Yearning
With Tragedies Adorned
Holy,1997
With Tragedies Adorned is the debut release from Finnish atmospheric
doomsters Yearning, keeping in tradition of the cold and dark musical climate
this region has become known for. Epic, melancholic Doom Metal with slight
touches of Goth and folk is what these guys offer, bringing to mind acts such as
Solitude Aeternus, Candlemass and Serenades-era Anathema. Flutes and
keyboards are used to decorate the atmospheres throughout, the flute used in a
similar fashion as the violin in My Dying Bride as it mirrors the guitar riffs.
This is most effective in opener "Remnants Of The Only Delight", "Release" and
closer "Canticum". Vocals range from Robert Lowe (Solitude Aeternus) operatics
to Pete Steele (though not nearly as deep) gothic tones to Darren White
(ex-Anathema) Death growls. The growls are used sparingly and it is the clean
singing which is most used to express the lyrics of despair and sorrow.
Performed by guitarist/keyboardist Juhani Palomaki, the vocals can leave a lot
to be desired at times. Not that it's so terrible that the music cannot be
enjoyed, it's just that in certain sections of songs ("In The Hands Of Storm"
and "Bleeding For Sinful Crown" most notably) he is clearly off key and does not
possess a powerful and convincing range. He has a way to go as a frontman,
however, it must be said that he does not allow his obvious vocal limitations to
keep him from releasing his emotions in a passionate expression. He tries hard,
but this material would benefit greatly from a more accomplished vocalist.
High points of this elegantly produced album are opener "Remnants Of The Only
Delight" the crushing and strangely bizarre ending of "Bleeding For Sinful
Crown", "Flown Away", which is probably their most accomplished song and
definitely my personal favorite with its acoustic intro and impassioned chorus.
"Haze Of Despair" is the most emotional track here, featuring some beautiful
atmospheric passages while album closer "Canticum" begins with whispered vocals
and drifts through acoustics, haunting keyboard passages and various shades of
melancholic atmospheres. At over twelve minutes in length, it stands as a true
doom epic.
For the most part, Yearning's music achieves the desired effect and would prove
worthwhile to any Atmospheric Doom fans collection. The only aspects of the
band's approach that I feel needs work is in the aforementioned vocal department
and some tightening in the songwriting, as songs have a tendency to drift off
into instrumental indulgence. They are great players, but if they would condense
some of their ideas their songs would benefit from a more direct impact.
All in all, an impressive debut effort with nice packaging (as most Holy
releases) with photos of nature's splendor coinciding with each lyric. Hopefully
Yearning will realize their potential and grow into one of the genre's shining
stars in the future rather than drift off into obscurity, failing to live up to
the promise shown on this first endeavor.
2000
Tracklisting :
1. Remnants Of The Only Delight
2. Bleeding For Sinful Crown
3. Flown Away
4. Haze Of Despair
5. The Temple Of Sagal
6. Release
7. In The Hands Of Storm
8. Canticum
Yearning
Frore Meadow
Holy, 2001
One of the treasures of the mid-to-late-90s thriving Gothic doom metal movement came in the form of With Tragedies Adorned, the 1997 debut from Finland’s Yearning. Taking cues from early Anathema and Solitude Aeturnus, Yearning created an epic melancholy of music that gave itself over to the dreams of wandering souls, and exemplified how to effectively channel dark emotions of rare beauty into a Baroque form of heavy metal. Following the more progressive-minded second album Plaintive Scenes, Yearning have slimmed down to two members for their third effort, Frore Meadow, a work that finds them delving deeper into experimentalism within a doom metal framework, to varying degrees of success.
This CD is strangely arranged, as its sequence of events unfold in disruptive measures, causing continuous flow or sustainment of atmosphere to prove difficult. Perhaps this was the desired intent, to create disturbance of emotional settlement from track to track, but even if this is indeed the case, it makes for a frustrating listen. Yearning are a prime example of a band who are marvelous when at their highest level of creation, yet fail to establish quality consistency which sees them lumber through failed experimentation, cumbersome structures and apparent lack of focus. "Bleak" is a strong opener, recalling mid-era Katatonia in its repetition of riff and simplistic rhythm foundation in the expression of pulsing melancholy. This method of operation is revisited in scattered separation through the disc’s duration, and it proves to offer the most effective moments. In-between these are travels through progressive atmospheric metal and orchestrated instrumentals that brim with potential brilliance, yet lose their way in broken dedication to a particular theme, or not exercising a confident development of a central idea. What suffers are the truly outstanding material, often found within a particular track such as the excellent final moments of "Autumn", rather than making up an entire song, resulting in split levels of composition and presence, or the immaculate and powerful production awarding this music with clear and full presentation of sound. Expert percussion, interesting use of keyboards to provide unique ambience to individual songs, mostly clever and emotive guitars and an improved vocal performance of J. Palomaki drive this music, but putting it altogether in a unified whole of captivation seems a challenge for this promising band. At times, there is an attempt to make things too interesting in the forsaking of what could have been a striking, moving song.
"Desolate October grief
Falls heavy like boulders of decay
Upon crestfallen life which soon
Is to be gone"
Through barren landscapes this music drifts along in eremitic movement, seemingly rising from every fall to present something that does not fail to ultimately diminish, much like a journey of age provided infrequent slumber. The ail of the soul through a suffering existence haunts this work, as creeping shadows that dwell in every corner of a room. The dynamic of emotions shifts to the acold and allows moments of utter confusion to the process of the world to wash over in not always satisfying ways, but enough to make its presence known at every turn. In Yearning’s world, it isn’t enough to lament a fallen dream, but to congeal with its descent. As foreign as this may be to the common human, as they wish to escape, by any means, the ache of life, it is second nature of this act that inspires such concentration on the darker aspects of feeling, in the genesis of creation of such art. It’s danger lies in the likeliness of oblivion to something like pyrexia, when submerged in cold distance, until the fade of sight acquaints the shortness of breath.
Frore Meadow is not without its moments of glory, however it is becoming apparent that Yearning have become distracted by where to take their music. This work lacks an identity and direction, and fails to fully impact the listener as their sparkling debut managed to do. Such a gift for grand orchestration and captivating melody falls to tragedy in the affliction of this kind of waywardness, an empty void of promise strangled by cluttering debris.
4/10/05
Tracklisting:
1. Bleak
2. Solitary
3. Autumn
4. The Fall.
5. Years Of Pain
6. Forsaken
7. Frore Meadow
8. The Race
9. Elegy Of Blood
10. In Strange Slowfooted Fever
11. Disappearance
Yearning Discography :
With Tragedies Adorned (Holy, 1997)
Plaintive Scenes (Holy, 1998)
Frore Meadow (Holy, 2001)
Evershade (Holy, 2003)
