The Obsessed to Release New Album on Ripple Music
Having spent a goodly portion of this year on tour, including playing the Snowblind Festival last month, appearing at Monolith on the Mesa and more, doom rock legends The Obsessed have signed a deal to release their next album — the follow-up to 2017’s Sacred (review here), which came out through Relapse — via Ripple Music sometime in the New Year.
Word just came down the PR wire and the band, led as ever by Scott “Wino” Weinrich with mainstay drummer Brian Costantino behind, restructured their lineup earlier this year to include second guitarist Jason Taylor (Sierra) and bassist Chris Angleberger, resulting in a road-ready four-piece who’ll also look to return to Europe in 2023, having already been announced for Desertfest Berlin in the Spring and Freak Valley Festival in the summer. Having a new record to support would be a fitting occasion to go.
So, more to come. Worth noting as well that Ripple released the last Wino solo album, so there’s prior experience collaborating there, and the label’s other most recent pickup, Hermano (info here), also included a legendary player in vocalist John Garcia. Clearly, for the US, Ripple has become something of a powerhouse outlet for the heavy underground. Makes me really glad it’s not run by assholes.
Here’s the announcement:
Doom metal godfathers THE OBSESSED sign to Ripple Music for their new studio album release in 2023!
Californian heavy rock and metal powerhouse Ripple Music is proud to welcome iconic doom metal veterans THE OBSESSED to its ever-expanding roster for the release of the band’s awaited fifth studio album in 2023!
Led by legendary frontman Scott “Wino” Weinrich, a heavy music lifer admired and acclaimed by the likes of Dave Grohl, Pepper Keenan, Henry Rollins and Phil Anselmo, Maryland-based doom godfathers THE OBSESSED just inked a deal with Californian powerhouse Ripple Music for the release of their fifth studio album and eagerly anticipated follow-up to 2017’s “Sacred”.
About joining Ripple Music, the band says: “The Obsessed are really happy to be signing with Ripple Music and joining the great bands on their roster. We have already begun recording and we’re looking to be finished in January. Thanks to Todd and everyone at Ripple for this opportunity and we look forward to working with them on this release.”
Ripple Music founder Todd Severin adds: “Having had the honor of working with the legendary Wino on his solo album, you can only imagine how thrilled I was when he came to me with the idea of a new album by The Obsessed. The band are doom legends, having contributed mightily to the doom template that we all love today. Can’t wait to unleash this album upon the world.”
Ripple Music will soon unveil more details about The Obsessed new album, stay tuned!
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, THE OBSESSED would breakup 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 (featuring Wino, Greg Rogers, and Guy Pinhas). The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple years at Hellfest Open Air 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley.
Wino announced the full-time return of THE OBSESSED in 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 another new lineup change for THE OBSESSED, including Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar), making that 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 Cnstantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar, and Wino at the helm.
THE OBSESSED line-up:
Chris Angleberger – bass and vocals
Jason Taylor – guitar and vocals
Brian Costantino – drums
Scott “Wino” Weinrich – guitar and vocals
http://www.facebook.com/TheObsessedOfficial
https://www.instagram.com/theobsessedofficial/
https://theobsessed.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/theripplemusic/
https://www.instagram.com/ripplemusic/
https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.ripple-music.com/
