SPLIT REVIEW: Dream Unending / Worm – Starpath

Back in October two very unique Extreme Metal entities released a split album via 20 Buck Spin. On one side we have Dream Unending, whose otherworldly and ethereal gothic Death/Doom takes us through ponderous portals while the flip-side contains atmospherically charged Black Metal sepulchre and mystical wisdom from Worm. Let us embark on this adventure together.

Dream Unending

Dreary guitars and vocals come in with a mountainous heaviness coupled with the body of acoustic guitar and slow drum work. The sleepy nature and stunning production of the music blend the more ambient end of Extreme Metal with a sublimely enriched performance that does not take long to shine through in the form of intricate guitars that pluckily divert from the more typical notions of the genre. With a mournfully harrowing vocal performance, the growls and drums really drag out across those resplendent guitar notes to give us a truly sombre soundscape full of dynamics and nuance, sparse in their mix so as not to overshadow each other. Enchanting instruments and mixed clean and harsh vocals give us a constant flow of natural and organic compositional progressions while the mood of the songs is never lost or jarring. It feels like Dream Unending are very content in their own little part of the wider Heavy Metal spectrum and they are occupying it with some great songs.

Spectrally soft and yet crushingly intense, the qualities of Dream Unending’s prior works are present here tenfold, indeed this is something unearthly and special. Of course the Peaceville trio spring to mind, as do some Death-Doom pioneers, but equally there are notes of jazz and progressive rock to be found in this music. Furthermore it might be a little far-out for some fans, which I think is a valid response to music as unusual as this in the metallic underground. That said, I think equally people will be attracted to the rich palette of musical prowess that Dream Unending offer which propagates the sensibilities of Paradise Lost, Opeth, Sentenced, Thergothon and more into something quite wonderful. Impeccable grooves and atmospherics dance in a slumbering yet engaging fashion to create formless and yet driven, timeless and grieving soundscapes from start to end.

Worm

Crystalline guitar and synths ride waves of thundering double kicks and malicious vocals, that spooky Worm vibe coming in strong from the very onset. Admittedly I have sometimes lamented the loss of their grotesque Death-Doom past as heard on “Gloomlord” and “Foreverglade”, but their ability to execute spellbinding Black Metal rife with melody and tasteful synths akin to early Dimmu Borgir, Emperor, Obtained Enslavement and the like is certainly impressive. More so the lead guitar work is insane, as we have heard before, taking some ferocious shred elements into a genre that typically lacks solos. Speaking of the crazy musicianship, the drumming is fantastically varied and sharp while the bass lines contort into inhuman shapes superbly. The keyboard use plays perfectly around the melodies and the vocals are raw and raspy as they should be to fit such a sound. Interestingly, the sodden dungeon-lurking atmosphere may feel like inhaling dusty cobwebs until the aorta turns to parchment, but contrastingly there are these epic, soaring moments that take those glacial icicles and spearhead them through your chest.

Worm may have sacrificed some grit, but equally have ushered in a lot of emotive, introspective and mysterious elements to their craft. This feels like a very modern continuation of the Scandinavian Black Metal scene of the mid to late 90s. In a world where many bands attempt to be old school to varying levels of success (and don’t get me wrong, many of my favourites fall into this category), Worm do the opposite and attain a very current sound with extremely clean mixing to give us a shiny package. Somehow, this inexplicably feels like a mysterious chest found deep in a castle keep that has not been touched for centuries, in spite of its up-to-date methods. Whether you prefer or disdain this, it must be commended that Worm have not simply followed the masses. All of this enforces the magical nature of their side and one’s ability to be utterly lost in its transcendental tranquility. Chilling, wintery Black Metal that is vibrant, diverse and bewitching, another triumphant new chapter in Worm’s discography which seems to never hit the same spot twice.

This split is clearly meant to be something very unique, in which it is profoundly successful. Both bands bring an obscure and often overlooked take on Extreme Metal’s past into the modern day without rehashing any of their forebears. Both have a modern, dreamy, otherworldly and yet still metallic approach that oozes musicality and variety in so many forms. As much as I often despair overtly progressive Heavy Metal, this is one of those rare gems where it does something cool without losing that essential core the genre must uphold. “Starpath” is an extraordinary journey of secretive and yet sublimely heartfelt music where each band has gorgeous new pieces to offer and fits the other without occupying any of the same spaces. Explore…