by Matthew Kantor
The Obsessed fire up more mid-tempo biker rock on this self-titled release -- fans of their doomy style will not be disappointed. With the exception of the dated-sounding &Freedom,& the band is in top form. The sheer aggression of &Ground Out,& the sludgepile &Red Disaster,& and the phased-out blues of &Tombstone Highway& more than make up for any '80s-styled slights. A live set from 1984 is also included, wherein the Obsessed create a rumble only hinted at with their studio output. The group's relatively clean recording sound gives way to a live cacophony of noise and power, offering further testimony to their high placement amongst the stoner metal ranks.