Yob’s initial approach to their set seemed to focus on differentiating themselves from Pallbearer and the supporting act, Bong Cauldron, who sounded “exactly what you’d expect a band called Bong Cauldron to sound like” according to Brett Campbell. The main engine behind Yob, Mike Scheidt confidently mentions to the tech guys, “we don’t need the smoke” as they made introductions. Of course there was also a strong sense of respect from the more seasoned Doom band as they sung praises of Pallbearer’s performance all throughout the set, as if to give the band a bow of awe.

The set essentially took the format of a sandwich, the two pieces of granary at the beginning and the end were their older songs. The scratching of a loose tremolo and bopping, dumpy drums were the most prominent during Burning the Altar. It may have been gig fatigue but time started to feel like less of an illusion and the 13 minute song length took its toll. The encore of Quantum Mystic felt like this too. It was kind of like watching a studio practice session. Also, the music was aggressive which was hard to align with after a long set of sorrow.

The flavoursome middle of the set is what kept the blood rushing and bodies swaying. “Fuck it, we’ll just play the whole record”: a deep, soulful, gushing of their new album, Clearing the Path to Ascend, begins. A spectacular vocal range was unlocked from Mike Scheidt, from croaky gargling in Unmask the Spectre to the colourful bellowing in the beautiful finisher, Marrow. This part of the set was highlighted by the feeling of stark despondency that the music conveyed, much like Pallbearer’s presence but while also feeling quite ‘metal’ and burly.

Ivan Yohuno

photo 1: desertfest.be
photo 2: yellmagazine.com