The Illusion of Motion

The terms doom metal and stoner rock have something in common with the terms death metal and black metal: they're two terms that don't mean the exact same thing, but the styles are so similar (both have a major Black Sabbath fixation) that they are often used interchangeably. And just as death metal and black metal can easily overlap, there are many bands that are relevant to both doom metal and stoner rock. Still, doom and stoner aren't quite the same; doom, for one thing, tends to have a more overtly ominous quality — it really does sound like doom. And the word ominous easily describes the contents of The Illusion of Motion, a rewarding example of the doom style. YOB's albums, like a lot of jazz and progressive rock releases, tend to appeal to those who aren't afraid to hear a band stretch out. Recorded in 2004, this four-track CD contains a number that is short by YOB's standards: the six-minute "Doom #2." But the three other tracks are more typical of YOB, clocking in at 26 minutes (the title song), 11 minutes ("Ball of Molten Lead"), and almost 13 minutes ("Exorcism of the Host"). All that stretching could be problematic if one has a short attention span, but there are so many interesting twists and turns on these performances that The Illusion of Motion is well worth the time commitment. Mike Scheidt's lead vocals will continue to be a matter of debate; like Geddy Lee of Rush and Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth, Scheidt has a vocal style that is an acquired taste but helps give his band a lot of character. Scheidt is an individualist, and he is an asset to YOB on this memorable doom outing.