Metal Mayhem
2006
1. Smoking Gun
2. Carnival of Lies
3. In for the Kill
4. Playing Dead
5. Imagining
6. The Offering
7. Pure Evil
8. I Don't Belong
9. Written in Blood
10. Guilty as Charged
11. Marshall Law
Obsession is a name that hits close to home for this metal fan seeing as we share a home state in common. While I was but a young one while they were in their initial run, they did make a fair mark around the 80s CT scene with other names like Fates Warning and Liege Lord and made somewhat of a cult underground name for themselves. Obsession vanished from the map after an EP and 2 albums and vocalist Mike Vescera went on to more metal fame singing for such bands as Malmsteen and Loudness. Well now founding members Vescera and Mezias are back with a newly recruited lineup for the first Obsession album in almost 20 years.
Listening to Carnival Of Lies it's like I'm back in the 80s with these guys. This is purely the traditional metal they were known for and is sure to deliver what fans want. These songs sound familiar in style but with better production, some virtuoso style soloing in the mix, and some incredibly memorable songwriting. The sound here is sort of 80s Priest circa Screaming For Vengeance or Defenders Of The Faith with vocals that kind of remind me of Tony Moore era Riot. The music comes off as anthemic and catchy while at the same time technical and it has a good amount of variation between mid-pace crunch, rippers, and one well done ballad. This is just all killer and no filler and makes me very happy these guys have decided to give it another go. In a way this album reminds me of what Priest might sound like if they had more successfully updated themselves musically. Heavy and delivered with passion in a truly traditional 80s form... I can't imagine this not being satisfying to both fans of the band and good american traditional in general. Guests on the album include Joe Stump who adds a couple solos of his own and anyone familiar with that man's skill knows it adds some great punch to the songs. Also worth noting for old fans are one or two (if you get the bonus track version) updates of their older songs Marshal Law and Panic In The Streets which come off very well.
With all the half hearted reunions out there in it for the name value and a quick cash grab it's good to hear something delivered with this sort of power. This is every bit as good as the band ever was and the songwriting even seems better with the maturation of the artists involved and great recording sound. Released in a different era on a different label I think this release might hit that 'classic' level. As is this release will probably go fairly unnoticed, but I advise anyone reading this to give it the time. If Priest, Moore-era Riot, and just straight up ripping american traditional appeal to you then this is a must.
Highlights: Carnival Of Lies, I Don't Belong, Written In Blood, Pure Evil
Rating - 4.5/5
2. Carnival of Lies
3. In for the Kill
4. Playing Dead
5. Imagining
6. The Offering
7. Pure Evil
8. I Don't Belong
9. Written in Blood
10. Guilty as Charged
11. Marshall Law
Obsession is a name that hits close to home for this metal fan seeing as we share a home state in common. While I was but a young one while they were in their initial run, they did make a fair mark around the 80s CT scene with other names like Fates Warning and Liege Lord and made somewhat of a cult underground name for themselves. Obsession vanished from the map after an EP and 2 albums and vocalist Mike Vescera went on to more metal fame singing for such bands as Malmsteen and Loudness. Well now founding members Vescera and Mezias are back with a newly recruited lineup for the first Obsession album in almost 20 years.
Listening to Carnival Of Lies it's like I'm back in the 80s with these guys. This is purely the traditional metal they were known for and is sure to deliver what fans want. These songs sound familiar in style but with better production, some virtuoso style soloing in the mix, and some incredibly memorable songwriting. The sound here is sort of 80s Priest circa Screaming For Vengeance or Defenders Of The Faith with vocals that kind of remind me of Tony Moore era Riot. The music comes off as anthemic and catchy while at the same time technical and it has a good amount of variation between mid-pace crunch, rippers, and one well done ballad. This is just all killer and no filler and makes me very happy these guys have decided to give it another go. In a way this album reminds me of what Priest might sound like if they had more successfully updated themselves musically. Heavy and delivered with passion in a truly traditional 80s form... I can't imagine this not being satisfying to both fans of the band and good american traditional in general. Guests on the album include Joe Stump who adds a couple solos of his own and anyone familiar with that man's skill knows it adds some great punch to the songs. Also worth noting for old fans are one or two (if you get the bonus track version) updates of their older songs Marshal Law and Panic In The Streets which come off very well.
With all the half hearted reunions out there in it for the name value and a quick cash grab it's good to hear something delivered with this sort of power. This is every bit as good as the band ever was and the songwriting even seems better with the maturation of the artists involved and great recording sound. Released in a different era on a different label I think this release might hit that 'classic' level. As is this release will probably go fairly unnoticed, but I advise anyone reading this to give it the time. If Priest, Moore-era Riot, and just straight up ripping american traditional appeal to you then this is a must.
Highlights: Carnival Of Lies, I Don't Belong, Written In Blood, Pure Evil
Rating - 4.5/5
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