Spearheaded by one of humanity’s purest beacons of light, vocalist and guitarist Mike Scheidt, Oregon’s YOB have towered over doom metal for the better part of 20 years now. Their brand of emotionally-driven, mind-warping doom possesses an uncanny ability to move people to visible emotion; at shows, I’ve seen people close their eyes, throw their heads back and arms in the air, and weep when confronted with YOB’s sonic sermons.

Even the might fall sometimes, though, and the band's time almost drew to an abrupt end last year. Scheidt was diagnosed with acute diverticulitis, and spent months fighting for his life. The details of what he went through (about which he wrote a powerful essay for Noisey) are harrowing, and yet, in sickness, he found inspiration, using his terrifying ordeal and subsequent recovery as the source for what would become his band’s eighth studio album, Our Raw Heart.

September 6 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s

September 7 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst Atrium

September 8 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s

September 9 Los Angeles, CA Teragram Ballroom

September 12 Albuquerque, NM Sister

September 13 Phoenix, AZ Club Red

September 14 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick

September 15 Oakland, CA Metro

The experience added a deeper, more somber layer of humanity to the band’s music, and Scheidt’s continued growth as a vocalist—though stunted briefly by large incisions in his abdomen following surgery—has only pushed YOB further into doom metal’s highest echelon.

His voice and engrossing guitar wizardry are once again accompanied by the earth-shaking low-end of bassist Aaron Rieseberg and drummer Travis Foster. YOB’s customary glacial pace forces introspection, and immersion; “Our Raw Heart” spans 14 and a half minutes, and in true YOB fashion Scheidt, Rieseberg, and Foster use every second to produce a truly evocative composition. This dazzling offering is undoubtedly one of the trio’s brightest moments. Scheidt’s grizzled timbre emerges a few minutes into the track as radiant guitar chords slowly blossom into what seems like an infinite crescendo; then as the track winds down, the final five minutes settle into a meditative groove before taking one last climb as the music slowly fades.

Stream the magnificent title track to Our Raw Heart now. The album arrives June 8, courtesy of Relapse Records.

Catch YOB on tour: May 25 Vancouver, BC Modified Ghost Festival

--- Jun 14 - Jul 14 w/ Bell Witch ---

Jun 14 Oklahoma City, OK 89th Street

Jun 15 Austin, TX Austin Terror Fest

Jun 16 Little Rock, AR Mutants of the Monster 2018

Jun 17 Memphis, TN Hi Tone

Jun 19 Birmingham, AL Saturn

Jun 20 Atlanta, GA The Earl

Jun 22 Orlando, FL SoundBar

Jun 23 Wilmington, NC Reggies

Jun 24 Asheville, NC Mothlight

Jun 25 Raleigh, NC King’s

Jun 27 Baltimore, MD Metro

Jun 28 New York, NY Le Poisson Rouge

Jun 29 Philadelphia, PA Underground Arts

Jun 30 Boston, MA Middle East

Jul 02 Montreal, QC La Sala Rosa

Jul 03 Ottawa, ON Mavericks

Jul 04 Toronto, ON Mod Club

Jul 06 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre

Jul 07 Detroit, MI El Club

Jul 08 Chicago, IL Reggies

Jul 09 Chicago, IL Reggies

Jul 10 St. Paul, MN Turf Club

Jul 11 Omaha, NE Lookout Lounge

Jul 12 Denver, CO Bluebird Theatre

Jul 13 Salt Lake City, UT Urban Lounge

Jul 14 Boise, ID Neurolux

--- September 6 - 15 w/ Acid King and CHRCH ---

September 6 Sacramento, CA Harlow’s

September 7 Santa Cruz, CA Catalyst Atrium

September 8 Pioneertown, CA Pappy & Harriet’s

September 9 Los Angeles, CA Teragram Ballroom

September 12 Albuquerque, NM Sister

September 13 Phoenix, AZ Club Red

September 14 San Diego, CA Brick by Brick

September 15 Oakland, CA Metro