The Obsessed

Though they almost single-handedly invented the style, the Obsessed might have gone down as a footnote in the annals of Doom Metal as most of their material has long been out of print. But in 1999, a collection of early EPs and rare tracks appeared, thus restoring the seminal band to a position of prominence. Before joining the legendary Saint Vitus, Scott "Wino" Weinrich honed his on-the-nod trudging delivery with the Obsessed. This is the band that developed the mother tongue in which Doom Metal has been spoken ever since -- themes of self-destruction and the occult, agonized vocals neck-shackled to a solid wall of feedback, and big riffs that roll like boulders. Few bands had dreamed of sounding heavier than Black Sabbath, until the Obsessed showed them how.