At the moment, Tomb Mold’s bold, exploratory roster from Toronto is actively pushing the envelope of their artistry. A pair of Tomb Mold members also contribute to Daydream Plus, the instrumental space-prog emo outfit that released the album Second Last Day of Summer a few months back. (The chiptune variant dropped just last week.) Now, guitarist Derrick Vella—one of the Tomb Mold members not involved with Daydream Plus—returns with new material from his duo Dream Unending, who blend guttural death-doom with nimble ’80s studio-rock flourishes in striking and unusual ways.
Dream Unending comprises Derrick Vella and Justin DeTore, the veteran metal and hardcore drummer who has spent time in groups like Mental, Mind Eraser, Innumerable Forms, and Sumerlands. (DeTore didn’t rejoin the Rival Mob, his old Boston hardcore band, when they reunited to headline Sound And Fury this year.) Dream Unending released their deep, entrancing sophomore record Song Of Salvation in 2022, and they followed it by collaborating with Worm on the 2023 split Starpath. Next month, they’ll issue a new LP titled Certain Uncertainties that appears poised to push further into their signature approach.
Brendan Radigan, who plays with Justin DeTore in Rival Mob/Mind Eraser/Sumerlands, lends vocals to one track, while Derrick Vella’s father, Dave, contributes on keyboards for another. Multi-instrumentalist Benny Grotto and trumpeter Leila Abdul-Rauf also appear. The Bandcamp entry suggests classifying Certain Uncertainties under an as-yet-uncovered “Adult Contemporary Doom” niche, though that label triggers thoughts of late-era Elder or Pallbearer rather than this record in my mind. On “Strained Sincerity,” the album’s seven-minute lead single, Dream Unending merge abrasive, echo-drenched gargle-thunder with spacious ornamental delicacy in a manner that somehow honors both strands. Listen below.
TRACKLIST:
01 “Blinding Allure”
02 “Certain Uncertainties”
03 “Strained Sincerity”
04 “Rubato”
05 “I Carry Your Burden”
06 “Causal”
Certain Uncertainties is out 10/30 on 20 Buck Spin.
