By:
Richard Maw
The Review:
“Incarnate” is a
compilation of various EPs, rare tracks and demos- as many doom fans will know.
The track list is legion and it is thus a lengthy but rewarding listen. Some of
the track names you will recognise- and will have heard- in different forms
across The Obsessed’s other studio albums.
Some
of the material represents the band at their zenith; Wino sounds magnificent
and much of the material is top notch. Like the other records by the band, the
material has aged incredibly well, or is ageless- if you prefer. For a
compilation first released 21 years ago (!) it sounds great and the material is
pretty much timeless. The fact that “Sodden
Jackal” was re-recorded for the “Sacred” album of a couple of years
ago speaks volumes about the quality on offer here.
There
are real highlights here; opener “Concrete
Cancer” is wonderful, the Grand Funk cover of “Inside Looking Out” is similarly great.
It's accurate to say that the likes of “Iron
and Stone” sound pretty rough (well, it's a demo from decades ago, so... it
isn't going to sound like “The Church Within”, ditto and moreso
“Neatz Brigade”) but equally
accurate to say that the riffs and atmosphere pf those tracks and of “Mourning” more than make up for the
sound quality.
Wino's
influences are on display, whether it be the aforementioned GFR or Lynyrd Skynyrd on the
cover of “The Hunt” (great song,
delivered well here). The versions of more familiar songs, as mentioned above,
or of “Hiding Mask”, “Streetside” etc. have something to
offer as well- they are different and worth hearing.
How
essential any of this is for the casual listener is not for me to say. That
said, how many casual listeners of The Obsessed are
there?! For a fan, this is a must have. The remaster has made the contents sound
better than ever before and this is certainly a sprawling and comprehensive
set. Would I recommend this as a doomer's first venture into The Obsessed? Probably not. I would go with the self-titled
or “The
Church Within” and then go from there.
It's
an essential document of The Obsessed and
features a lot of their best material. That's high praise as this band really
are a touchstone of the doom genre- as are most records Wino has been involved
with. Of Course,. it’s recommended!
“Incarnate
(Ultimate Edition)” is available HERE
