Hailing from the ever-gray skies of Eugene, OR, USA comes YOB, a band already well on their way to make their mark in the doom metal scene worldwide. Formed in 1996 by founding member Mike Scheidt, YOB started creating and destroying ideas that would become the foundation for one of doom metal’s most shining hopefuls.
The first three song self-titled demo was submitted to Stonerrock.com in 1999, sending shockwaves into the stoner rock/doom scene worldwide. This demo was a bold statement of intent: uncompromising heavy doom metal. Within YOB's sound, which is equal parts Sleep, Burning Witch, Neurosis, High On Fire and Electric Wizard, YOB has accomplished song craft that is as much their own sound as it is paying homage to the doom metal greats of both times of yore and present.
In 2001 YOB recorded its first full-length record for 12th Records in Spokane, Washington titled Elaborations Of Carbon. This offering received dozens of rave reviews from magazines and fans worldwide, securing YOB's place as one of the best doom metal bands in the scene today. The Lollipop Magazine review of Elaborations of Carbon says, "Six mighty songs of beautiful doom-laden sound, full and expansive. Inverted, hanging riffs, Melvenoid spacey trudging, Tab-esque motion, and a deep well of compositional creativity...only a complete dupe would say this isn't a good one".
2002 saw YOB secure a recording contract with Lunasound/Abstract Sounds. Their first CD for this label, Catharsis, hit the streets worldwide November 4th, 2003. Featuring a stronger production and three songs clocking in at 50 minutes, those who have heard it proclaim it is the best YOB record yet.
Kicking Doors In
YOB's third full length release The Illusion of Motion was a bold statement of utterly mammoth proportions. Released on label heavyweight Metal Blade Records, the band was handpicked by legendary Brian Slagle. With this newfound support, YOB was introduced to a much wider audience and garnered much attention for this record's unheard of approach to the doom metal genre. One just needs to listen to the track Exorcism of the Host to instantly recognize that the band was head and shoulders above their metal brethren. Following the release of the album, YOB went on to headline a tour through May and June.
The End of the Road
In 2005 the band released their most ambitious and most accomplished studio production yet, entitled The Unreal Never Lived. The hypnotic pound-everyone riffing remained while at the same time they pushed the envelope of Doom Metal to its maximum capacity. Classics such as Grasping Air stomped in such a crushing way as to make one check the yard for dinosaurs. The album also explored dynamics and progression unheard of before on cuts like Kosmos. Doom fans and Metalheads alike the world over were turning their undivided attention to this entity seemingly trapped out of time. But unfortunately as the old saying goes, "All that we build, all that is destroyed."
In a press release dated January 10th, 2006:
"This is Mike from YOB. I regret to say that YOB is disbanding after almost 10 years of existence. The time we spent with YOB exceeded our wildest expectations and hopes and it has truly been a dream come true. Travis Foster and Isamu Sato left the band in July, and I have been trying to decide what to do for the last six months. YOB has had 3 other line-ups, but this one was the best. At the end of the day the best thing for YOB is to call it a day. I want to thank everyone who has been supportive to YOB over the years....labels, bands, fans, the venues, our families....without you none of this would have been possible. I will be working on a new band called AGE that will very much be in the vein of YOB, with some new twists. Until then, be well and stay HEAVY! ENDLESS DOOM!!!" - Mike (YOB)
The follow-up band, Middian, disbanded after numerous legality issues. They only released one album, "Age Eternal". After this, in 2008, the band has reformed and has confirmed the recording of a new album to be released in Summer 2009.
The Great Cessation album, by YOB, has been released in July 14th 2009. It is absolutely one of the heaviest albums yet, and this band is great live.
There is also another artist called yoB.
yoB (with a capital B) A Songer Singwriter from Hackney. With songs that cover heartbreak, paternity leave, make-up and immoral support. Look out for the New E.P 'A Boys Eye View' coming to an illegal file sharing site near you.....
For the next year. At the end of every month. yoB will be releasing a free piece of music. Limited to 200 downloads. Available from www.yobmusic.bandcamp.com.
Aeons
YOB Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Feel it burn
Another dark stain
The pulsating strain
With no peace
In the heart of disease
Feel the pain
Cannot deal with what is
Will soon begin
Confused weakened and blind
The weight of despair
Cracks open the ddoor
Shakes to the core
Inner sleep
Crushing aeons to dust
Regain the space
The ageless expanse
The gateless entrance
Inside me
Feel it burn
Feel it tonight
All belief
The other shore
Reach it tonight
Feels all right
There's no peace- why can't I leave it all behind
Feel it
The other shore- why can't I reach it tonight
Feel it
It's all so useless hopeless demons that curse and deny
Feel it
And I know there's more truth to this life
There's more than this
Look up to the sky
It all crashes down
It makes no sense
To me something inside pushes endlessly
Can no longer ffight what will be
The song Aeons by YOB is a slow and heavy song that combines doom metal and psychedelic rock. The lyrics are introspective and deal with themes of inner struggle and pain. In the heart of the mind, the singer feels a burning sensation, which is compared to a dark stain that represents the pulsating strain of disease. The pain is overwhelming, and the singer cannot deal with it. However, the catharsis is imminent and will bring relief.
The singer is confused, weakened, and blind to the truth. The weight of despair cracks open the door and shakes the core. The inner sleep is described as crushing aeons to dust, which might mean that long periods of time pass without the singer noticing. However, they manage to regain the space and reach the ageless expanse and the gateless entrance inside themselves.
The chorus speaks of the other shore, which represents a place beyond the pain and confusion. The singer cannot reach it tonight, but they can feel it, and they know there's more truth to this life. The demons that curse and deny seem useless and hopeless, but something inside pushes endlessly, and the singer can no longer fight what will be.
Overall, the song is a journey through inner turmoil and the search for peace and truth. The heavy and atmospheric music enhances the lyrics' emotional impact and makes the listener feel the pain and catharsis that the singer experiences.
Line by Line Meaning
In the heart of the mind
Deep within the depths of one's consciousness
Feel it burn
Experience a burning sensation or overwhelming emotion
Another dark stain
An additional blemish or mark of negativity
The pulsating strain
The throbbing pressure or stress
With no peace
Without any calm or serenity
In the heart of disease
Within the core of sickness or affliction
Feel the pain
Suffer from intense physical or emotional distress
Cannot deal with what is
Unable to cope with reality or accept the present situation
The catharsis
The emotional release or purification
Will soon begin
Is about to occur
Confused weakened and blind
Disoriented, feeble, and unable to see with clarity
The weight of despair
The heaviness of hopelessness or melancholy
Cracks open the door
Creates an opportunity or opening, exposes vulnerabilities
Shakes to the core
Rattles one's foundations or beliefs
Inner sleep
A state of being unconscious, unaware, or detached from reality
Crushing aeons to dust
Destroying vast periods of time, eradicating history
Regain the space
Reclaim the area or atmosphere
The ageless expanse
The timeless and infinite area
The gateless entrance
The access point that has no barrier or limit
Inside me
Within oneself
All belief
Every conviction or adherence to faith
The other shore
The alternate spiritual state or dimension
Reach it tonight
Access it today, without waiting any longer
Feels all right
Seems satisfactory or acceptable
There's no peace- why can't I leave it all behind
There is no tranquility- questioning why it is impossible to escape
And I know there's more truth to this life
Believing there is greater meaning and understanding to existence
There's more than this
There is something beyond the current reality
Look up to the sky
Observe the heavens or seek guidance from a higher power
It all crashes down
Everything falls apart or collapses
It makes no sense
It is incomprehensible or illogical
To me something inside pushes endlessly
Internally there is a constant force or drive that propels forward
Can no longer fight what will be
There is no use struggling against fate or inevitable outcomes
Contributed by Ruby V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.