After a twenty year hiatus and a few breakups before that, Doom/Stoner kings THE OBSESSED are back...sort of; and with an entirely new line-up - except for the original frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich, who has decades of experience since first founding THE OBSESSED back in 1970. Supposedly back for good this time, THE OBSESSED brings us their new LP, "Sacred".

With a lot to live up to thanks to their enduring legacy of releasing several of the most influential albums in the genre - including the masterpiece "The Church Within" - I tried to contain my expectations. Starting off with a cover of their classic single "Sodden Jackal" and a few decades of added experience definitely illustrates how far the band has come. "Punk Crusher" lives up to its name with a Hair Metal flair that flows well with the subdued Stoner tone and a MOTÖRHEAD lilt to it. "Sacred" is prickly and vivid, a sweet blend of sharp vocals but done in a laidback style that flows really well and permeates the album as a whole, making "Sacred" a perfect title track.

"It's Only Money" has some of that Good-Ole-Boy charm, preaching the virtues of spiritualism and shaming lust for money. Surprisingly catchy, this one stuck with me thanks to a great hook and an earworm chorus. "Stranger Things" turns up the Doom to eleven, with a deep dank tone and everything playing at a lower register, but without a real sense of urgency. This is definitely a stand out track to me. "Razor Wire" has a Psychadelic twang and a bit of Technical influence with varied distortion and occassional clarity that is a real head-trip to listen to.

"My Daughter My Sons" has this unkempt and unrushed feel like Classic Metal from the 70s that's just taking its own sweet time. Yet the lyrics really give it this affectionate parental feeling, like someone really trying to advise the younger generation to make the world a better place; not exactly a common idea in Metal these days. Off-setting this more serious tone, "The Night" returns to that old school Glam Metal lane before settling into a short outro in the form of the 27-second "Interlude", really hinting at more to come in the future.

"Sacred" really took a few listenings to stick with me but it certainly has charm and talent in spades, coming across as a return to the golden oldies or a garage-album of whatever the band mates felt like making. Yet on closer inspection everything really ties together beautifully. Everything has this same sentiment of respect for Rock and Metal when they were at their peak, when the whole world was drinking the kool aid, and a sort of world-weary understanding that comes with decades of experience. Below is a link to "Razor Wire" that I think really shows off just what it is that I'm rambling about. So give a listen and maybe you'll become one of THE OBSESSED too.