As Musical Colors Pummel and Weave:  Yob Bring Sensational Doom to the Brick by Brick 

March 21st, 2022

            For 25+ years and counting, Yob have waived the Stoner/Doom Metal flag in great stride.  8 full-length records of droning, tidal wave power of somber sounding Doom, alongside songwriting that doesn’t stay with conventional Stoner music qualities, Yob’s reputation had their most recent North American tour, ranging from enjoying a 4-night show extravaganza in Brooklyn, to the coast of California, here in San Diego.  Only hearing a few songs from their studio albums, I wanted to learn and discover more of the American Doom Metal side of things, and wanted to feel the excitement from their passionate fanbase.  

            The evening, I could tell alone from the long line to the doors of the Brick by Brick, the anticipation between everyone talking, on this special Monday show.  We need shows to be this way on weekdays, keep this to be something more permanent, and not a trend.

            An Instrumental Atmospheric Metal band, I come to find out this was Pire’s 2nd show performed ever.  From the professionalism you could feel from the band, as well as the overall ability from the 4 members, you wouldn’t be able to tell.  Aaron Queen’s various pedals and vibrato displayed the unique techniques and bleakfulness of Pire’s music, from clean picked intros, to creating sounds of nature using off-picking, funky bends, and a punishing tone that blended beautifully with Sean Jones’s punchy bass riffs.  I felt there was space between the transitions, as well as the instrument sounds themselves:  crystal clear and booming.  You could see the excitement in Aaron Weislogel’s face, and it showed in the dynamic hits he performed on the drums.  It created such a diverse counter with the softer tempos, and it beamed the energy all about.  Intentional, or just the mix itself, rhythm guitarist Dillion Giedt’s volume level and tone, felt synth-y, and I enjoyed the particular harmony it gave to Pire.  Harmonious, eventful, and twisted in parts, Pire had the audience wowed, and learning more about the different ways you can create Instrumental Metal like this, I was pleasantly surprised of their overall quality.  Knocked it out of the park. 

            True Widow performed shortly after, to the crowd at this point, nearly filled Brick by Brick to the limit.  A much different sound than Pire, as the 70s Stoner Rock would fit before Yob’s set.  A tribute to that era of Rock, Dan Philip’s Fuzz on guitar sounded as trippy as you’d expect, leaving the riffs themselves thicker in the mix, with emphasis on bass notes from all the string instruments.  He switched off on vocals with bassist Nicole Estill, with the latter’s singing in a more somber register.  Her vocal parts, seemed to have the stronger, impactful chords during them.  Considering that Nicole strummed a number of her parts, it added a texture to the bass that felt powerful, but a few times would leave Dan’s guitar a little less able to hear.  The tempo was droning, and while many other Doom/Death Metal bands often have those songs in that slow-nod speed, I didn’t feel there were many dynamics with True Widow.  Perhaps it’s within the nature of their songwriting and music, but even if sounds and tempo slightly changed, I wonder how True Widow would be, going up just a single gear.  The crowd overall were into their set, with the packed Brick by Brick nodding with Timothy Stark’s drum beat nearly the entire time.  True Widow would go well for the Doom/Stoner Rock/Drone fan greatly, but personally didn’t do too much for me, on first listen.     

1.  Jakyl

2.  Back Shredder

3.  Creeper

4.  Skull Eyes

5.  Blooden Horse

6.  Numb Hand

7.  Four Teeth

8.  NH

            From hearing about Yob’s successful 4-day stay at the St. Vitus Bar in Brooklyn for this tour, to many Metalheads around me talking up this upcoming performance, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, given their Stoner/Doom Metal sound, something I’m still getting accustomed to.  Mike Scheidt’s monitor setup was rather unique and interesting to see, as the monitors themselves surrounded him in this square-set up, facing him in each direction, indicating to me the vocal/guitar contrast would most certainly stand out.  Already with the soundcheck, this evening seemed to have barely just gotten started.

            Although Yob songs are generally on the longer side, the transitions I felt didn’t drag on. With Stoner-based Metal, often times the songs can repeat, due to that particular riff wanting to hit home after its 3rd constant rendition.  The arrangements felt monstrous, as in the intro to “Prepare the Ground.”  Slow chaos brewing, the overwhelming power Scheidt performed with wasn’t lost in the mix, or sound heavy because of massive effects.  It’s certainly obtainable to achieve an avalanche-sounding tone, while having riffs of clarity.  The clean passages between large mountains of Heavy, kept the crowd a gasped, on pins and needles.  The setlist itself was different than I was expecting, as only Atma and The Great Cessation, were played tonight.  Without being familiar with Yob’s discography, the songs were mostly heavy, head-pounding, and full of boiling, tritone rage.  Hearing the band perform this type of set as my first time attending, I thought was done justice.

               Filling in for Travis Foster, Dave French matched the intensity from Scheidt, but also provided constant movement throughout the set.  The tom hits boomed upon the venue, while the delicate cymbal work added resonant moments during the quieter interludes.  Prime example, the first clean passage in “The Lie That is Sin.”  The drums move swiftly, but Dave not lacking power simultaneously, and it worked together beautifully.  For Yob to be labeled as Stoner Metal, the amount of dissonant sliding chords and bright songwriting, told me the level of musicianship and nuance, was found in this group.  Aaron Rieseberg showed an immense amount of energy on-stage; it was difficult to get clear pictures often.  Although the bass guitar followed the notes of Scheidt, a pronounced tone was present all set long, with the sustained chords/notes ringing a bowel of a low-end, it felt like the bass stood out on its own sound.  “Burning the Altar” closed their 70-minute set, pummeling the gazing crowd with a mesmerizing, repeating melody, that created a wormhole in your ear, able to hum it after a few listens.  The recommendations and hype for Yob, were completely justified, and I appreciated getting a set from some of their more dynamic, heavy material.

            Better late than never, but it seems the Stoner/Doom/Death Metal bands are on the limelight stage in these modern times, with Primitive Man for example, returning on a massive tour later this summer.  And since 1996, Yob’s influential reputation of dissonant, droning Doom, understandably show the level of fanship and praise they receive, and wholeheartedly deserve.  It’s taken me longer than normal to attempt to understand, and naturally enjoy this genre of Metal, but a crushing performance from Yob like this tonight, the transition just got better. 

1.  Prepare the Ground

2.  Atma

3.  The Lie That Is Sin

4.  Upon the Sight of the Other Shore

5.  Adrift in the Ocean

6.  Breathing from the Shallows

7.  Burning the Altar