Methods of Madness

Once again, Obsession delivers the goods. This one does have some rather dull commercial attempts, but most of the album is very strong '80s metal.

"Four Play/Hard to the Core" has a rather slow one minute intro before bursting into very solid '80s speed metal. Very good solo work, as always. "High Treason" is the shortest song on the album, being a little bit under three minutes, but is definitely a very memorable one. "For the Love of Money" was the song that Obsession released a video for. It has a very good guitar intro and a good lead riff to carry it. It's a rather commercial sounding song, but it's great. "Killer Elite" is a faster treat and also continues the run of good songs.

"Desperate to Survive" is the ballad here, not the best ballad of all time, but a very well-done one with good guitar work. "Methods of Madness" is another speed metal track, which is always welcome. This is a great song and one of the best on the album.

"Too Wild to Tame" -- uh oh. Looks like Obsession wants a hit single. The song is a bit too pop-oriented and sounds like they wanted to go commercial. I'm kind of glad they didn't release it as a single as it is not a very good song. "Always on the Run" goes back to the solid power metal sound that is trademark Obsession. Good song.

"Panic in the Streets" must be mentioned. The song has an awesome lead riff that will have all those who listen banging their heads. The vocals are also nice, but the best part has got to be the solo section. The guitar solos here are awesome, the best solos Obsession ever wrote. Awesome song.

There are two bonus tracks. "Missing You" is a good song with an excellent solo, while "Waiting For Your Call" is a ballad. It is a good song, but I don't feel it's right to end an '80s power metal album with a ballad. Perhaps it would have been better to have the Marshall Law EP tacked onto the end of this, but Methods of Madness is another solid, memorable Obsession album.

Just listening to the intro that screams loud and proud 'I love Judas Priest', you know that you've got another thing coming with this album. And then it hits, like a laser bullet "Hard To The Core" kicks in and its like, "holy fuck...". The riffs are a thrashy/speed/power metal- sounding killer package that alone unto themselves pummel you down and strip your mind. Hard-hitting and full of intensity. Not to mention you get your first taste of some of the killer solos on this album and the sheer vocal virtuoso that is the voice of Mike Vescera.

The lyrics on this album rule also. To put it simply, they're '80s-stylized awesomeness that are quite creative and for the most part easily sing-a-long-able. Take "For The Love Of Money"; it's just very original and laid out perfectly with the tunes. You can't expect more from a band like this. They're slightly cheesy, in the over-the-top way, but just define what the band was about and put out a kick ass image.

"High Treason" comes in as hard as the first song burns out with a Priest-influenced riff and then goes straight into the verse riff. Very thrashy tune, with a lot of power metal-ish moments. Listen for some hands-down flawless soloing at the first vocal break. The vocals hold there own and leave you wanting more.

"For The Love Of Money" may be the best song on here. Opens with a clean guitar riff and some nice accents over it, then leads straight into some tight attacks and just warms you up to the killer instinct that awaits. The main riff has a cool thrashy and faster mid-paced feel that you surely must bang your head to (it's a classic fucking riff). The guitar patterns flow perfectly from one riff to the next and the overall song is pretty damn flawless. Mike Vescera's voice really shines here too and the lyrical patterns are great. His vocals are very unique and brandish that uber high-end wail that is surely long lost, and this track alone really gives him a good platform for showing his better-than-most-singers vocal abilities.

"Killer Elite" is a good, strong track that's maybe not as memorable as the last one, but put in proper context, few songs are. Very catchy, total power metal, and full of vocal awesomeness. The guitar work on this song is very interesting and showcases how much the guitarist rules. Overall, an awesome song that gives way to the next track, which is just nothing short of greatness in itself.

"Desperate To Survive", a classic '80s-styled balled-esque track, is powerful stuff. From the opening leads onward it's like whoa (ever see the movie "Trick Or Treat"? Think "whoa" like that little girl who's given all the candy), and these guys kick more ass then most bands ever could. "I refuse to accept my fate, and not believe there's no escape, desperate to survive!" -the lyrics rule, although are slightly cheesy, but killer nonetheless. The vocals are harmonized and laid out perfectly with the rhythm. If this was a single with this being the b-side to "For The Love Of Money", I'd still say this album was better than most anything (not everything) else the came out in 1987. If you're a sucker for great metal ballads, then this is one reason this album is mandatory.

The title track opens with some odd sound effects and then goes into the band's thrash-as- fuck speed metal style with Mike's voice leading the way through the patterns. One of the heavier tracks on here and probably should have come with a warning "may induce head trauma" 'cause you'll thrash until it ends. It cant get better than this.

"Too Wild To Tame" is one rockin' song. Very '80s metalized rock...can we say Priest? And actually Mike's voice kinda sounds a bit Halford-ish at some points in his annunciation or something. The solos rule on this one, but I guess that's the umpteenth time said. This one's way too wild to tame. Not the best song on here, but still kick ass.

"Always On The Run" opens with the chorus riff (like a few others, I might add) which is a very original riff that's hard to describe and has a rockin' vibe, but also some arpeggiated thrashiness. The main riffs just pound your skull in, especially the stand-out bass line. Awesome song that's again not the best on here, but it has a lot of killer instinct to compete with, so you gotta consider that. Vocals rule, but the lyrics are a little less than inspiring.

With "Panic In The Streets", Judas be my guide might be the band's mantra on this one. Very catchy, power metal-ish, rockin,... just a hard hittin' joyride through the "Panic In The Streets". Some cool vocal harmonies and probably more inspiring of an overall song than the last two. The leads really shine near the end as the solos on here are phenomenal. I'd go so far as to say this is one stellar fuckin' thrashin' track (just to put it into its contemporary context).

Overall, I'd say this band gave more variety in style and sound than a lot, not that there isn't some repetitiveness throughout, but you must keep continuity to have greatness. I'd also say that this is definitely one of those must-have albums for '80s fans, although it's on the cheesier side.

The cd version is cool, but I thought the cover could have been better (what the fuck is with those stupid grey bars? Bad idea, guys) and the sound quality was improved a bit, though if you're gonna buy this, don't think that the vinyl isn't better (and the bonus tracks really aren't that great either and actually kinda remind me of some cheesy early Savatage stuff. Cool, but not great). So get this album if you like '80s metal.