If you aren't aware of Obsessive Compulsive then you probably aren't aware that they are exactly the sort of band you WANT to do well. They are hungry and driven. They have built up a loyal fanbase with a grass roots, personal approach. They have tirelessly toured and put on some serious kick arse shows. Most of all though, they have done it all off their owns back rather than wait to be "discovered" by the music industry by setting up their own label to get their debut album out there. They are absolutely an underdog band that deserve to triumph. However, all that goodwill means nothing unless they can produce the tunes to back it up, so have Obsessive Compulsive managed this feat?
...well the answer to that would be a big fat yes then! This is an astounding little record from a band that clearly aren't pulling their punches while awaiting "recognition". Someone who is a much bigger music geek than me could probably tell you how varied their influences are, but even I can hear that O.C have varied style that mingles punk, metal, grunge, gothic and even industrial to name but a few stylings. From the punchy, stripped down statement of intent in opening track "$$" to the slow-grinding "The Decay of Hope", every track stands tall on it's own. My personal favourites being the industrial tinged punk of "Spit the Medicine" and the nearly epic build up of "Future Closing In". This may not be the cheeriest album you ever buy, infact somtimes the outlook of it seems rather bleak, but everything on this album feels like genuine emotion pulses through it.
Whether O.C really breakthrough the way they deserve is yet to be seen, but in the meantime do yourself a favour by getting this album because you will either be getting there way before everyone else does or picking up a real gem that has slipped them by.
(apologies for any terrible grammar or missing words :p)