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The Oregon Phenomenon is back with a vengeance and I can only ask if there is a Progressive Doom subgenre. If so, count in Yob. If not, consider it created by Yob. Let's take a trip down memory lane, shall we boys and girls? Yob's massive debut, "Elaborations of Carbon" (12th Records), was unfurled in November 2001. Greatness. Two years passed and the web of the band's sophomore effort, "Catharsis" (Abstract Sounds Records), was cast in November 2003. Killer. Less than one year later (!) Metal Blade put out "The Illusion of Motion" in October 2004. Badass. A paltry 10 months (!!) has barely passed and Yob are already back to punish the ears of its faithful listerners with "The Unreal Never Lived." Fuckin' A. They're getting more and more prolific as the days go. Expect a new one in 9 months....
All kidding aside, this newest slab of sonic abuse is simply crushing. Yob have definitely progressed over the course of 4 albums (and 1 demo) but they have not lost sight of the ALMIGHTY RIFF or the soul-shattering power of torturously slow tempos. Their brand of DOOM-laden torment is truly like no other. The vocals can still soar like grain alcohol soaked eagles on fire, but the predominant voice heard on this record seems to be the Hardcore bark/Death Metal groan. Bassist Isamu even contributes a vocal change-up pitch on The Mental Tyrant. Great stuff.
In an interview I did with Mike Scheidt last year, Dr. Doom himself said "YOB's name seems to be regularly mentioned in the same sentence as Isis, Pelican, Mastodon, and Cult Of Luna." Some of those comparisons can be heard on TUNL, particularly the Rock aesthetic of the masterful Mastodon and the textures and dynamics of the mighty Isis. Is TUNL for fans of either? Maybe. Some people will likely need to bear witness to the majesty of the Yob sound to become true believers. This is definitely not for the A.D.D. crowd or the typical SlipKorn fans.
Yob continue to play (primarily) slow tempo songs that achieve great lengths -- with four songs spanning almost 51 minutes, and one at over 21, you do the math. The music ebbs and flows not entirely unlike the structure of classical music, and the use of textures and dynamics really shines through on this album. Oh, there's still the numbing wall of DRONE but that is made all the more powerful when coupled with such menacing changes of pace. This is distinctly not for everyone, but then again that's probably part of the plan. Yob kills.
| Tracklist |
| 1. Quantum Mystic |
| 2. Grasping Air |
| 3. Kosmos |
| 4. The Mental Tyrant |
: 51.48
| Buy other Yob albums |
