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October 8, 2008 |
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01. Ball Of Molten Lead
02. Exorcism Of The Host
03. Doom #2
04. The Illusion Of Motion
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Standing proudly alongside such well-known names as CANDLEMASS, MY DYING BRIDE, RUNEMAGICK, and THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, Oregon-based 3-piece YOB bring their own brand of doom metal to the roster. Founded in 1996, the band (Mike Scheidt - guitar/vocals, Isamu Sato - bass, Travis Foster - drums) quickly made a name for themselves by creating a sound that, to me, is totally different than anything I've ever heard before. Now, for the record, I must confess right off the bat that I generally do not listen to a lot of this genre at all. Sure, I've heard the odd release here and there, but not nearly enough to classify myself as a true die-hard doom metal fan. So before I go on, I have to offer somewhat of a disclaimer here because again, I am basically "green" when it comes to doom metal.
Furthermore, I'm totally unfamiliar with YOB's music, so with regards to digging deep into their Metal Blade debut, "The Illusion Of Motion", I guess it would be quite appropriate to pin up a banner here that reads "I'm blind in YOB-land!". But instead, I think I'll just stick to the task at hand.
Recorded at Dogwood Studios last April right in their hometown of Eugene, Oregon, "The Illusion Of Motion" marks the band's third effort ("Elaborations Of Carbon" was released through 12 th Records in 2001, followed by "Catharsis" in 2003 on Lunasound/Abstract Sounds), and features 50+ minutes of music over a mere 4 songs. I must admit that I found myself scratching my head after the first listen, but I was surprised at how it grabbed me after a few more spins. In terms of style, the material is a unique mixture of doom and stoner rock, with a lot of obvious psychedelic influence thrown in as well, but it's all YOB.
If you're expecting a good old head-banging time here, look elsewhere. In fact, I will go as far to say that most who listen to this album will find that patience truly is a virtue, as the majority of the disc is relatively slow-paced. But, this is, after all, doom metal, right? Disc opener, "Ball Of Molten Lead", has a very atmospheric beginning with a low-intensity, "wavy"-sounding guitar riff that quickly leads into what proves to be a very trippy, yet solid track. The "fuzzy" vocal effect gives this that distinct "stoner rock" feel. "Exorcism Of The Beast" sports a VERY slow and steady-paced rhythm throughout, with Scheidt showing off some impressive vocal ranges and "different" guitar techniques. Sato's distorted bass can be heard clearly as well - no it's not your speakers crapping out.
After a relatively slow first half, "Doom #2" gets the ball rolling into a stint of head-pumping - definitely more my style. If I had to choose a standout on the album, it would be this track, primarily because the overall beat is a lot faster in comparison to the rest of the album. The whopping 26-minute long title track, "The Illusion Of Motion", is where that real doom style comes into play. For the better-half of the song, you'll hear non-stop fuzzy bass-lines and single-stroke snare drum/floor tom/cymbal slams (courtesy of Sato and Foster) while Scheidt screams through the vocals nicely. The song's length and monotonous sound may summon some of those patience skills I mentioned, but if you can hold out until around the 20-minute mark, it does speed up a bit into a great last run before finishing off with a quiet riff, which is then silenced by a swift blow right at the very end.
Aside from the fact that doom metal is not normally what I enjoy listening to, I will say that these guys have a lot of potential to climb the ladder in their own genre, especially with Metal Blade watching their backs. Musically speaking, this album is definitely an acquired taste (in my humble opinion). Without a doubt, I'm sure that die-hard doom fans will relish in this latest offering from YOB, while non-fans of the genre may or may not have the ears to try something different than they are normally used to. Regardless, if YOB can keep using their unique sound to their advantage, we can expect to see them become true innovators of the genre in the years to come.
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