#i know pay unto evil did similar but this in my mind is far less serious than that

[transingthoseformers]

How immensely funny would it be, though, if we did a "mash up of the universes" situation and stuck the SG autobots with the baseline autobots and the SG decepticons with the baseline decepticons for a while

[doomedandstoned]

After Two Decades, The Obsessed Rally A Stunning Comeback

~By Papa Paul, with Billy Goate~

☤

Wet fur bears the smell of death...   

So begins the unimpeachable new record by THE OBSESSED, featuring living legend Scott "Wino" Weinrich (guitars/vox), Dave Sherman (bass), and Brian Costantino (drums).   It's both an unlikely return and a triumphant one, their first LP in over 20 years.   Beginning life as Warhorse in 1976, the Maryland trio dropped a series of demos in '80 and '85 under a new moniker: The Obsessed.   Not until 1990 did they issue their self-titled debut.   A second full-length followed just a year later, the much celebrated Lunar Womb.   The prolific stream of songwriting culminated in The Church Within in '94.   Then...radio silence.   A split and a pair of live albums put The Obsessed back in the public eye again in the new millennium, however briefly, but they went back underground as quickly as they'd emerged.   No one could have anticipated a resurgence this big, and 2017 continues to bear its surprises.

'Sacred' (2017 - Relapse Records) proves yet again that Wino is one of the great singer-songwriters of our time.   Though tragically unknown to the public at large, Wino has earned great esteem in metal circles.   Since the reactivation of Saint Vitus in 2008, a whole new generation of Born Too Late fanatics were born, drawn to the uncompromising, confessional nature of Wino's lyrics, which capture so perfectly the struggle with addiction, rejection, and despair.   In that same vein, Sacred encompasses vignettes of love, loss, and the life of a man "living true, living free" in a moonstruck world.

Wino's story is not unlike another well-known Maryland doomer: Bobby Liebling of Pentagram.   Both active since the seventies, Bobby and Wino were playing downtuned, riff-heavy metal before anyone knew what to call this emerging subgenre.   Both lived the wildest lives imaginable, their early success hampered by excess and addiction.   The Obsessed and Pentagram became the soundtrack for a generation of free-spirited bikers, misfits, and rebels who swore allegiance to the open road and the United States of Doom.

Sodden Jackal

The child is delivered unto the earth From the womb of a beast

Sacred by The Obsessed

"Sodden Jackal" wastes no time throwing us right into the deep end of the Lake of Fire.   A slow-burning chug ushers us into "a scene of evil unbelieved."   What's amazing is this song travels all the way back to the band's first ever recording.   'The Obsessed' (1983), predating the band's first LP by seven years, is a three-song EP which is now a coveted collector's item.   "Sodden Jackal" is its B-side.

As for Wino, in between the release of that 7" and the 12" eponymous, he was steadily building his rep in the emerging doom underground as successor to Scott Reagers of Saint Vitus.   I'm sure the rest of the Wino story, including his many bands and accomplished solo career, are well known to our readers.   If not, man do you have some treasures awaiting your discovery, so commence to digging!

Punk Crusher

Steal and lie to get your fix, We all know who you really are, Be gone with all your idle tricks I’m your Punk crusher

Sacred by The Obsessed

The heavy stomp of the first track transitions now to a song of equal heft, but with a considerably faster tempo: "Punk Crusher.   I'm reminded of a story from that sling of dates Saint Vitus played with Black Flag in 1984/85.   Wino & co. would open each show, much to the bewilderment of Mohawks across the concert hall.   Simply put, slow 'n' low was not a popular sound (far more underground then than now).   In an interview with Westword, Vitus axeman Dave Chandler recalls, "Pretty much ninety percent of them hated us with a passion...throwing whatever wasn't nailed down and generally fucking with us."   The guys proved equal to the challenge, however, demonstrating that punk attitude was as much at home with leaden metal riffs as it is was with the fast-talking swagger of Henry Rollins.

Sacred

Through dimension’s mists we fly Chrome fang, diamond eye

The album's namesake track is a real head banger.   This song could be classed seventies hard rock, but the way Wino belts out those riffs and sings with his trademark menace, it can't help but feel like heavy metal.   Those scorching guitar leads are a real standout here.   Wino's technique has matured like aged whisky, giving us plenty of kick and a ton of attitude.   The Obsessed is always about attitude!

Haywire

Took the gamble took the chances Made the choice

Sacred by The Obsessed

The fourth song is classic Obsessed, a track that might even be outlaw country were it played differently.   But Weinrich, Raley, and Constantino aren't planning on leaving their bad ass biker roots anytime soon.

Perseverance of Futility

You’d best back off Don’t tread on me!

Sacred by The Obsessed

"Perseverance" keeps the record's vibe rockin' steady.   Album after album, The Obsessed draw from a seemingly bottomless well of riffage that always manages to sound fresh, and occasionally surprises us.   Oh, and are those keys I'm hearing behind this haunted atmosphere?   Nice touch!

It's Only Money

Try to make a buck But you ever made a penny Know you need a little love But you know you won't get any

Sacred by The Obsessed

We're now at the half-way mark and this next one is especially interesting -- a killer cover of the Thin Lizzy song, "It's Only Money."   Thin Lizzy was one of baddest bands of funky town back in the '70s, though for me marred by the pursuit of commercial success.   I never thought of this before, but when Thin Lizzy was at their heaviest they had similar attitude to The Obsessed.   The difference was The Obsessed took that 'tude by the horns and never let go.   This remake proves just how heavy a rock and roll song can be.   Truly one of the highlights of Sacred.

Cold Blood

The day will come And time will tell Was this livin’ Or just a magical spell?

Sacred by The Obsessed

"Cold Blood" is vintage Obsessed, with some unbelievably catchy leads and hooks reminiscent of the beloved riffs of 'Lunar Womb' (1991).   Twenty-seven years later, The Obsessed have taken their bread and butter and slathered it with hot sauce, giving their trademark sound an exciting twist.   Interestingly, though the track comes with lyrics, it's played entirely without them.   This actually works, as it gives Sacred a sense of balance.   Hey, a good instrumental in the middle of an album always works for me.

Stranger Things

It’s only fair you get called out I’ve got plenty of my own misery And your trip I figured out It boils down to jealousy

Sacred by The Obsessed

An acoustic intro opens the eighth song, developing into a ballad-like theme with a chorus that's very easy on the ears.   Dare I say it has a radio-friendly feel to it?   This could be a good track to introduce The Obsessed to newcomers.   Popular appeal aside, "Stranger Things" ultimately stays true to the dark intensity of an Obsessed song.   Once again, Wino's guitar work is phenomenal.

Razor Wire

Ain’t no wrath Like a mad man that’s been burned

Sacred by The Obsessed

By now, I trust you've gotten to know the album's first single, which has been doing the rounds for a few months.   This, and the song that follows, feature some of the most intimate lyrics of the record. "Razor Wire" appears to be about the heartbreak of a love affair, perhaps hinting at one of Wino's own relationships. It started with a wistful feeling of love, hope, and trust, but the illusion faded as betrayal is revealed. The singer feels like he's trapped in a cage of razor wire, but he's pissed and he's about to tear right out of that rusty cage.

My Daughter, My Sons

My children dear Won’t you lend me your ear I got a song of love to sing you Live your own life, Be honest and kind Always speak your mind

Sacred by The Obsessed

As with his solo work and the recent collaborations with Conny Ochs, Wino bares his heart, giving us a rare window into his family life and the sacred bond between father and child.   Music-wise, this one is in the slowed-down, traditional doom style that I fell in love with some 30 years ago.   Wino is in top form, vocally.   Best of all, I got to play a bit of air guitar to that awesome picking!   Hey, I couldn't resist.

Be The Night

I know it’s been a long, dark life The sun will rise for you again

Sacred by The Obsessed

This track brings back memories of hanging out well into twilight, partying with friends, living "the life."   It triggers recollections of seeing The Obsessed in their prime, playing late into the night at some biker bar in the deep woods of Western Maryland.   This song is about the struggle between the proverbial devil on one shoulder, the angel on the other.   Who will win out?   "I'm gonna kill that man someday," Wino seethes.   Does this refer to someone he has a vendetta against or a dark manifestation of his own self?   You decide.

On So Long

Sacred (Deluxe Version) by The Obsessed

After an interlude, we arrive at a pair of bonus tracks that you'll find on the limited edition double vinyl.   "On So Long" bridges the late seventies and early eighties, reflecting the evolving face of doom.   The riffs in this one will pierce you right through the heart -- a prime example of why Wino is a living legend.   His singing is replete with emotion, contrasted with searing, short bursts of guitar.   It is this introspection that makes Sacred so special and confirms The Obsessed's place as one of my all-time favorite bands.   Regardless of who he's playing with, Wino has always been willing to give us a window into his soul.   This "realness" is one of the prime reasons he appeals to listeners.   I certainly identified with it when I was living the fast life.   Ultimately, I had to walk away to save my hide from jail, or worse.   This doesn't mean I enjoy The Obsessed any less.   Quite to the contrary, I find myself appreciating it now more than ever.

Crossroader Blues

Sacred (Deluxe Version) by The Obsessed

The last song, appropriately, pays tribute to the outlaw life.   Over the course of the album, the band has flexed the stylistic range, from stoner rock to heavy metal to plodding doom and now the blues.   The Obsessed have a full palette of color at their command here.

In the end, The Obsessed's return has not disappointed.   If you're as big a fan as I am, you've likely listened to the album dozens of times already.   Sacred is a triumph, the embodiment of the words Wino sang three decades ago: "Like life's living, make it sweet."

Follow The Band

Get Their Music

[eye-21]

Volunteer, Rescuer for Lives

Nothing Venture, Nothing Win. Being volunteer has a very high risk, physically and mentally. And it takes years and tears to fully conquer all the disappointment we have been witnessing over. Even Joseph Dancy and Lorraine (1996) emphasized that we were to embody ourselves through the act of caring, and enrich one another with more “levels of knowing” (wisdom) -notably patience and courage, along with rising truth and hope too. We wish there could be a better way to cope very well with it. But alas, many would rather keep merely lasting with their narrow-minded judgement. Still, we have to realize that volunteer is literally connected to the living of others. Oneday, we might not probably have a look at one as volunteer anymore, but as “rescuer for lives”.

Let It Flow

Here goes nothing. Difficult chance, harder luck; isn’t it? Miserably, honour is basically gained through such untrue success: fame, wealth, prestige, and so achievable things on. More than enough to reflect the way this world is being run every day, right? Consequently, it does apparently matter with people’s nowadays DNA: they spend more time in arguing and complaining rather than acting. How do we come to make this planet-earth a better place to live with less sacrifice?

Alright. Here is my own story which I want to share with everybody who reads this. It has been almost 2 years since I entered the volunteerism’s living. Starting it was very exciting, almost took my breath away. But I was not aware about the unpleasant things awaiting there. Until later, an inevitable shock suddenly came. My parents did not truly grant me for becoming volunteer; notably my father, who contrarily opposed me.

Still, they forcibly threatened me that they would have disowned me hadn’t I obeyed them. I told myself that this couldn’t have been worse. Even my mentor deliberately ignored my ask of help due to all the hardship as I was lacking of fortitude and forbearance as well to face it. I lost confidence, concentration, aim, act, gratitude, faith, and so all the eligibility forth I had before. Everything. Eventually I lost, wandered myself in deep-rooted misery. What else?

It was the hardest test I have ever witnessed. I used to have any grudge, almost put myself living in the hatred for the second time. Half and a year since the incident, I have always been seeking for justice. I keep fighting, fighting, and fighting, but isn’t it all worthy? Thus led me into more disappointment, as one thing did stay the same: disagreement (in family).

There, we need let it flow naturally, in gentleness and courage as well. Accept the fact, admit the circumstance, and acknowledge the truth. Further, one thing is to be remembered. Let our life be our prayer and our happiness unto the universe. That is the worth, the way of living as volunteer, the “rescuer for lives”. Simply follow the honesty from our very heart, believe it, and keep doing the right thing. Surely, it will lead all the man to inescapable happiness someday.

Clearer Vision, Louder Calling, More Responsibility

Rarely have we known the understanding of volunteerism and activism (Mark A. Musick & John Wilson, 2007). While a volunteer must forge him/herself to acquire much gain of well-being’s character (i.e. empathy, dedication, and wisdom), an activist has no similar objective to be done. No wonder every volunteer activity or organization is quite selective as volunteerism has the practice of spending more time yet energy rather than just the desire of collectivity -in which activism doesn’t.

As an example, Petualang Cilik, an activity for children at age 5-11 supervised by Rumah Perubahan, has been putting an excellence in mechanism of selection with the following main parameters: age, will, and social skills. Not to mention it did enable the organizers to have more time for preparation than use it up only in process of selection. Different activity, different approach. Socio Traveler (www.socio-traveler.com) did not require selection, but already had understanding in another extent. Yes. It is the epitome of travelling: not for knowing places, but to live our life for the fullest and happiest one. More, it reminded me of the reason I entered Socio Traveler when the opportunity was offered. Because Socio Traveler, apparently has a clearer vision: to find the wisdom, explore the nature, and fill the planet-earth with happiness.

Another instance is when we feel the urge not to avoid ourselves faraway in silence as if nothing happened. An encouragement that we should arouse the spirit of service to society again. Let’s say it a “louder calling”. Five months ago, I had no idea when I decided to involve myself in an agriculture platform named Tanee. Its aim is to promote the work of any farmer in Indonesia entirely by merging the use of current technology and training -including marketing, management, leadership, also horticulture. Thus literally attracted me. And a lot of ideas have emerged during the process of building application.

The same went on while setting myself in a community that is freely yet actively sharing and enriching one another through the books. Three weeks ago, it was the moment to find out “Sedekah Buku” by chance through one of the volunteers in which it led me to follow the community. Yet, have we ever been dreaming to fulfill equality through the being of volunteer? Because those who have been living very poorly, they need us.

There is Yayasan Bayi Prematur Indonesia (YABAPI) for the exemplary. It has been running the activity of lending freely incubator to all premature and yellow babies for almost these 6 years. As the core of the activity is the volunteers, they have more responsibility to be carried on. Here is a way the foundation (along with “Tim Inkubator UI”) put the selection’s mechanism in brilliance: each volunteer shall perform the roles to cover the production’s cost, accompany, and come after the incubator, and is not to turn the products into earnings. Rather, some often have to put the effort in looking for patients, proactively searching them.

Besides, the work in development for all necessary equipment is to be done in diligence. And we are opting for enterprising approach during the process. The next is to fully afford an eco-friendly NICU, the inexpensive one. We have been experiencing how costy the expense that preemie -also yellow- babies’ families had to pay, working in obvious duty for the sake of prospering creation. So, why not? Clearer vision, louder calling, and more responsibility. That is the object we shall aim higher, and even higher than today.

Higher Act

It is said that the true meaning of life is more than the truth, but the act of doing it. We are actually longing for the higher truth, but only a few are starting the higher act. And the universe is to gently welcome the higher act not in opposition; so are we to do it with our best foot forward. Because we would only obtain the higher truth if (and if only) we had done the higher act in a proper way.

Evil legacy is the root of every tragedy that has occurred over the whole world. We must be prepared to face cruelty for three prime reasons: threat from those having the privilege; main-stream people/society being surged in fear to do the right thing; lacking of ability to accept things in wisdom. While serving the society, we will have to ready for those all. We dare keep enduring such uncertainty within the foremost spirit of being volunteer: giving is far better rather than taking.

Do not weep towards every evil legacy we are witnessing. We have to fight against it, cope with it well, and put an end to it. Thus is the role, the higher act every volunteer must provide in any doing, any measure with all the cost it takes. For the sake to present the best service with all the might we have to community. As not out of perfection comes higher act, but out of higher act comes perfection. It is the epitome of being volunteer, being “rescuer for lives”. Last but foremost, never heave ourselves; otherwise do it fully, successfully, and happily. In order to save any life in despair, sorrow, and loneliness. Happy Christmas.

Juan Karnadi Faculty of Engineering University of Indonesia