DOOM ETERNAL: MIKE SCHEIDT ON A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATION, THE POWER OF THE RIFF, AND WHY YOB KEEPS CRUSHING
DOOM ETERNAL: MIKE SCHEIDT ON A DECADE OF TRANSFORMATION, THE POWER OF THE RIFF, AND WHY YOB KEEPS CRUSHING
It's been ten years since YOB last darkened Australian shores, and in that time, the Eugene, Oregon trio has cemented their place as one of the most vital and uncompromising forces in heavy music. Across eight full-lengths—from the monolithic The Unreal Never Lived to the transcendent Our Raw Heart—Mike Scheidt and company have refined doom metal into something beyond genre: a physical, spiritual, and emotional experience that demands total immersion. Their sprawling compositions don't just pummel; they breathe, meditate, and ultimately transform.
Scheidt himself is a rarity in heavy music—a frontman whose sincerity and introspection match the crushing weight of his riffs. With roots firmly planted in the DIY hardcore and punk scenes of the Pacific Northwest, he brings a blue-collar work ethic and genuine humility to everything YOB does. Whether he's reflecting on his near-death experience, the craft of writing 20-minute epics, or the importance of delivering a quality show night after night, Scheidt speaks with the same honesty and intensity that defines his band's music. He's a great hang, deeply thoughtful, and refreshingly real—the kind of artist who makes you remember why underground music matters.
We caught up with Mike ahead of YOB's long-awaited Australian return to talk about the whirlwind decade since their last visit, the recording of a new album, life-changing introspection, the art of the long-form song, and why the doom/stoner genre is deceptively difficult to master.
WATCH THE FULL INTERVIEW:
We discussed:
The return to Australia after 10 years and the crazy amount of activity the band has been through since the last visit
Recording a new album in the near future
Personal change, introspection, and reflection after a life-changing near-death experience
The business of life, touring cycles, and the commitment to delivering a quality show despite the hectic pace—"but that's what you signed up for as a band"
Long-form songs in the genre and how a song evolves from a riff, a feeling, and where it wants to go
The journey of a song and the creative power of extended compositions: "time becomes elastic"
The draw of a powerful, deep album that needs to be listened to from start to finish
Why the doom/stoner genre is easy to play but hard to do well
The importance of growing up in a DIY hardcore/punk community and choosing not to be a curated band
The experience and influence of Lee Dorrian—Napalm Death and Cathedral—why Cathedral's diverse catalogue is so solid, and how Lee is a vocal wizard
The importance of early extreme bands and grindcore/death metal—the Grindcrusher compilation, early Earache catalogue, Morbid Angel, Carcass—and how each band was unique, confrontational, and inspiring
The physical toll of gigs and tours, sustaining the band while providing a solid show for the punters
The influence of the Pacific Northwest—from geographical beauty to early DIY shows and crucial bands like Poison Idea (his favourite), Dead Moon, and the Wipers
The importance of a solid local scene and making musical connections with locals and out-of-state bands
The brilliance of Dirt Clod Fight
Hope, insight, and the reality of life despite the nihilism we crave in music—genuine, heartfelt reflections
The compulsion to write, continue, and keep at the craft
The setlist dilemma: having long songs and creating an interesting arc for the set
And much more.
Don't miss this tour, great humans and killer musicians!!!!!
YOB AUSTRALIAN TOUR DATES:
15 FEB // Rosemount Hotel Perth WA (yesterday)
17 FEB // Ed Castle Adelaide, SA
19 FEB // Max Watts Melbourne, VIC
20 FEB // Crowbar Sydney NSW
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