Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #76239 in Music
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

You NEED this album...
This was originally released by Columbia Records in 1994. (476504 2)

Columbia -for their sins- signed this band, and had no idea what to do with them. A European & American tour with Prong did help, as did Phil Anselmo of Pantera fanboying out over them, but unfortunately most people just didn't 'get' The Obsessed.

Which was unfortunate, as The Church Within was the best record released that year.

End of story.

Most of the songs fall into classic Sabbath territory, yet unlike almost all of the 'doom' bands of that era, they don't religiously adhere to that blueprint. Rather they use the framework as the starting point on an almost transcendental journey. That sounds trite, I know, but if this doesn't move you in some form or fashion, then you have neither spirit nor soul.

The lyrics do reflect on the somewhat somber world we found ourselves in then (and now...) with diverse lyrics, both in style and content. 'To Serve & To Protect' almost encapsulates the album, in that it has a naive, almost ideal view of the trust and faith placed in the police, tinged with a world-weary perspective, of one who knows what real life is actually like.

Columbia must be credited for providing the opportunity for The Obsessed with clean, clear production values, which is unusual for a genre where a heavily distorted sound is prided more than anything.

I will leave you with the best summary possible, courtesy of The Obsessed themselves:

No Love Stronger

No Pain Greater

No Hate Deeper

The Church Within