YOB „The Unreal Never Lived”

Music: Doom
Country: USA
Website: http://www.yobdoom.com
Duration: 51
Cool Songs: ALL

There are conventional doom metal bands and then there is YOB. As much as you can identify classic Doom with the likes of Black Sabbath and Candlemass, this three piece act from Eugene, Oregon seem to want to play their own brand of oppressive heaviness. In this sense you can view the YOB template as slightly more progressive and experimental in its approach. Album number four ‘The Unreal Never Lived’ proves to be their most dramatic and accomplished effort yet. If colossal progressive doom sounds interesting to you, boy are you going to love this.

‘The Unreal Never Lived’ follows up 2004’s ‘The Illusion of Motion’ which was their debut effort for the Metal Blade stable (YOB’s first two releases include ‘Elaborations of Carbon released on12th Records) and ‘Catharsis’ on Lunasound/Abstract Sounds). It also follows the usual YOB penchant for containing extremely lengthy compositions – Like ‘Illusions..’ this new album features only four tracks, but clocks in at some 52 minutes in length. The first three tracks call it quits after 10 minutes each and then rather than let the listener down gently, YOB simply save their most ‘epic’ until the end and ask another 22 minutes of your time as you succumb to the monolithic drone of ‘The Metal Tyrant’. Incredibly, YOB’s sense of creativity enables their songs to remain focused and most importantly, memorable.

In comparison to ‘Illusion..’ this new album sees YOB sticking to their well established core style, yet for mine, it is a much more menacing, more aggressive and overtly heavier record; if that is at all possible for a band that freaking heavy to begin with. It is also interesting to note that the more you listen to YOB’s take on the genres sound, the more you hear influences that do not necessarily equate with the classic doom style. The UK doom merchants ‘Electric Wizard’ are possibly their closet cousin in terms of matching YOB’s full blown heaviness, yet their chaotic nature isn’t something YOB subscribe to. More specifically, it is the likes of early era ‘Kyuss’ (Blues for the Red Sun) meets the rumbling momentum of ‘High on Fire’that I hear a lot on ‘The Unreal…’ – throw in the droning epic nature of ‘Pelican’ and ‘Isis’ plus the spacey, psychedelic effects of ‘Sleep’ and ‘Pink Floyd’ and it is immediately apparent that this album is a much more ‘non-conventional’ sounding doom album.

Graced with a suitably confronting, but somehow, warm analogue production ( courtesy of Jeff Olsen at Dogwood Studios); ‘The Unreal Never Lived’ also highlights one of YOB’s more distinctive components – the vocal performance of frontman/guitarist Mike Scheidt. Coming across as being somewhat of a vocal chameleon, Scheidt once again employs various tones and style throughout, from typical depressive tones to dark demonic death screams plus his signature evil-twisted, nasally falsetto which reminds me of not only Wino meets Dave Mustaine, but also the likes of Ken Nardi (Anacrusis), Jet (Sam Black Church) and Perry Farrell (Janes Addiction) are worthy comparisons. This part of Scheidt’s vocal effects is truly unique in the doom genre and just another example of a band doing it their own way.

YOB are a massively talented band and ‘The Unreal Never Lived’ is further proof of a band still experimenting with and expanding upon their sound. Importantly, YOB has been able to employ small variations, subtle twists and turns in their music without ever removing themselves from their signature style. Having said that, ‘The Unreal..’ is anything but an exercise in repeating past glories. Their progressive creativity continues to flow and their freshness remains even more impressive. Great album. Great band.

note: Quote: 8.7

Tracklist

Quantum Mystic
Grasping Air
Kosmos
The Mental Tyrant