The Obsessed

The Obsessed is a cornerstone of the American 'Traditional Doom' scene, specifically the influential Maryland Doom movement. Formed in 1979 by Scott 'Wino' Weinrich, the band serves as the primary vehicle for his unique fusion of Black Sabbath-inspired weight and punk-adjacent urgency.

Their sound is characterized by Wino's signature 'heavy-blues' guitar style, which utilizes pentatonic scales and massive sustain, and his gravelly, authoritative vocal presence. The band's history is marked by significant hiatuses, largely due to Wino's tenure in Saint Vitus, but their influence remained constant through the 80s and 90s. Critically, they are lauded for 'The Church Within,' an album that briefly brought doom metal to a major label (Columbia) without compromising its underground grit. They occupy a cultural space between the biker-rock aesthetic and the introspective, existential themes of doom, influencing a generation of stoner rock and sludge bands. Their recent return with 'Sacred' and 'Gilded Sorrow' proves their sound is timeless, maintaining a high-fidelity version of their original raw power.