Song: "Blessed By Nothing"
Artist: YOB
Album: The Great Cessation LP (2010)

I seem to remember hearing this song live, it being familiar but not, like so many things these days. It has a bit less outright heaviness yet more of a long-term emotional weight than the 2009 album. If you can't afford or don't do vinyl, the two bonus tracks from The Great Cessation (this song included) are wandering about the internet as of at least a week ago. If you're a YOB fan, you'll want to get on that soon...

I've known about this for a while now and it's been killing me not to be able to talk about it. Now that I can, what do I say? Holy SHIT, that's what.

Musicfest NW PRESENTS

Sleep performing Holy Mountain
Scott Kelly
YOB

Roseland Theater

Saturday, September 11, 2010

MFNW normally has a wristband + door pay only policy, but shows at the Roseland are advanced tickets with wristband entries secondary. Seeing as this may sell out, I highly recommend you Portlanders buy advance tickets.

Also awesome? 9/9 Baroness, Red Fang, Rabbits, and The Thornes @ Dantes. There's also a Jeff The Brotherhood show somewhere that weekend, too. Nice nice nice.

[71] Trees, Witch Mountain, YOB (2010)

I skipped a bunch of good shows later last year, and complete with the usual concert lull during the holiday season, I haven't gone to a show in approximately three months. 73 days. That is the longest I have gone without since 2006-2007 when I went five months without a show.

About a month in, I started to go through show withdrawal. Around the 1st of January, I really, really wanted to see something. Naturally, there were no shows then that I could go to. Gradually, that faded and was replaced by the hope that I might actually get to see YOB this time... all of the way through their set, not cut off after two songs.

A few days back I made it so I'd more or less have to attend this thing for the betterment of my sanity (see above) and musical exposure. Assuming it works out, you will hear about this mysteriously vague thing later.

In the meantime...

Fliers and such read 9pm, but the show didn't start til 10pm practically on the nose. Even when I got there the place was more packed than I'd ever seen it, and the crowded nature of the room slowly grew to the point it took a good five minutes to "walk" from the stage to the end of the bar, complete with stepping on everyone's toes and frustration about assholes standing having conversation in a group in the skinny fucking bar "hallway" this venue has going. I'm that one who vehemently hated being touched as a kid, so I find it a miracle that I can endure these experiences of constant bumping and elbows and shoving.

I did find a place for Trees' set and it worked out well enough considering I already know they're boring as far as stage presence and the singer gets on my nerves. I'd kind of forgotten exactly what they sounded like, but I got a bunch of drawn out screaming to reeeeally slow bassy nonsense. I remember being annoyed by them before, something about more strung out vocals, but this time wasn't that bad. Still, my thought was "oh good, I'm glad I was in a good mood when I walked in here because I might have killed myself under normal circumstances". I think next time I see them live, I'll buy what they have so I can bring it home, plug it into a program, and listen to it sped up. Assuming no one has beaten me to the chase... Sarcastic character-of-myself aside, they played, I think, three very long songs and probably only a half hour total.

Witch Mountain found the stage fairly quickly. The crowdedness was getting bad at this point, so I couldn't see the stage very well, but the sound was clear/good enough. They mostly played songs I didn't/don't know, though I think they started with "Wing of the Lord" which is now going to be stuck in my head for a week, just like when I saw them last Halloween. The two shows otherwise felt unique of each other, and I think overall I preferred their Halloween show even with Uta's crazy vocalizations towards the end of tonight's set.

YOB took a little more time setting up, and I happened to be in their path of alcohol when the bottles shoved their way through the crowd to get to the so-called "backstage" area during Witch Mountain's set. For as much as they seemed to be drinking, they played pretty good... I suppose I wouldn't know the difference, but it sounded nearly as good as what I caught last time with obvious differences in the fact that Berbati's sound is SO GOOD while this venue's sound can only deliver so much before turning into a pile of sound garbage.

YOB started with "Quantum Mystic". Everyone's brain turned to goo and 90% of the people in the crowd started headbanging on the VERY first post-continuous drum/bass/guitar note (in the recorded song, 2:01). I started laughing. The song seemed to send these people into some kind of collective fit I apparently didn't catch on the way in the door. It only lasted about eight minutes for the lot of them, probably due to the mild inebriation going around (or maybe because they were mostly guys... oh, right, I'm writing an equality of the sexes blog... sorry, I meant that eight minutes is a REALLY LONG TIME... snicker). Anyhow, the song was good on the soul and, though it didn't sound as good as it might in a better venue, it certainly worked.

Second up was "Burning The Altar". Yay. Apparently this particular song is 12 and a half minutes long. It felt like two. I also started cracking up at "WAAAAAAAHAH!" I'm glad I made it out of my teen years or even early 20s with a still retarded sense of humor...

Third, fourth, and fifth all sort of ran into each other. What was familiar, was only briefly so, so I'm lost on names. One of the latter songs sounded a bit old, and its style reminded me of Witch Mountain's general sound, finally bridging the gap between the two for me. The third song went on for-fucking-ever, starting with just gentle guitar and then slowly turning into something YOB is more known for, with a couple of silent breaks between "pieces" of the song. I got the impression that it was new or something, at least as far as the intro guitar bit.

They acted like they were going to leave, but after a little audience bitching they played a sixth song... something else I couldn't identify. And yet, titles aside, I pretty much enjoyed it all.

On top of the show and getting there & back easy and the rest of my day, it was a good night. Danke, YOB.

Song: "The Lie That Is Sin"
Artist: YOB
Album: The Great Cessation (2009)

The newest Yob sounds better six months and six days after its initial sting. Possibly due to deprivation, dehydration, and sleep disturbance. I kind of knew I'd like this better when I felt like stabbing a needle in my eye (as opposed to frolicking through a field of daisies).

Holy long-ass intro into the actual "song" bit of this song.

Did you know that Yabby's playing a show January 29th at Rotture with the band Bloody Panda? Now you do. Well, you do as long as the date remains in tact.

[68] Atriarch, Saviours, Witch Mountain, Ludicra, Yob (2009)

Short review: I thought Trees played last year. SOUPA! Has bass. Fans of Mastodon. Impeccable.

Long review:

I went to bed on time yesterday, but my body disagreed with this idea entirely, so I stayed up another two hours to watch a movie. Normally I can do horror movies no problem, but this one resulted in Really Shitty Sleep. Apparently my subconscious was pissed off with me for doing that. Or just in general. Who knows.

I planned to get to this at doors, but instead I got there about 45 minutes later because I was moving so fucking slow. Oh well. The first band didn't even begin playing until a minute after I showed up, so hey. I win anyway.

My nose, however, didn't win. This place smelled like shit when I walked in. I overheard that it was "sage", but I don't have a clue what that smells like. Whoever's decision it was to burn whatever the hell needs to be slapped.

Atriarch looked like they were big fans of the East End, and they sounded a lot like Trees. Hell, maybe they were Trees. That about covers it. They had a moment or two, but, enh. Didn't like Trees last year, either.

Saviours set up, and I was actually looking forward to them this time. The first time I didn't get much out of their set. The second time I liked about a third of what they played, and what I did like was pretty good (see previous song postings). This time... they all walked out in foam tomato soup can Halloween costumes and went straight down a path of goodness. (That was me resisting the obvious joke.) Their last song wasn't particularly strong for my tastes, but the rest of it was decent. There was a guy up front apparently called Jason who was loving the shit out of them, and whats-his-face singer was enjoying the attention.

I thought I'd woken up by now, but I had a complete brain-dead moment about here when Mr. Diesto, Mark, and his girlfriend said hi to me. I suppose because it was entirely unexpected. Nevertheless, I knew he'd been around here, at the blog, but apparently she has as well. Crazy shit.

I also had a fairly long conversation with some stoned individual who wanted to sell me drugs. He was pretty forward, and I'm having trouble remembering the last time that's happened. It was kind of like a vague reminder of previous Halloweens, like my 16th and 17th, or the one where I stupidly went out with a drunk girl and her lack of contribution made us miss the last bus so we had to walk a million years home. She's one of those people on my wishlist for a free punch in the face. In any case, I'll cover those other stories another day. Back to the 'view.

I've seen Witch Mountain once before, with Rob singing. They had a guest singer on the very last song, though I don't remember if she, then, was the same lady this time around. In any case, shortly after that show they announced the addition of Uta.

I hadn't seen her other band before in person, but I did see a video of her singing for Aranya and liked what I heard. I generally don't care for female vocals, but her voice is smooth and she doesn't ever do that irritating "talking singing" that women love to resort to because it makes them appear "tough". Or that dog whistle Sarah Mclaughlin/Evanescence crap. Her voice is pretty warm.

Anyway, the bass and bass drums during Witch Mountain were fucking great for one of their songs, possibly "A Power Greater"(?) and good otherwise. I know they played "Wing of the Lord" and there was another familiar one in their set, but I have brain damage. As for costuming, they were all dressed sort of like zombies.

Ludicra had a strong start, and I was doing okay with them for the first song or so. I'm pretty sure one of the songs' guitar was from Mastodon, though I can't place the song now. Elsewhere, I think it was the vocals that were getting to me and making me not like them, because their musicianship seemed okay despite being indefinably familiar. I was getting sick of the screaming.

Edit: Okay, the song was "Veils". Tell me that guitar doesn't sound like "Hearts Alive".

Yob didn't start playing til 12:10, leaving me 20 minutes to decide if I was going to stay through them and be irritated that I had to spend $30 to get home or save $30 but be irritated that I only saw them for 20 minutes. I chose the latter option. The two songs and the first ambient minutes of a new song, either "The Lie That Is Sin" or "Burning The Altar" that I caught sounded impeccable, and now I know I'll definitely try to see them in the future. Perhaps next time I'll make a proper, financially reserved trip out of it.

For some reason, I didn't know they were going to appear almost clean-cut. All kinds of unexpected, considering their sound. Or their crowd, har har.

As for the crowd this whole show, I got a sense of warmth or politeness for the most part, but they weren't the most active bunch. Ludicra had more followers than the previous bands up in the front, and the Yob crowd felt fairly defined and attentive as would be expected.

The sound, as always for the venue, was all-around good.

And I would like to apologize to every person who I accidentally raped with glitter. I had the idea to put hair glitter on, and what a whole lot of fail that was. Most of it had fallen off my head before I even left the house, but I know I left a trail with every step because I kept seeing it falling off my head. Thankfully, it washes off easily.

Finally, is it just me, or is Halloween tranny night?

Apparently Saviours has been added onto the Fall Into Darkness YOB day.

$12 for earaches to last a lifetime. You'll be like, yeah, I was there. Or, actually, you'll be, like, WHAT? You'll have to speak up, I lost my hearing the same day I lost my patience for hairy white guys with lots of tattoos.

I have had caffeine today.

This shall be the third Into Darkness festival since they began last year.

The first was in March 2008, featuring such bands as Subarachnoid Space, Red Fang, Middian (who have since changed their name to Age Eternal), Russian Circles, Red Sparowes, Witch Mountain, Indian, Grayceon, and Agalloch. The very first day, with Subarachnoid Space and Red Fang, is one of the best shows I've ever seen - this is saying a lot, as I had only just barely touched on either of their discographies and I very rarely open up to a band on first listen. Unfortunately, I had to leave early so I ended up missing Middian entirely that night. They broke up just after this show. It sucks that I had my chance and missed it.

The second fest was in October 2008. Here, SunnO))), Grails, Ancient Age, Purple Rhinestone Eagle, Trees, Thrones, Nachtmystium, Dark Skies, and Subarachnoid Space once again graced Berbati's Pan with their white-clad presence. While it seemed one of the days was reserved for a few touring bands who didn't necessarily fit what seemed to be the as-created local essence of the fest, a free fourth day was added onto the bill. Free. This is how awesome the people are who put this show together.

On round three, there definitely seems to be a return to the first fest's overall local feeling. Similarly, these lineups have clearly been chiseled to represent a particular subgenre-based demographic per each day.

Day one features Earth, the return of Subarachnoid Space both to the fest and to Portland after a States tour, Makoto Kawabata, and an Italian band quixotically titled ?aloS. The first day appears to be the dreamy, drone day - a gentle introduction into what is to come.

Day two has more of a black metal feeling. Headlining is Agalloch - a Darkness veteran. They'll be sure to cause jealousy out of SunnO))) with their fog machine abuse and burning wood incense appreciation assuming opener Soriah alone doesn't do the trick. This show also includes Amber Asylum and Fauna, a name that lends itself very difficult to find a myspace/website for even though I'm sure it exists out there, somewhere.

Day three is my favorite as it is doom day. Opening the show is Atriarch, a new metal band who was at least partially once responsible for Graves At Sea, who I am very looking forward to being pleasantly surprised and/or pleasantly disappointed by. Following is Witch Mountain, containing the guitarist for the currently on hiatus Iommi Stubbs, whose drummer is also the face of Nanotear, the promoter and creator of this entire fest and therefore default awesome. Ludicra then bridges the emotional gap between "Indian Passage" and "The Lie That Is Sin" for headliner YOB. The final band of the fest has gotten nothing short of respect between the fall of Middian and the release of The Great Cessation. This room ought to be packed with people who missed YOB's first Portland show this year, so my advice is to BUY ADVANCE TICKETS.

All of these shows take place at Berbati's Pan, a block south of Burnside at 231 SW Ankeny Street in Portland, OR, Halloween weekend.

Thursday 10/29
Earth, Subarachnoid Space, Makoto Kawabata, ?aloS
$10, 21+, 8:30pm doors

Friday 10/30
Agalloch, Amber Asylum, Fauna, Soriah
$14, All Ages, 7pm doors

Saturday 10/31
YOB, Ludicra, Witch Mountain, Atriarch
$12, 21+, 8:30pm doors

If you are interested in attending all three days, buy a three day pass. Even if you're attending only two days, you may save a little money on fees if you purchase the three days pass in advance.

In short, if you are within driving distance to Portland and you have the resources, go to this festival. Berbati's is one of, if not THE best sounding venue in this city and Nanotear's support for Oregon-based metal and the general music scene is unmatched. Go.

Song: "Burning The Altar"
Artist: YOB
Album: The Great Cessation (2009)

YOB posted a new song tonight (AKA 20 minutes ago... Amazing, this technology).

It is as one might expect. Very loud and challenging to those with adult-onset ADD.

Their newest album is tentatively scheduled for a July release.

A local high school put on a concert last night with YOB headlining.

a) I wish I were ten years younger, and...
b) I wish I had gone to high school in this neighborhood instead of the one I did.

because then I would have been able to C a band of relative decency at my high school.

All we had at Hickville were Z100-style DJs when there were football games. And being underage with no choices, it was the same sort of thing at "clubs". Plus I was made fun of for my musical choices, even when people had no idea what those were. My high school reunion ought to be interesting (not that social networking sites haven't taken away some of the surprise).

Actually, this is all silly because, at this age, a network of musical friends have been created, I can actually talk to various band people myself, I've been quoted by TAD!, I can talk Monster Magnet with one of my favorite band's drummer and his slowly degrading sanity, and I can get into any place I feel like getting into also without having to worry about whether or not my friends like my music so I have a ride to get to shows. Now is actually way better...

but yeah. Still jealous of those kids.

Song: "Quantum Mystic"
Artist: YOB
Album: The Unreal Never Lived (2005)

As you should know by my repetition now, I'm way behind on my music, lately and in general.

I only recently gave YOB a chance, and have not been able to stop listening to this song. Unfortunately, its only internet presence is via compressed files. :(

Edit: No wait! There's this! Could be better quality, but still! Listen!

Edit #2: Added a video! Thanks Doom metal Alliance!