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.
Prepare the Ground
YOB Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Repetitions
Recite the mantra
Flowers unfold
Loosen the grip
Undo the fiction
Release the power
Trapped in the story
One hundred thousand
Thousand million thoughts
Streams of tomorrow
Drowning this moment
Loosen the noose
Release the bonds
Breathe in the power
Of no tomorrow
This mystery never ends
Angels and demons smiling
Embrace the burial mound
Prepare the ground
One hundred thousand
Nightmares obscure
The precious knowledge
Form is illusion
Loosen the noose
Release the bonds
Breathe in the power
Held in this moment
Prepare the ground
The burial mound
Breathe in the power
Held in this moment
This blessed grave
This blessed death
Streams of tomorrow
Cleanse our fate
Silver moon
Trumpet sounds
All to awaken
Prepare the ground
Awaken
The YOB song "Prepare the Ground" is a song about the cyclical nature of life and death, and the power of the present moment. The song begins with the repetition of a mantra, a call to release the power that is trapped within the confines of our own stories and fictions. The lyrics continue to explore the concept of letting go, urging listeners to loosen their grip on the past and the future and to embrace the power of the present moment.
The song's chorus, "Prepare the ground, the burial mound, breathe in the power held in this moment, this blessed grave, this blessed death," speaks to the transformative power of death and the idea that in death, one's energy is returned to the earth, ready to be reborn and renewed. This theme is further explored in the final verse of the song, which references the "silver moon" and "trumpet sounds," symbols of the cyclical nature of the universe and the promise of rebirth.
Line by Line Meaning
One hundred thousand
A large amount of effort or repetitions required
Repetitions
Repeating something over and over again
Recite the mantra
To repeat a word or phrase for meditation
Flowers unfold
Something beautiful coming into existence
Loosen the grip
To let go of control or tension
Undo the fiction
To remove the lies and illusions
Release the power
To free the strength and energy within
Trapped in the story
Stuck in the narrative or history
Thousand million thoughts
A huge number of continuous thoughts
Streams of tomorrow
Constant flow of future possibilities
Drowning this moment
Losing focus on present time
Loosen the noose
To loosen the grip of death or stress
Release the bonds
To break free from constraints
Breathe in the power
To take in and feel the strength
Of no tomorrow
No worry or anxiety about the future
This mystery never ends
The unknown and inexplicable continue
Angels and demons smiling
Good and evil both in play or agreement
Embrace the burial mound
Acceptance of death and the afterlife
Prepare the ground
Get ready for a new chapter, stage, or level
Nightmares obscure
Fear or anxiety preventing clarity
The precious knowledge
The valuable information or understanding
Form is illusion
The external appearance is not the real substance
Held in this moment
Grasping the present time and space
This blessed grave
A positive view of death or burial
This blessed death
Death as a necessary or positive event
Cleanse our fate
To purify or improve the future outcome
Silver moon
The mystical or magical lunar body
Trumpet sounds
An announcement or wake-up call
All to awaken
Everyone being nudged to become self-aware
Awaken
To become conscious, alive, or alert
Writer(s): Mike S.
Contributed by David D. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Aaron W.
I can't afford to listen to Yob anymore - they keep melting my headphones.
OnyxWhale
Friend just showed me this band a few months back. Have to say, this is a home town band I was happy to come across. That drum build to 6:40 sets that line up perfectly!
The Eclectic Spot
Travis is a beast on the drums.
The Eclectic Spot
They're all great, Aaron, Mike. I love this band. Seen them about 3 or 4 times live and it was awesome every time.
Rotten Crow From Caelid
I'm not very familiar with YOB, I check who is the female singer and realise it's only a dude who sing all the parts 😨 what the fuck
And of course this is incredible 🤘
Aric Hansen
6:40... best bass drop ever.
Katzenkaiser
the ultimate gardening theme!!!!!!!!!
Kowalski
@The Other Browns That's some Chauncy Gardener wisdom right!
The Other Browns
It's a song about the winter age of human life. We're all better in the fall. Prepare the ground for your winter. Spring will sprout your fruit. Summer will yield the fruits of your labors.
SCARDOG BONES
also great for undertakers