My Sleeping Karma, The Obsessed

The Obsessed and My Sleeping Karma will perform on October 29, 2026 at 7:30 PM at L'Autre Canal. The Obsessed was formed in the late 1970s in Potomac by guitarist Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Spirit Caravan). The band draws inspiration from artists such as Black Sabbath, Frank Zappa, The Dictators and The Stooges. The original lineup included Wino, bassist Mark Laue, guitarist John Reese and drummer Dave Flood. In 1983 Wino also took on vocal duties and the band became a trio to record the EP Sodden Jackal. The group disbanded in the late 1980s after Wino moved to California to join Saint Vitus. At that time the German label Hellhound Records and the booking agency that had signed Saint Vitus released the album The Obsessed, originally recorded in 1985, prompting Wino to reform The Obsessed. After several lineup changes, the band signed with Columbia Records in 1994 to release its third album, The Church Within. The band split up after that release, with Wino going on to form Spirit Caravan (then called Shine) and other projects.

In September 2011 The Obsessed returned to the stage at the Roadburn Festival with the Church Within lineup of Wino, Greg Rogers and Guy Pinhas. The band then played several reunion shows, notably at Hellfest Open Air in 2012 and at Maryland Deathfest XI in May 2013 with bassist Reid Raley. Wino announced the band’s permanent return in March 2016 and their signing with Relapse Records to record the follow-up to The Church Within. The new lineup then included Spirit Caravan bassist Dave Sherman and Brian Costantino (drums), a long-time friend of Wino and former member of his road crew. On October 31, 2016 Wino announced a lineup change bringing in Bruce Falkinburg (bass) and Seraphim (guitar), marking a return to the four-piece format after more than thirty-five years.

In 2017 The Obsessed released Sacred, their first studio album in more than twenty years. After several years of touring, the lineup stabilized around Brian Costantino on drums, Chris Angleberger on bass, Jason Taylor on guitar and Scott "Wino" Weinrich. Gilded Sorrow, their fifth album, was released on February 16, 2024 through Ripple Music.

Gilded Sorrow was produced by Frank Marchand, Scott "Wino" Weinrich and Jason Taylor. It was recorded and mixed by Frank Marchand and mastered by Alan Douches.