SCOTT 'WINO' WEINRICH On THE OBSESSED's New Lineup: 'We Got To Take It To The Next Level'

Metal Nexus conducted an interview with members of reactivated Washington, D.C. doom metal overlords THE OBSESSED prior to the band's November 25 show at 123 Pleasant Street in Morgantown, West Virginia. You can watch the full chat below. A few excerpts follow (transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET).

On the band's new lineup:

Scott "Wino" Weinrich: "We got to take it to a new level. This is the most powerful move we could have made. We made a lot of decisions, a lot of good decisions. I'm super-happy. We have Bruce Falkinburg [bass], Sara ['Seraphim' Claudius] on guitar, this is kind of a brand new thing for THE OBSESSED as far as the guitar, and we have Brian [Constantino, drums], who is a powerhouse. I think it's time to take it somewhere else, man."

On the new band's new album:

Scott: "The guy running our sound tonight, Frank [Marconi], he recorded it. I can't speak enough praise about him. We have a lot of studio experience. Bruce ran a studio, did some recording of our bands back in the day, THE HIDDEN HAND, he recorded SPIRIT CARAVAN. I think that the knowledge we have here and now with Frank at the helm, it's incredible."

On when the band's new album will released:

Scott: "Now it's going to be March. I got to tell you: I'm a hundred percent really into this record. We did it with the old lineup and it sounds fantastic. It's one of the best-sounding records that I've ever been a part of. I can't wait. The cover looks fantastic. Relapse [THE OBSESSED's new label home] is behind us a hundred percent. They dig it. We dig it."

On what to expect from the new material:

Scott: "The new record is with the old lineup as a three-piece, so I start sweating when I think about bringing this [lineup] into the studio. We're itching to write. We know we need to strike when the iron is hot. I feel completely inspired and I think everyone is too. We have a couple of ideas in the can already. We were down jamming getting new ideas. I'm pretty sure we'll be in recording new stuff in January."

On if there's a renewed fire in Weinrich's playing:

Scott: "I made a few positive lifestyle changes. I'm looking ahead."

On the band's touring plans:

Scott: "April. Full-on U.S. We'll be doing the world, but we're going to take care of our people in the U.S. first. Frank can probably come with us. My objective is to really up the game. We have a projectionist that slated to come with us, too. Projection is really the way of the future. Lights are cool, but I don't know if you've seen any SABBATH lately, but unfortunately the projection saved the last SABBATH show I saw. This guy's name is Tim Hex, he's based out of L.A., and he's state-of-the-art. Most bands on this level, they have a projector and a screen here, so I want to take it to a new level. I don't want any obstruction; the projection won't walk on the music, but it will enhance the show. If you get people more of a bang for their buck…music always has got to talk. This is like to me, this is where my mindset has always been to look over at whoever I'm playing with and be completely inspired. I'm getting that now."

On how Sara and Bruce joined THE OBSESSED:

Scott: "Me and Bruce have known each other for a long time, obviously. We did THE HIDDEN HAND, and I missed it. I missed the technical, the mental [aspect], so we were younger, we analyzed it and realized it's what we wanted to do. Me and Sara, we're a couple. This is the first time I've ever done anything with my significant other."

Sara: "We met about eight years ago. I met him and he was helping us load in. He grabbed my cab and all of the sudden Wino is helping me load my amp onstage and we're covering SAINT VITUS and stuff, so it's like 'Holy shit!' He happened to be one of the nicest guys. Within a couple weeks, he was coaching on me how to do amp-splitting, stereo amp setups."

Scott: "She called me out of the blue and asked, 'What's the best way to hook two amplifiers together, two-hundred-watt heads tighter?' That was love at first sight."

Sara: "We didn't see each other for six years or something, then all of the sudden he emailed me and said, 'Do you want to play some music?' I sat straight up in bed and I started playing the guitar right away. Ever since we've doing some acoustic gigs, but now it's electric finally."

Scott: "I must say, changing THE OBSESSED from a power trio into a four-piece that was a pretty major step. I don't give a fuck if nobody understands it, because I understand it. I've always used the studio for what it's for, we were always a three-piece, but I like to put down a fat rhythm. That's what the studio is for; to make the recording the best you can for the listener. I always felt like I was given a gift and I feel like we're carrying the torch."