Following its digital release in October, the physical versions of Starpath, the themed split LP between DREAM UNENDING and WORM, are out today on 20 Buck Spin. In both 2021 and 2022, DREAM UNENDING and WORM releases closed out the year at 20 Buck Spin. For 2023, to complete the year-end trifecta, the two doomed titans now appear together on one towering release of cosmic duality, Starpath. With both bands dropping major works back-to-back in the previous two years, they became intrinsically linked in the imaginations of their fanbases. And while musically they almost couldn’t be farther apart, the foundational points when exhumed of the Earth, have plenty in common. And so once more, DREAM UNENDING and WORM end the 20 Buck Spin release schedule for the year, this time in conspiracy with one another. The latest tracks from DREAM UNENDING, “So Many Chances” and “If Not Now When,” further dissolve the goth/post-punk elements that existed within earlier output, continuing to build upon the spacious free-form drift of extended guitar passages, pensively heavy riffs, and Justin DeTore’s thunderous roar. Phil Swanson, who appeared as guest clean vocalist on “Song Of Salvation,” returns again here, and additional Wurlitzer on “So Many Chances” is provided by David Vella. These two extended pieces represent the most realized incarnation yet of where Derrick Vella and Justin DeTore are steering the ship. WORM, as the unit is now known for, continues to be an ever shape-shifting entity of pure virtuosic blackness. “Ravensblood” embraces vampiric black metal with icy keys and eerie cemetery melodies. The chillingly atmospheric “Midwinter Tears” invokes a snow-covered gothic mood and side ender “Sea Of Sorrow” encapsulates the necromantic shred of lead guitarist Wroth Septentrion over Phantom Slaughter’s idiosyncratic black doom and immortally haunted crypt invocations of vocals, guitars, and synth, and the crush of bassist Necreon and drummer L. Dusk. Two bands, two unique approaches, a chasmic spectrum of light from radiant impassioned creation to the terminal abyssal darkness of oblivion. DREAM UNENDING and WORM each present over twenty minutes of new music created specifically with the joint release of Starpath in mind. The DREAM UNENDING side was recorded by Arthur Rizk at Redwood Studios in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Sean Pearson at Boxcar Sound in Hamilton, Ontario in January 2023, and was mixed and mastered by Rizk. WORM’s side was recorded internally and mixed and mastered by Stevie D. at Soundlab. The cover artwork was created by Mark Riddick – his first painting in decades – and the design and layout handled by Phantom Slaughter and Chimere Noire. Fans of Anathema, Evoken, Tiamat, Opeth, Trouble, Katatonia, Abigor, Thorns of the Carrion, Christian Death, Limbonic Art, King Diamond, Death, Emperor, and Obtained Enslavement should not miss this split. Stream DREAM UNENDING and WORM’s Starpath split everywhere including YouTube HERE and Bandcamp HERE. Starpath is out today on LP, MC, and CD at the 20 Buck Spin shop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.
Stand by for updates on both bands to post over the months ahead. “DREAM UNENDING’s two Starpath tracks, ‘So Many Chances’ and ‘If Not Now When,’ both venture past the 10-minute frontier. The three new WORM tracks are all relatively concise, clocking in around the seven-minute mark. Both sides of the split are deep and immersive, and all of the tracks are full of ideas and atmosphere.” – Stereogum “This is one of those splits that doesn’t unite the music of two bands from similar sub-genres. Far from it, the two sides present dramatic stylistic contrasts, so much so that only listeners with small-c catholic tastes are likely to relish both of them. If there’s a uniting factor, it’s how tremendously talented all the performers are, and how kaleidoscopic their music is.” – No Clean Singing “These bands sound nothing alike, but they’re both interested in pushing the boundaries of heavy metal and doing something out of the ordinary. They’re both bands that I think could appeal to a wide range of listeners, while both remaining firmly planted in extreme music.” – BrooklynVegan "Starpath is segregated, sure, but wholly complementary... This is penetrative, pensive, thoughtful metal with lovely attention paid to crafting soundscapes laced with fun rather than being the hardest, heaviest, or slowest; a great primer for this specific sound that’s easy to get into and even easier to love if you have the ears and heart for it." – Everything Is Noise “Getting a treat like this as a surprise from one of the best labels in all of metal is something to be excited by, but it’s the music itself that makes Starpath something to savor. The differing moods of the split may be a challenge for some but that’s also the beauty of it. WORM is continuing to embrace their playful side and find a new balance between deviance and innocence and DREAM UNENDING add new elements that ground their sound with a new emotional weight. While each side of this split have noticeable strong points, this is a quality release that shows new sides of its contributors.” – Lambgoat “On the split of the year, DREAM UNENDING and WORM came together to take us all on a journey through distant galaxies and solar systems of dark beauty and haunting transcendence. While many comparisons can be drawn to as many influences as possible, each group have found even greater foundations to build on their respective and unique sounds. If the future of extreme doom was ever in doubt, there should be none left after Starpath finishes its runtime and leaves you enlightened from DREAM UNENDING and grim and ghoulish from WORM.” – Heaviest Of Art For review copies of Starpath contact dave@earsplitcompound.com. In the EU/UK contact wolf@sureshotworx.de. https://www.20buckspin.com https://listen.20buckspin.com https://www.facebook.com/20buckspin https://twitter.com/20buckspinlabel https://www.instagram.com/20buckspinlabel
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