THE OBSESSED Completes Work On 'Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free' Album, Plots Return To Studio For Follow-Up EP

In a new interview with Laughing Monkey With Shawn Ratches, THE OBSESSED frontman Scott "Wino" Weinrich spoke about the American doom metal veterans' upcoming album, "Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free", which is tentatively due in early 2027 via Heavy Psych Sounds Records. The follow-up to 2024's "Gilded Sorrow" was recorded at Waterford Digital Studio in Pasadena, Maryland with producer Frank Marchand. Weinrich said (as transcribed by BLABBERMOUTH.NET): "It's finished. It's mixed, mastered, the whole nine [yards], and the label has it. The label usually has a plan, and I think because of the fact that we got some stuff going on with us, too, as far as Jason [Taylor, THE OBSESSED guitarist] is having a baby. Because of that, we decided we're gonna push [the release] to about, I think, March [of 2027]. So, that seems like a long way away, it really does, but it's feasible because of the holidays and all that. We're gonna probably release a single. I'm not sure which one, what yet, but we're probably gonna do a video, too, I would imagine."

Weinrich went on to reveal that THE OBSESSED is planning to return to the studio in December 2026 to record a new EP, which will be made available as a standalone effort at a later date. Regarding why THE OBSESSED is returning to the studio so quickly after the completion of "Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free", Wino said: "We have a couple of tunes that didn't make the final grade, that we still have in the can, that they're good songs, but maybe for one reason or another, I didn't have the lyrics or whatever it might be. But I think what I'd really like to do with the EP is come at it with a brand new thing. Instead of doing a bunch of short songs, who knows? Maybe it'll be one song. I don't know. But I'm kind of feeling pretty inspired."

As for what THE OBSESSED fans can expect from "Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free", Wino said: "'Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free' [is] one of the tunes [on the album]. And there's a lot of tunes on it. The tunes are short. I don't know, man. I like it. I never know. We'll see what happens."

Asked if THE OBSESSED will perform any of the new songs before "Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free"'s release, Wino said: "Well, we've been playing the title track. We kind of don't want to [play any more than that]… I mean, one camp is, like, 'Let's just play them.' The other camp is, like, 'Let's hold them until the release.' So we're in that quandary. But I think that we'll probably just hold them. The one song goes over good. I mean, it's pretty fast. I wrote that song with the new lineup in mind, because [new THE OBSESSED drummer] Bob [Pantella] can come right out of the gate blazing. I've never been able to do that before. So that's killer."

He added: "When I was writing 'Live Fast - Love Hard - Die Free', I had [Bob] in mind [when] I wrote the drum [parts] and stuff, 'cause I could see it in my head, and now we can come out of the gate blazing if we want, which is amazing."

In July 2024, THE OBSESSED parted ways with drummer Brian Costantino and replaced him with Pantella — the powerhouse percussionist known for his crushing work with MONSTER MAGNET and THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX.

THE OBSESSED returned in 2024 after a seven-year absence with its acclaimed latest album, "Gilded Sorrow", on independent Californian label Ripple Music. Lauded as a "must-listen for fans of the genre and a compelling entry point for newer voyagers into the world of doom" by Metal Hammer and "the best the band has ever sounded" by Ghost Cult magazine, "Gilded Sorrow" was described in a press release as "a defiantly abrasive, crushing and straightforward album that has already left an indelible mark on the heavy music landscape."

Wino is a living legend. In a way, he is the American version of Lemmy and shares many traits with the late, much-beloved metal icon. He's always been a rebel, loner and an outsider in an outsider scene, pursuing his music without regard for popularity or acceptance. In the process, he came to be considered one of the early pioneers of American doom. All of this began when he founded THE OBSESSED back in the 1970s, then pursued through his many other outfits such as SAINT VITUS and SPIRIT CARAVAN. As a key part of the 1980s Washington/Maryland music scene, his music earned the respect of metal, punk and crossover fans alike while often being dubbed doom metal. Looking back, it was just gritty, street-wise American metal with a cynical bent and psychedelic flair, and this is what made him the unique and timeless heavy music icon he is today.

THE OBSESSED was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac, Maryland by Weinrich. The band spawned in the realm of musicians/artists such as BLACK SABBATH, Frank Zappa, THE DICTATORS and THE STOOGES. The earliest lineup consisted of Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983, Wino took over vocal duties and the band became a three-piece to record the "Sodden Jackal" EP. The band broke up in the late 80s after Wino moved to California to join SAINT VITUS. At that time, a German label, Hellhound Records, and the booking agency that had signed SAINT VITUS, released "The Obsessed", originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform THE OBSESSED. After multiple lineup changes, the band signed to Columbia Records in 1994 to release their third album, "The Church Within". Despite highly acclaimed reviews, they would break up following the release, seeing Wino forming SPIRIT CARAVAN (then SHINE) and other projects.

In September 2011, THE OBSESSED returned to the stage at Roadburn festival with "The Church Within"'s legendary lineup of Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas. The band played a few more reunion shows over the next couple of years, including Hellfest in 2012 and Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley. Wino announced the full-time return of the band in March 2016 and the band's official signing to Relapse Records to record the follow-up to "The Church Within". The new lineup originally consisted of SPIRIT CARAVAN bassist Dave Sherman and Wino's longtime friend and former road crew member Brian Costantino (drums). On October 31, 2016, Wino announced a new lineup change, including Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar),making it the first time the band had been a four-piece in over thirty-five years.

In 2017, THE OBSESSED unleashed "Sacred", the band's first studio album in over twenty years, further pushing the band into the annals of heavy metal history. After a few years on the road, the lineup stabilized around Brian Costantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar and Scott "Wino" Weinrich at the helm. In the winter of 2024, the iconic foursome embraced the new decade in doom with the release of their fifth album "Gilded Sorrow" as part of their collaboration with Californian label Ripple Music and their return to the stage forefront through several North American and European tours and festival appearances.