Review Summary: A natural evolution of deathy-doomgaze goodness
Despite coming out less than a year after Tide Turns Eternal, Dream Unending is already taking considerable steps forward with their second full-length. While it would be a stretch to say that the duo is ‘going soft’ with Song of Salvation, they spend more time developing the more atmospheric side of their dream-doom style. The psychedelic effects are more tripped out and the cleaner segments run even longer this time around, almost pushing into post-rock territory in a way that gives their already adventurous aura even greater space to explore.
An expanded roster of guest musicians further reinforces this album’s more dynamic approach, especially with a couple cleaner vocalists getting the spotlight. “Secret Grief” is a gorgeous number that features Phil Swanson delivering a distantly echoing performance ala his recent work with Solemn Lament and some extra piano and Leila Abdul-Rauf’s trumpet putting in almost jazzy touches. The closing “Ecstatic Reign” pushes the album’s dynamics to their furthest extents as the cleaner segments driven by McKenna Rae’s ethereal presence are downright euphoric, the periodic driving chugs are just impactful enough to keep from feeling too out of place, and the spoken word toward the end is effective.
But what really makes this album work so well is how the songs are laid out. While the lengths on the bookending title track and “Ecstatic Reign” are colossal at fourteen and sixteen minutes respectively, their slow burns set the tone splendidly and include enough fluctuations to keep from getting too played out. “Murmur of Voices” is a pleasant midway reprieve that smoothly transitions into the gorgeous Floyd-esque guitar leads on “Unrequited.” Part of me wonders if there could’ve been one more heavy number thrown in there to balance things out, but five songs in forty-three minutes is just too tight to screw with.
While Dream Unending doesn’t evolve too dramatically on Song of Salvation, it’s the sort of evolution that feels perfectly suited to their trajectory. Tide Turns Eternal was a strong start that showcased a unique deathy-doomgaze sound that this album puts in even more effective hands by means of its tighter structuring and greater exploration of their atmospheric elements. It’s a very dense listen with the glacial pacing still taking some time to feel out, but the methodical execution keeps things from getting too overwhelming. All in all, a splendid journey that is simultaneously melancholic yet uplifting.
