YOB

Originating in Eugene, Oregon, YOB operates as a doom metal unit whose approach also weaves together sludge, space, stoner, and progressive rock elements, producing a dense and immediately identifiable intensity that resists reduction to any lone descriptor. Their trajectory divides into two clear phases. The opening phase encompasses the quartet of early releases—Elaborations of Carbon, Catharsis, The Illusion of Motion, and The Unreal Never Lived—issued between 2001 and 2005, which cultivated a loyal audience within doom metal circles before the group dissolved and guitarist/vocalist Mike Scheidt launched the brief Middian project. The later phase commenced upon their 2008 reunion and the Profound Lore release of The Great Cessation, after which the ensemble intensified its doom foundation while pursuing extensive experiments in prog metal and sonic abstraction, expanding their recognition on a global scale. Following an extended European tour at the close of 2016, Scheidt received a diagnosis of acute diverticulitis; after returning home, recovering, and resuming routine activities, he suffered a second episode in January 2017. The condition brought him near death, yet emergency surgery and nearly twelve months of recovery allowed him to rejoin YOB’s activities.

Guitarist and vocalist Mike Scheidt emerged from the Pacific Northwest hardcore scene of the early-to-mid 1990s, performing on bass with Chemikill, Dirty Sanchez, and H.C. Minds. He established YOB in 1996 as its guitarist and vocalist alongside bassist Lowell Iles and drummer Greg Ocon, issuing a digitally distributed debut demo in 1999. That configuration persisted only until 2001, when the rhythm section disbanded after completing the full-length Elaborations of Carbon for 12th Records, which appeared the subsequent year. Scheidt then enlisted bassist Isamu Sato and drummer Gabe Morely. The group moved to Abstract Sounds for its second album, Catharsis, which fully displayed their extended, ultra-slow dirge approach across three lengthy tracks. Morely departed after the 2003 release and was succeeded by drummer Travis Foster. Catharsis quickly drew widespread critical attention through online channels, prompting Metal Blade to sign the band, send them on tour, and record their 2004 label debut The Illusion of Motion, which secured YOB’s first U.S. headlining tour. Post-tour, the group returned to the studio for 2005’s The Unreal Never Lived. After headlining dates and European festival appearances, Foster and Sato exited in July; six months later, in January 2006, Scheidt declared YOB finished and formed Middian with bassist/vocalist Will Lindsay and drummer Scott Headrick. Middian issued the Metal Blade album Age Eternal in 2007 before a lawsuit from a Wisconsin band named Midian forced their dissolution.

The narrative did not conclude there. Scheidt revived YOB with Foster in 2008, intending to recruit a bassist, perform live, and produce another record. Aaron Rieseberg joined on bass in 2009; the band signed with Profound Lore and tracked The Great Cessation, featuring guest keyboardist/engineer Sanford Parker. Extensive global touring followed, including a notable 2010 appearance at Roadburn Festival. YOB delivered one further Profound Lore album, the ambitious 2011 release Atma, which incorporated samples from Rieseberg’s brother and a guest vocal from Neurosis’ Scott Kelly, alongside the archival Live at Roadburn 2010. In 2012 they performed at the Scion Label Showcase for Profound Lore at The Glass House in Pomona, California, releasing two tracks as the Live EP; those same tracks later appeared with contributions from Pallbearer, the Atlas Moth, Loss, and Wolvhammer on the limited Label Showcase: Profound Lore Records edition. Continued rigorous touring over the ensuing eighteen months yielded another Roadburn document, the 500-copy Live at Roadburn 2012 pressed as two 12-inch vinyls that sold out immediately. Shortly after its release the band signed with Neurot and re-entered the studio. Their Neurot debut, Clearing the Path to Ascend, was recorded by Billy Barnett, who also supplied Hammond organ on one track. Issued in 2014, the album became their strongest seller to date and reached number 18 on the national Heatseekers chart. Two years of nonstop touring ensued. In early 2017 Scheidt again confronted acute diverticulitis, requiring emergency surgery; during nearly a year of recuperation he signed YOB to Relapse, which reissued The Great Cessation in December, while maintaining a limited touring schedule. The group completed their next studio album, Our Raw Heart, slated for summer 2018. Its seven tracks were captured by Barnett at Gung Ho Studio in Eugene, Oregon and mastered by Heba Kadry, after which a North American tour commenced.