must-have release to add to your UFOMMAMMUT collection and perhaps one of the best EP's released this year. 

I'm hoping there's a new full length album from the band. As Crookhead shows an exciting brief glimpse on what to expect from UFOMAMMUT in the future.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to All Noir PR for the promo. 

Crookhead will be available to buy on DD/Vinyl via Supernatural Cat Records from October 31st 2023.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sludge/Stoner Metallers TROY THE BAND Release Visualiser/Lyric Video for FLESH WOUND From Upcoming New Album CATACLYSM

Cataclysm, the debut full-length album from London-based Doom-gaze four-piece Troy The Band, will be released on Sweden's Bonebag Records on February 2nd 2024. Since the release of their debut EP, The Blissful Unknown, Troy The Band have become mainstays in the London heavy music scene, with a list of accolades in 2023 that includes appearances at Desertfest London, Masters of the Riff, and Stoomfest, as well as a craft beer collaboration with East London's Old Street Brewery.

With Cataclysm the band have taken the most unique elements of their debut EP and forged them into an album that blends elements of Stoner-Doom, Post Rock, Shoegaze and Heavy Psych. Cataclysm is dark, heavy, and identifiably their own.

For this album the band went back to work with Wayne Adams at Bear Bites Horse studio in East London. From the band's point of view, this was a no-brainer: "We knew we wanted to work with Wayne again on this album. He's great to work with and he had an important hand in shaping the sound of our EP. We knew he would get what we were trying to do with this album, and we really couldn't be happier with how it has turned out."

Each track is built from a sturdy foundation of Sean Durbin's bass riffs which are then overlaid with Sean Burn's distinctive guitar playing and Craig Newman's unique and ethereal vocal style, adding layers of harmonic complexity and tension that is a defining feature of their sound.

The album title is derived from the name the band gave the initial demo of the title track, driven by its musically jarring feel rather than its lyrical content. It was then self-consciously adopted as the album title to reflect their aim of causing a musical upheaval in the heavy music scene. We believe it will.

We are quite excited to premiere the new visualiser/lyric video for FLESH WOUND which is also my favourite track from the upcoming album Cataclysm due out on February 2nd 2024.

The band say the following about the song: 

"This is the first song we wrote together after recording our EP and it has been a staple of our live set since our earliest shows.

The first time we played Flesh Wound live it was the second to last song in our set. So when we announced that the next song would be our last and someone in the crowd yelled out “just play more of that riff again!” We knew we were on to a winner.

We love it because it captures our sound so well, from the dynamics of vocals and instrumentation to the tension and release in the arrangement. When the song reaches its climax, there is a feeling of catharsis both lyrically and musically."

Cataclysm will be available to buy from Bonebag Records from February 2nd 2024.

Thanks to Keith at Infecting Cells PR for all of the details.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Sludge/Stoner Metallers ROSY FINCH Release A Cover Of Classic Song VENUS IN FURS By The Velvet Underground

One of Spain's Premier Sludge/Stoner Metallers Rosy Finch have recorded a heavy rock version of "Venus in furs" by experimental American rock band The Velvet Underground. It was recorded in 2020 during the studio session for Rosy Finch's album 'Scarlet'.

The magical violin passages were composed and performed by Alicia Nurho, who is a multi-instrumentalist who has collaborated with big artists such as Paradise Lost or Paula Matthews among others.

“This song has always provoked a dark feeling within me. After listening to it again in Rob. Zombie’s movie 'Lords of Salem' I knew I had to do something special with. Alicia's incredible talent was evident when I met her, for this reason, I asked her to record the violins. I had faith that we would understand each other perfectly. She experiences music in a deeply emotional and visceral way, just like me. I was certain that we would have an. amazing collaboration and make the song our own. Working with great women is always a magical experience.” Mireia Porto (singer, guitarist and Rosy Finch's lead).

 

A limited run of hand-printed t-shirts made by Subterranean Prints has been designed for this release. 

Starting from Halloween, you can purchase the t-shirt and digital download of the song through Bandcamp.

Photo by Von Klang

Links

Linktree

Thanks to Anais at Rosy Finch Management for all of the details.

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS - Live In New York (Album Review)

Release Date: October 27th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl

Live In New York - Tracklisting

1.Mr Medicine (Live) 03:30

2.Rubbernecker (Live) 04:46

3.Ultimate Hammer (Live) 04:51

4.World Crust (Live) 02:53

5.Big Rig (Live) 07:34

6.Terror's Pillow (Live) 05:13

7.GNT (Live) 06:56

8.A66 (Live) 09:48

Review

Doom/Stoner Rockers PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS aka PIGSx7 return with their first live album which is captured from their April 2023 performance at New York’s Mercury Lounge. The US Tour was in support of their acclaimed 2023 album Land Of Sleeper which is perhaps PIGSx7 most accessible and crazed release to date with it’s catchy grooves and sludgy hooks.

Live In New York sees the band put in a barnstorming performance that features tracks from their last few albums which is mostly a collection of fan favourite tracks such as Mr Medicine, Rubbernecker, Ultimate Hammer and Big Rig. There’s a raucous Punk Rock quality to the PIGSx7 live performance that their studio albums can’t quite capture. I’ve seen the band multiple times over the years and they never cease to disappoint by putting in a highly energetic performance where the band always have demented fun up on stage.

This live album does a terrific job in capturing the raw energy and seedy Psychedelic Doomed Out grooves the band are known for. It’s great to hear this album is not overly produced and it’s close to the live PIGSx7 experience that you possibly realise.

The instrumental work is thrilling and intense throughout with PIGSx7 just doing what they do best with not a care in the world especially on the more rebellious tracks on the album such as Rubbernecker, Ultimate Hammer, Terror’s Pillow and A66. The audience in attendance at this gig really seem to be having a blast with PIGSx7 which you can hear in the background at various points of the live recording.

PIGSx7 are from my hometown of Newcastle Upon Tyne in the North East of England and I’m really proud of how these guys have achieved in their careers by talent, sheer hard work, grit and a solid steely determination which I feel is shown through their music. Live In New York is quite raw-sounding and unapologetic with the collection of tracks that PIGSx7 play here. However, it’s also a genuinely exciting, catchy and aggressive sounding record that offers huge amounts of fun within its 45 minute running time. 

Live In New York offers fans the perfect chance who have never seen the band live in action what they actually sound like on stage and this album captures this experience almost perfectly with a “NO FRILLS” approach allowing this record to be one of the essential Live Albums to own in 2023. 

PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS PIGS are going from strength to strength and they’re only going to get bigger and better in the years to come. Live In New York is another wickedly entertaining release to own and to add to your PIGSx7 collection.

Awesome stuff. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Live In New York is available to buy digitally and limited edition vinyl now.

Links

Official | Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

Orphans Of Doom - Realms (Album Review)

Release Date: November 11th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD.

Realms - Tracklisting

Dawn

Cycles

Badlands

Escape

Bloodlines

The Dust

Trapped

Awakening

Realms

Members

Jeremy Isaacson (Guitar/Vocals)

Brett Southard (Drums)

Bryan Sedey (Guitar/keys)

Justin Mantooth (Bass)

Review

Doom/Sludge/Post-Metallers Orphans Of Doom return with their third album Realms and it could see the band become one of the future titans of Post-Metal their first two albums boldly hinted at. However, Orphans Of Doom haven’t left their Psychedelic Stoner Metal roots behind as it seems they’ve only enhanced them for the better whilst bringing a classic Twin Guitar led attack reminiscent of Thin Lizzy and Mastodon throughout the whole album.

Whilst Realms is mostly a Post-Metal driven release that doesn’t stop Orphans Of Doom bringing an addictive Stoner Metal melody to the album within the quieter and mellower parts of the album that have a more daring Psychedelic and Post-Rock flow. The vocals are constantly harsh and of the growling variety. However, they’re easy to understand despite the aggressive nature of Jeremy’s vocals. There’s an epic sense of storytelling within this album that has a more mature and grown-up element compared to their previous albums,

Orphans Of Doom play a brooding style of Sludge/Post-Metal on the albums opening tracks of Down, Cycles and Badlands with the music changing into a metallic style of complex sounding melodies with the sludgy guitars maintaining an outlandish Progressive Metal drive. The lyrics contained within these tracks have a deft sense of realism to them which I was instantly nodding or headbanging within agreement to.

Waves of Psych Rock and Post-Rock combine for some of the earliest standout moments of the album with Orphans Of Doom playing a more Science Fiction inspired style of music. My favourite aspect of this album is where the band adds the vibrant Thin Lizzy influenced dual guitars which allows Realms to be more Riff-centric dominated to showcase a different side to Orphans Of Doom.

Though, don’t forget that Orphans Of Doom are a Post-Metal band first and the majority of the album is an exercise in SONIC experimentation which allows the band to add deafening levels of Doom Metal, Stoner Metal and even Thrash based breakdowns and beatdowns. This helps Orphans Of Doom to solidify the different styles of heaviness that becomes more daring as time goes by.

Other standout tracks to include are: Escape, Bloodlines, The Dust and Realms with Orphans Of Doom showcasing a more mature outlook on how they deliver and play their music which brings some of the album's standout instrumental moments and thrilling guitar solos. Jeremy’s vocals have a sense of violent calmness to them even when they become ever more outlandish and aggressive. 

Realms has wonderful production values which was handled solely by bassist Justin Mantooth who excels on producing, recording, mastering and mixing duties. Justin has recorded for other wonderful Sludge Metal artists such as Sonmuri and Druids and I can see Justin lending his talents to other great names within the underground scene mainly due to the incredible work he puts into this record.

Though Realms is a real team effort with Jeremy, Brett, Bryan and Justin creating their best work to date that draws upon the best sounds, ideas and themes the Sludge, Doom, Stoner and Post-Metal scenes and still being so breathtakingly original in its own right.

As I said earlier within this review, Realms offers Orphans Of Doom the perfect chance to become future TITANS of the Post-Metal scene. This album has a dynamically powerful sound and sees Orphans Of Doom delivering another Album Of The Year contender.

Need I say more…

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to Orphans Of Doom for the promo.

Realms will be available to buy from all good digital stockists from November 11th 2023.

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Instagram

MASSIVE HASSLE - Number One (Album Review)

Release Date: October 27th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD/Vinyl.

Number One - Tracklisting

1.Lane 05:32

2.Twos 04:13

3.Drifter 04:16

4.Kneel 03:47

5.Knife 05:43

6.House 03:36

7.Drink 02:46

8.Fibber 07:11

Members

Bill Fisher

Marty Fisher

Review

Number One is the debut album from Psych/Stoner/Blues Rockers MASSIVE HASSLE which is fronted by the hugely talented Fisher brothers - Bill and Marty. The guys are perhaps better known for being part of MAMMOTHWING, Dystopian Future Movies and the mighty Church Of The Cosmic Skull. So their talent and creative vision should never be questioned and MASSIVE HASSLE is perhaps my favourite project of theirs yet.

MASSIVE HASSLE combine Classic Blues Rock with solitary Jazz Rock overtones which moves into a thrilling style of aggressive Psych Stoner Rock where the screechy guitars embrace the mythos of the Californian Desert/Stoner Rock scene with the gloomy UK Kitchen-Sink style Indie Rock blues within the creative fabrics of the whole album.

MASSIVE HASSLE have a dramatic flair within the storytelling aspect of the majority of the songs starting rather restrained with it’s solid Blues Rock foundations but MASSIVE HASSLE kick up a gear when a LOUD WALL of Fuzz Drenched based Stoner Rock grooves kick down the doors and lead the listener into a heavier PSYCHEDELIC world. Opening tracks Lane and Twos expertly lay down the foundations on what is to follow with Billy and Marty providing sublime emotionally charged vocals and intense instrumental sounds that have moments of flashy Progressive jams whilst retaining an air of Classic Hard Rock authority. 

Bill and Marty have used this way of delivering music before with their other musical projects but MASSIVE HASSLE has a great sound of its own especially when the heavier distorted grooves fully take the lead with moments of Sonic and Psychedelic interplay appearing on various stages of the album.

The remaining tracks of the album continue the same creative journey as the opening two songs with melancholic lyrics offering a bittersweet and emotionally charged experience with MASSIVE HASSLE perhaps showcasing their love and admiration for various Hard Rock and Stoner Rock artists whilst still doing their own thing.

Number One can be quite experimental on tracks such as Drifter, Knife, House and Drink. However, MASSIVE HASSLE never forgets their catchy and bewitching style of Doomed Out Stoner Rock with a soulful Blues Rock edge offering some of the heaviest, freshest and freakiest sounds on the whole album.

The standout track has to be the final track Fibber which runs past the seven minutes mark and sees MASSIVE HASSLE open with a sultry and almost semi-acoustic Blues Rock sound before launching into a full on Sludge/Stoner Rock assault that brings a sense of gloominess to the album. The intense vocal harmonies work spectacularly well with the distorted psychedelic heaviness that lies within the noise driven sounds of the track with the band allowing the listener to soak up all the DOOM and GLOOM surroundings that will leave you wanting to hear more.

Number One is a deeply engaging and wonderfully different style of Heavy Rock where MASSIVE HASSLE deliver their own unique and original style of music to the Psychedelic Stoner Rock scene. 

Words by Steve Howe

Number One is available to buy now on DD/Vinyl via MASSIVE HASSLE

Links

Official | BandCamp | Instagram

Shameless Have Arrived, and They’re Changing the Status Quo With NAKHU SES'FIKA

Pictured: Rock, Thabang & Musa. Photo by: Frank Marshall

Shameless are a trio from Soweto, South Africa, where they are one of a small but growing number of rock/alternative bands. Their music is influenced by the music they grew up with, they have dubbed their sound Nkabi Rock / I Rock Yase Kasi (Assassin Rock / Rock from The Township, in isiZulu).

 
They describe their sound as “an extension of rock” which fuses metal, blues, kwaito, mbaqanga, isigxaxa and a smattering of jazz. On the 27th of October they will release the second single from their upcoming album “Nkabi Rock” (to be officially announced soon).

Their new single “Nakhu Ses’Fika” begins with a marching pattern on the snare & kick, broken by a short fill and the entrance of the thundering bass & distorted guitar – it sits somewhere between doom & punk. The driving riffs are broken from time to time by clever little melodic pieces that the whole band play together and which give the listener a second to catch their breath before diving in again.

The opening lines “Nakhu Ses’Fika Kau, Siyajika Lento Kau” (which mean “we’ve arrived and are going to change things/turn them on their head”). In some ways this sentiment is an introduction to Shameless, a warning to anyone not paying attention, they’re coming in hot.

Buy / Stream Nakhu Ses'Fika

About Shameless

The band members (Thabang Khonje, Musa Zwane & Thabo Masina aka Rock Ruler Live) met on stage at a local, community jam session called Sawubona Music Jam where they instantly “knew they had fire and a musical connection like the holy trinity”.

They played their first shows without a name, but with their first batch of original songs. As the need for a name grew they looked at themselves and their surroundings; rock music is very rare in South Africa, especially in the so-called eKasi (townships) - segregated neighbourhoods where black people were forced to live under apartheid.

Full with the energy of their music they realised how shameless they are to be mixing two cultures – western rock music and African eKasi street culture. They are called Shameless Band on DSPs and Shameless Band SA on socials, you can call them Shameless.

Now in 2023, their 6th year as a band, they have achieved more than most rock bands could expect to in South Africa. From a Converse advert to the main stage at AfroPunk Festival and most notable stages & festivals in-between. They released their first EP “Impicabadala” in December 2021 with the lead single “4 x 4” that has since become something of a cult anthem in South African alternative communities.

Their electrifying live show has seen them play all over the country to audiences that never quite seem to get their fill, despite the encores, the fans want more. This has made shameless a darling of local promoters – who all know how to fill a room: simply book Shameless.

The band have come a long way since their very DIY beginnings; recording their debut EP “Impicabadala” and playing every small stage or room that they could find. They have now signed an exclusive deal with von Plato’s DiscovrMe (DiscovrTV’s indie label) which is underwritten by Tic Tic Bang.

The combination of these two organisations and the producer means that three big fans of the band - Hugh Davison, Finn MacKinnon and Julian von Plato - have stepped into management, production and label roles with the combined goal of growing Shameless’ audience both in South Africa and in international territories.

According to Musa “This year was a year of getting our shit together. We’re slowly getting there and looking forward to getting back on stage to celebrate the release of the new music.”

Links

Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

Astronomie - Interstellar Nomad (Album Review)

Release Date: September 16th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD.

Interstellar Nomad - Tracklisting

The Infinite
Galactic Jack
Interstellar Nomad
Syzygy
Moondozer
War Eternal
Sea Of Thirst

Members

James Webster - Vocals
Anna KG - Backing Vocals
Bean: Guitars
Glen K: Lead Guitar
Kenny Slessor: Bass
Android: Drums & Percussion

Review

Aussie Psych Doom/Stoner/Sludge Metal collective Astronomie deliver their debut album Interstellar Nomad to the underground masses and it's quite an adventurous FUZZ driven sound with echoes of Grunge, Post-Rock and Ambient textures. The album is vastly progressive with Astronomie expanding upon their Prog Rock/Metal surroundings which is helped by first rate COSMIC storytelling and trippy warped sounds that allow the listener to venture further into the darker depths of the album.

Astronomie surprised myself by adding flashes of classic Heavy Metal and Hard Rock guitar shredding which allows the album to have a bold 1980's solid vibe. With added moments of Ambient Post-Doom textures and classic Sci-Fi inspired lore, fiction and mythology helping the band project a darker cinematic vision you initially expect especially on the opening tracks of The Infinite, Galactic Jack and Interstellar Nomad. It also helps that each song is quite different to each other. There maybe similar sounding grooves but the overall themes and styles can be quite flamboyant and downright original in places which you can hear early on within Galactic Jack and Interstellar Nomad.

The album is perhaps mostly inspired by the 1930's and 1940's Sci-Fi Pulp Novels and TV Series that inspired the Science Fiction landscape for the better. That's not to say Astronomie don't have fun with the storytelling aspect of their album. As they do throughout. The record does have a quirky sense of humour with outlandish grooves to match. There is a sense of demented fun and a kick-ass BOOGIE ROCK swagger to Astronomie and bass heavy sonic manipulation which could easily have came from some of the legendary Cosmic Stoner Metal bands within the last thirty years of the scene alone.

Fourth track Syzygy is more of an interlude or brief rest Astornomie can prepare the listener for more demented sounding Sludge/Stoner Metal grooves with trippy Psychedelic gloomy heaviness and their off-kilter lyrics that sometimes don't make sense but you can't deny how immensely entertaining the whole journey is on the final three tracks of Moondozer, War Eternal and Sea Of Thirst. The instrumental work is impressive yet again with many moments of Psychedelic Freakouts and Sludge Metal heaviness to show a different side to Astronomie. Interstellar Nomad is perhaps more driven by the LOW & SLOW based style of music on the closing stages of the album but that's where the standout riffs appear.

With classic sounding production values allowing Astronomie to become "MASTERS OF THEIR OWN UNIVERSE" on this record. This is quite an exciting and perhaps challenging record but one that always brilliantly entertains despite the overall crazed Spaced Out vision of the whole album. With intense and different sounding RIFFS throughout, Astronomie have delivered the mother-trucking goods here.

Excellent and Highly Recommended.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

BandCamp | Instagram

Organic Green Monster Machine - Long Distant Daze (Single Review)

Release Date: October 06th 2023. Record Label: Self Released. Formats: DD.

Long Distant Daze - Tracklisting

Long Distant Daze

Members

Mr H - Drums

Riffster - Guitars

Review

Long Distant Daze is the debut single from Aussie Psych Doom/Stoner Rockers Organic Green Monster Machine who bring a class of disorganised Intergalactic Cosmic chaos to the genre. The song is most definitely it's own thing with a thrilling down-tuned and Garage Rock sound spliced within the usual WEEDIAN and PSYCHEDELIC tropes. The band also rely upon 70's Classic Hard Rock and the dirge ridden surroundings of the Seattle Grunge Scene.

The vocals are delivered superbly well with them moving to a Cosmic Distorted style which allows Organic Green Monster Machine to draw influences mostly from Soundgarden and Alice In Chains in certain creative surroundings. The instrumental work is where the band excels the most with sludgy backdrops helped along by beefed up DIY Production values.

Organic Green Monster Machine are hard at work on preparing their debut album due for release in 2024 and on this song alone the band have the potential to make some real headway within the Doom/Stoner Rock underground scene.

Words by Steve Howe

Links

Facebook | BandCamp

Doom metal legends THE OBSESSED share new video "It's Not OK" via Decibel Magazine; new album "Gilded Sorrow" out February 16th on Ripple Music!

Iconic US doom and heavy metal veterans THE OBSESSED present the fist-pumping first single taken from their long-anticipated fifth studio album "Gilded Sorrow", to be released on February 16th through Ripple Music. Watch and stream "It's Not OK" exclusively on Decibel Magazine now!

About the song, frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich says: "This song is about and dedicated to all the loud mouth keyboard warriors, and so-called "friends" who steal from you, conveniently forget about debts, stab you in the back, instigate Internet rumours, talk shit in the press, while being the first to run away from any face to face confrontations. Simply, these people and their actions suck and "It's not OK". Enough said."

Watch The Obsessed's new video "It's Not OK" (live at Freak Valley) + Single available now on all digital platforms!

Scott “Wino” Weinrich is a living legend. In a way, he is the American version of Lemmy and shares many traits with the late, much-beloved metal icon. He’s always been a rebel, loner and an outsider in an outsider scene, pursuing his music without regard for popularity or acceptance. In the process, he came to be considered one of the early pioneers of American doom. All of this began when he founded THE OBSESSED back in the 70s, then pursued through his many other outfits such as Saint Vitus or Spirit Caravan. As a key part of the 80s Washington/Maryland music scene, his music earned the respect of metal, punk and crossover fans alike while often being dubbed doom metal. Looking back, it was just gritty, street-wise American metal with a cynical bent and psychedelic flair, and this is what made him the unique and timeless heavy music icon he is today.

Now THE OBSESSED comes roaring back with their most rocking album of all time "Gilded Sorrow", to be released on February 16th, 2024 through independent Californian label Ripple Music. Expanded to a 4-piece with the addition of Jason Taylor on guitar, the music is more aggressive, straightforward and downright mean than ever before. Wino comments: "Adding Jason Taylor as second guitarist was one of the best decisions I've made because he's a virtuoso guitar player and I must say he contributed quite a bit of good stuff to this record." About the new album, he adds: "I think it's the heaviest thing I've ever done. Heavy in a sense as not just sludge heavy, but well-rounded. And it sounds fantastic. Everything I do with Frank Marchand gets better and better. He knows what the fuck he's doing."

"Gilded Sorrow" was produced by Frank Marchand, Scott "Wino" Weinrich and Jason Taylor. Mixed and engineered by Frank Marchand and mastered by Alan Douches. "Gilded Sorrow" will be available on vinyl, CD and digital on February 16th, 2024 through Ripple Music.

THE OBSESSED "Gilded Sorrow" - Out February 16th, 2024 on Ripple Music

International preorder - US preorder

THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac, Maryland by legendary guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan). The band spawned in the realm of musicians/artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Dictators, and The Stooges. The earliest lineup consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese, and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino took over vocal duties and the band became a three-piece to record the Sodden Jackal EP. The band broke up in the late 80s after Wino moved to California to join Saint Vitus. At that time, a German label, Hellhound Records, and the booking agency that had signed Saint Vitus, released The Obsessed, originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform THE OBSESSED. After multiple lineup changes, the band signed to Columbia Records in 1994 to release their third and final album, The Church Within. Despite highly acclaimed reviews, they would break up following the release, seeing Wino forming Spirit Caravan (then Shine) and other projects.

In September 2011, THE OBSESSED returned to the stage at Roadburn Festival with The Church Within‘s legendary lineup of Wino, Greg Rogers, and Guy Pinhas. The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple of years, including Hellfest Open Air in 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley. Wino announced the full-time return of the band iin March 2016 and the band’s official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow-up to The Church Within. The new lineup originally consisted of Spirit Caravan bassist Dave Sherman and Wino’s longtime friend and former road crew member Brian Costantino (drums). On October 31st, 2016, Wino announced a new lineup change, including Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar), making it the first time the band had been a four-piece in over thirty-five years.

In 2017, THE OBSESSED unleashed Sacred, the band’s first studio album in over twenty years, further pushing the band into the annals of heavy metal history. After a few years on the road, the lineup stabilized around Brian Costantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar, and Scott "Wino" Weinrich at the helm. The iconic foursome is now ready to embrace this new decade in doom with their awaited fifth album "Gilded Sorrow", to be released in February 2024 as part of their new collaboration with Californian label Ripple Music.

THE OBSESSED is:

Scott "Wino" Weinrich – lead guitar, lead vocals
Brian Costantino – drums, backing vocals
Chris Angleberger – bass
Jason Taylor – rhythm guitar

THE OBSESSED links

Facebook ⎪ Bandcamp ⎪ Instagram ⎪ Spotify

RIPPLE MUSIC links

Website ⎪ Facebook ⎪ Bandcamp ⎪ Instagram