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.
Kosmos
YOB Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Unspoken sacred oath the universe in all life
Dawn of the rising sun burning the timeless
Living equilibrium of the kosmos
Clear light
Personified divine
Clear light
Pervading the void
Kosmos
Vast eternal sky
Atoms vibrate
The chanting begins
Hymns to the funeral pyre
Give birth to tommorow's dead
Subsonic sage drones reach to the stars
With ancient insights into the kosmos
Clear light
Personified divine
Clear light
No thing is denied expansion
Pervading the void
Kosmos
Vast eternal sky
Oh mani padme hum
Oh mani padme hum
Oh mani padme hum
Each thought creation's dawn
Each breath one with the all
Hearts pulsate with the mantra
Vibrant in the kosmos
Faith of fear
Empire of old
Fear in disguise
Seething false power
The empire withers and falls
The world revealed
To be in the mind
To be in the mind
Personified divine
The dreamer sleeps no more
No thing is denied
The whole drama is witnessed
Diverse in the void
The kosmos is within
Within us within us
Within all
The song "Kosmos" by YOB is a meditation on the nature of the universe and the interconnectedness of all things. The lyrics speak of a "sublime magnified" force that binds the universe together, an "unspoken sacred oath" that is present in all life. This force is personified as "clear light," a divine energy that pervades all things and expands without limit. The song urges listeners to tap into this energy by chanting the sacred mantra "Oh mani padme hum," which aligns each thought and breath with "creation's dawn" and makes every heart "vibrant in the kosmos."
The lyrics also touch on the transience of human power and the illusory nature of fear. The "empire of old" is revealed to be built on "seething false power" and ultimately withers and falls, while the true nature of the world is revealed to be "in the mind." The dreamer no longer sleeps and the whole drama of life is witnessed as diverse but ultimately connected, all within the kosmos that exists within each of us.
One interesting fact about the song is that it was inspired by the work of philosopher and psychologist Carl Jung, who believed in the existence of a collective unconscious that connects all human beings. YOB's frontman, Mike Scheidt, has cited Jung's writings as a major influence on his lyrics.
Another interesting fact is that the song has been interpreted as a tribute to YOB's former drummer, Travis Foster, who passed away in 2018. The album that features "Kosmos," "Our Raw Heart," was written in the aftermath of Foster's death and is largely a meditation on grief and spiritual transcendence.
Line by Line Meaning
Insight into the one sublime magnified
Understanding the magnificence of the one true essence
Unspoken sacred oath the universe in all life
The unspoken promise of the universe in all living beings
Dawn of the rising sun burning the timeless
The fiery beginning of unending time
Living equilibrium of the kosmos
The balance of existence in the entirety of the universe
Clear light
The light of clarity
Personified divine
The divine being personified
No thing is denied expansion
Expansion is limitless
Pervading the void
Spread throughout the emptiness
Kosmos
The universe and all that exists within it
Vast eternal sky
The infinite and everlasting sky
Atoms vibrate
The movement of atoms
The chanting begins
The commencement of the chant
Hymns to the funeral pyre
Songs for the dead
Give birth to tomorrow's dead
Bringing forth the future corpses
Subsonic sage drones reach to the stars
Loud and wise sounds that reach towards the heavens
With ancient insights into the kosmos
Having knowledge of the universe from the past
Oh mani padme hum
A sacred chant for compassion and wisdom
Each thought creation's dawn
The beginning of all creations from one's thoughts
Each breath one with the all
Every breath connects us to everything
Hearts pulsate with the mantra
The mantra resonates within our hearts
Vibrant in the kosmos
Alive and colorful in the universe
Faith of fear
Believing in fear
Empire of old
An ancient and powerful kingdom
Fear in disguise
Fear hidden by other emotions
Seething false power
An illusory strength bubbling beneath the surface
The empire withers and falls
The mighty kingdom crumbles
The world revealed
The truth is exposed
To be in the mind
Everything exists in the consciousness
The dreamer sleeps no more
The one who dreams is now awake
The whole drama is witnessed
Observing the entirety of life's plot
Diverse in the void
Different yet connected in emptiness
The kosmos is within
The universe exists inside of us
Within us within us
Inside of us twice over
Within all
Contained within everything
Contributed by Skyler A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.