DREAM UNENDING is an atmospheric death/doom band featuring Justin DeTore (INNUMERABLE FORMS) and Derrick Vella (TOMB MOLD) that formed just last year in 2021.  They released their highly acclaimed debut album, "Tide Turns Eternal" the very same year.  Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to really dive into their debut (so much music, not so much time) but I am going to make in a priority because this second full length, "Song Of Salvation," is an otherworldly trip through what makes doom so great yet it also breathes a fresh perspective into the genre with an unique sound.

It is somewhat hard to describe the music.  While it certainly has moments of crushing heaviness (it is doom, after all), there is also much focus on ethereal soundscapes.  It isn't so much of a back and forth, give and take, with the light and dark elements but more of a true mixture.  But with that being said, even mixed together, each element can be picked out and listened to.  The album seems to have been written with the songs obviously being cohesive but still able to be picked apart and enjoy not only as a whole but as interesting, individual elements that are great in their own right. I don't hear many albums like that so even if this wasn't any good, I'd still give it high marks for trying something different.  Fortunately, with just a couple nitpicky points I have to make, the album is engaging all the way through and is worth the time it takes to truly absorb this.

The focal point of the album, and the bulk of the runtime, is focused on the bookend songs, which are the title track and "Ecstatic Reign."   The title track begins with clean notes from both the guitar and bass.  A lot of these tones sound...dreamy, for lack of a better term.  It doesn't take long for the heaviness to begin, accented by some of the better death vocals I've heard lately.  Justin's voice is deep and powerful but a lot of what he said can be understood.  The echo used on his voice is just the right amount, enough to add to the mysterious and tripped out of their music. Around the six minute mark, the dream starts to melt and wavy hallucinations begin to sink in.  Clean, even psychedelic guitar tones, are backed up by massive bass and guitar.  At this point, I must brag on the drumming--Justin always finds the right patterns to fit the varied guitar playing of Derrick.  The middle, and later, portion of the song is laced with slick guitar solos that are at once imaginative and emotive.

The final track, "Ecstatic Reign," also begins with clean tones but ends up feeling a bit more heavy and focused than the title track, at least in the beginning.  McKenna Rae's vocals are a nice addition and further had more depth and detail to the song.  The melodic bass rides along with her, keeping the song grounded as she whispers like a ghost in the wind. After the five and a half mark, the song picks up the tempo for a rousing (near) mid section that doubles down on their death metal side.  Still, the band never strays from their atmospheric side-indeed, no matter what the band does they always seem to retain their identity.

So we are left with the three middle tracks and that is where the problems begin.  Although considerably shorter, the remaining tracks aren't nearly as engaging, although two of the three are solid. "Secret Grief," seems to plod along a little too much, as if the band is stuck within their own sound.  I appreciate the song showing two very different sides in such a short runtime, however
"Murmur of Voices," is a long interlude but, honestly, I am not feeling it.  I think the album would have flowed better without.  Perhaps if it was incorporated further into the other tracks, or even expanded upon itself, I would feel differently.  But for what it is, it is a track I just skip. "Unrequited," is an instrumental with great lead guitar work but beyond that, there isn't much to the song to keep me engaged.  Again, this isn't a bad song by any means but the clear focus of the album were the two longer tracks.  With the others not being up to par, this full length sort of feels like an EP than their next big chapter.

All in all, "Song Of Salvation," is a solid album from a band that has a lot of ideas.  I've no doubt they will continue to expand upon them and show us what they really can do, perhaps even make a genre defining album.