Justin DeTore (Vestal Claret, Solemn Lament) and Derrick Vella, (Tomb Mold, Outer Heaven) known collectively as Dream Unending, have released their sophomoric album ‘Song of Salvation’ which has just been released on all formats by US label 20 Buck Spin.
Before I get onto the musical aspect of this album, the cover art painted by Benjamin A. Vierling deserves a special mention for its depth of colour and intricate detail. The album itself features five tracks, two of which are instrumental, of high quality Atmospheric Death/Doom Metal that I found to be extremely relaxing.
Opening with the fourteen minute title track, Dream Unending demonstrates a vast range of depth to their distinctive melodic sound. Crushing obelisk-like drum tones and deep, cavernous sounding growls combine well with sweeping keyboard flourishes, intricate guitar leads and soft, subtle piano tones. There is a haunting, almost harrowing ambiance to the opening track that emanates mainly through the sinister sounding guitar tones but is emphasised massively by the slow, thought-provoking keyboard work.
Tracks such as ‘Sacred Grief’ and the instrumental ‘Murmur of Voices’ have a far more sombre aspect to them, with the former reminding me in part, of the Canadian band Altars of Grief. Fellow instrumental track ‘Unrequited’ has an even more intense atmosphere, created through progressive sounding guitar leads that move slowly and methodically through the song. There is almost a sci-fi element to some of the melodies interwoven into this album that cast my mind back to the Bladerunner Soundtrack.
Ending on the albums longest offering, ‘Ecstatic Reign’, which brings all of the above qualities together for a glorious swansong, Dream Unending closes off what has been an incredibly intense and harmonic journey. Replete with moments of dense, heavy Death/Doom, as well as airy melodic wandering and claustrophobic mournful atmospherics, ‘Song of Salvation’ is an experience to say the least.
(8.5/10 Marksson)
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