Review Summary: Winner combo.
When I heard the news about Dream Unending and Worm collaborating for a split release, I was extremely happy. The reason is simple: I believe both bands are in really good shape, and their approaches within this psychedelic/atmospheric direction, albeit in their own styles, seemed like a good reason to merge their forces. I’d say it was a match made in heaven, even though Worm’s style has shifted away from their death/doom phase towards (back) to black metal lately. Nonetheless, the opportunity for a synergic split release was there, and in the form of
Starpath it’s finally here.
In
Starpath, both sides turned out a bit different from what I expected. ‘Side Dream Unending’ feels more experimental and lighter, reminiscent of their latest release,
Song of Salvation. The balance between the psychedelic/space rock-inspired airy melodies and the "spacious" and rumbling death/doom riffages doesn’t seem to have changed much. Their two songs, “So Many Chances” and “If Not Now When,” represent the extremities of the band’s sound: the light and the heavy, respectively. However, in my opinion, even the “heavier” track (“If Not Now When”) feels a tad lighter than expected. Everything on this side is subordinated to the psychedelic vibe and dream-like flow, especially in “So Many Chances,” which features great solos and some clean vocals. The result reminds me of something the guitar-wizard Brent Hinds from Mastodon would do.
‘Side Worm’ also introduced some new tricks. In my opinion, their style has evolved significantly. I was among those who warmly welcomed their experiments in atmospheric black metal in
Bluenothing last year, so my expectations were high. Fortunately, Worm did not disappoint. While they didn't bring as much epicness and tremolos, this psychedelic-centric “new” sound is truly enjoyable too. Picture this: a blend of their swampy and mystical death/doom formula, spiced with a touch of black metal (some tremolo riffs and shrieks), and an abundance of death rock elements (think chorus/vibrato guitar sound effects, clean guitars, and odd synth lines). I personally enjoyed this stylistic transition in “Sea of Sorrow” the most, with its spooky (almost gothic) vibe, making it a huge jam.
If you're seeking a great psychedelic album and don’t mind a bit of death/doom or black metal, then
Starpath is something you should try.
