Obsession - Marshall Law
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Music CD Cover
Artist: ObsessionEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered
CD Release Date: 1998-06-23
Music Label: Metal Blade
Soundtracks:
- Only The Strong Will Survive
- Hatred Unto Death
- Execution
- Marshall Law
Free Music Notes for Marshall Law
Free Music Review: Short but sweet.
Hit: 5 Stars
Judging by the other reviews, many people seem to be prejudiced against this, Obsession's first EP, probably based on its brevity. The two albums that followed this do win quantity-wise, since they're full lengths filled amply with heavy metal that showcase the excellent guitarwork and Vescera's pipes. But implying the EP is of inferior quality would just be High Treason, because on the contrary, it's got the band's best stuff.
The first two songs are high-class, Priest "Defenders..."-era-inspired metal, similar to all of their later work and to what many other Metal Blade bands (and most of the entire US traditional heavy metal scene, really) were doing in the early '80s. They're certainly enjoyable, but nothing spectacular.
"Execution" is sort of unusual as it contains quite a lot of solos which are all excellent, but remains a coherent song instead of deteriorating into technical wankery or overzealous shredding. The harmonized bits in this song represent the band's most memorable guitarwork for me.
The title track however, is the real crown jewel. It's a fine heavy metal anthem, wonderful in its simplicity, with a catchy chorus and that indescribable bit of over-the-top delivery that makes heavy metal what it is. It's arguably the band's best and most memorable song, the only other contender from their discrography being "Shadows of Steel" from Metal Massacre II.
I think it would be asinine to deduct stars or speak negatively about this EP just for the length, but it is a shame Metal Blade doesn't feel this warrants more than a mini-CD pressing in the US. One of the older Euro-pressings paired this with Witchkiller's EP, which may have seemed odd considering the band's geographic location, but material-wise it made perfect sense--another '84 EP of solid heavy metal with a standout title track. On the other hand, without any bonuses, the material here really does stand out as it should.
One thing does make up more than enough for the short length in my mind, though. The EP's title, in conjunction with the cover, remains one of the most clever wordplays among heavy metal song/album titles, and a bold statement on dealing with those in the genre who are less than sincere.
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