Yearning - With Tragedies Adorned
Holy Records
Melodic DoomDeath
8 songs (60'01")
Release year: 1997
Holy Records
Reviewed by Alex
Archive review

The last week was very tough on me personally. I had to come to realization that my friend and a family member, my 11 year old cat Masha, is terminally ill. This Friday her body left this world, but her spirit is still here with us. She was a one special animal. All this sadness and pensiveness grated on me, so I felt like taking some gloomy music to listen to while driving to work to match my mood. On the day we had to put Masha to sleep, the first disc I reached out for was Yearning’s With Tragedies Adorned. Since some of the fans may not be familiar with this brilliant album I thought I would review it.

With Tragedies Adorned is the first full-length by this Finnish band, after a name change from Flegeton and a demo release. After 30 or 40 sec of silence and the far away sounds of the melancholic heavy waltz the opener Remnants of the Only Delight comes at you with its broodiness and a leading flute. This music is a perfect combination of heaviness and melancholy. After a subliminal whisper “Angels fall from heaven” the song goes back to the opening waltz chords, but they are full bore now. I remember the moment I heard those notes a few years ago. I was mesmerized by this album ever since.

In 1997 Yearning undoubtedly put out one of the best melodic doomdeath albums ever. Eight tracks on With Tragedies Adorned alternate between more lighthearted sweeter melodies and slow bleeding funeral marches. It is if the band demonstrates the two types of grief: ultimate cleansing and hopeless bereavement, respectively. What starts at a slow stride (Bleeding for Sinful Crown) transforms into a flowing, yet still dark and sinister, double bass driven ending. The whole song is punctuated by a closing classic opera interlude.

The band, perhaps because of the classic training of the vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Juhani Palomaki, gives nods to the classic roots. Sometimes it is done by the canons of Bach’s fugues and sarabandas (the opening of Haze of Despair), sometimes an old Black Sabbath riff is invoked (the opening of The Temple of Sagal). As despondent as the music is on With Tragedies Adorned the album never stagnates. Careful insertions of tender flute by Tiina Ahonen, and almost life affirmative melodies on Release provide the ultimate contrast.

The album ends with a 12 minute funeral procession which is Canticum. This song has everything: some of the most pessimistic chords, ethereal breaks, church bells, vocal moaning and, again, that enchanting flute.

Most of the time Juhani Palomaki sings with a clean accented slightly off-key voice which I find unbelievably soothing. At times, especially when heavier riffs call for it, he switches to the very low growl which is scraping the bottom of man’s soul. Tico-Tico production is perfect, making sure we hear every string touch and drum roll.

When I hear With Tragedies Adorned I almost soak in the physical pain expressed by this music. Yet, after 60 min I find myself cleansed and relieved. This music is therapeutic for me. Regardless of what the musicians wanted to accomplish, this is how I personally feel about this album. As good as Plaintive Scenes and Frore Meadow are With Tragedies Adorned is Yearning’s ultimate accomplishment so far.

Killing Songs :
Remnants of the Only Delight, Haze of Despair, The Temple of Sagal, Release, Canticum
Alex quoted 94 / 100
Other albums by Yearning that we have reviewed:
Yearning - Plaintive Scenes reviewed by Alex and quoted 71 / 100
Yearning - Frore Meadow reviewed by Alex and quoted 78 / 100
Yearning - Merging Into Landscapes reviewed by Jaime and quoted 90 / 100
Yearning - Evershade reviewed by Alex and quoted 84 / 100
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