by Steve HueyUpon leaving Saint Vitus — whose unabashed worship of Black Sabbath helped lay the groundwork for the sludge, stoner, and doom metal mini-movements of the 90s — vocalist/guitarist Scott Wino Weinrich re-formed the Obsessed, a band hed founded in Washington, D.C., in the early 80s prior to joining Saint Vitus. Initially including a rhythm section of bassist Mark Laue and drummer Ed Gulli, the Obsessed had recorded a live EP back in 1984, but didnt make their full-length debut until 1990s The Obsessed, recorded for the small Hellhound label. Personnel shifts ensued (Melvins drummer Dale Crover passed through the ranks at one time or another): bassist Scott Reeder and drummer Greg Rogers joined for the 1991 follow-up Lunar Womb. Reeder subsequently left the band to join Kyuss, and was replaced by Guy Pinhas, just as the Obsessed was landing a major-label deal with Columbia. Although many described it as the groups most focused album, 1994s The Church Within also proved to be their last. Following the breakup, Pinhas and Rogers formed Goatsnake, while Weinrich started up a new outfit first called Shine, then quickly renamed Spirit Caravan. In 1999, Southern issued a collection of outtakes and rarities titled Incarnate, and the following year repackaged The Obsessed together with the original lineups 1984 EP.\r