Oregon-based doom metal act YOB have been making some of the genre's loudest, filthiest doom metal epics since their formation back in 1996, and their latest full-length outing is certainly no exception. Atma is five tracks of extremely slow and heavy doom metal, just as the genre was originally intended. Though this observation lacks significantly when it comes to variation and originality, YOB's raw and filthy attitude should certainly garner some attention within the metal community. Despite being a severely flawed album (in multiple departments), Atma may be worth an acquisition for people who still haven't gotten their fix of old school doom metal.
Stylistically, Atma is angst-ridden, sludge-induced doom metal with obvious nods in the direction of Electric Wizard, Neurosis, and Black Sabbath. Not the most original sound out there, but it can end up quite successful when done correctly. Unfortunately, Atma falls into the trap of becoming too repetitive and simplistic for its own good, often coming across as monotonous and even a bit boring. Despite the incredibly lengthy songs, most of them only have enough material to justify only a fraction of their current duration. The minimal variation between different songs makes listening to the entire album in one sitting even more of a daunting task. "Adrift in the Ocean" is really the only track that differs significantly from any others. The riffs are simply too unmemorable and generic to come even close to justifying a 55 minute playing time.
Although it may seem like I'm coming down extremely hard on Atma (which, in a sense, I am), the album isn't all bad. The musicianship, though not technically outstanding, is powerful and convincing in execution, and the production's raw and filthy sound suits the music perfectly. There are also a fair amount of high-quality riffs here, even if they still feel too drawn-out.
Atma wasn't an album that impressed me, to say the least, but YOB fanatics and die-hard doom metal fans may find more worth here than this humble reviewer. I know this album has been getting plenty of positive press attention since its release, so I must be in a slightly confused minority in this case. I just don't understand what all the fuss is about. 2 stars is the most I can give here, but check it out anyway if you think you may enjoy this one. More variation and originality will be crucial to my enjoyment, however.
Track Listing:
1. Prepare the Ground (9:05)
2. Atma (8:57)
3. Before We Dreamed of Two (16:00)
4. Upon the Sight of the Other Shore (7:34)
5. Adrift in the Ocean (13:33)
Total Time 55:09
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